THE MAIN thought of chapter three has much to do with the time of rest that is presented in this chapter. It was because of unbelief that all of the Israelites coming out of Egypt above twenty years of age, excepting Joshua and Caleb, were “overthrown in the wilderness” (1 Corinthians 10:5). Paul had shown that it was possible for the Hebrews (and all who would) to be “partakers of the Messiah, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end” (3:14).
“Let us therefore fear, lest . . ... any of you should seem to come
short of it” (Heb. 4:1). For many years there
was
the preaching of the fiery doctrines of hell.
Such teachings were for the purpose of making people afraid,
and to cause them to accept
the way of God. As a people,
we have never promoted such
doctrines; neither have
we found them in Yehovah’s God’s word. Yet,
we are warned in this writing of Paul to
“fear.” The meaning of this word in the Greek is “to be
frightened or
alarmed, to stand in awe.”
Later in the Hebrew letter Paul wrote, “It is a fearful
thing to fall into the hands of the living God”
(10:31). WE are to be afraid of God in that we are to believe He
will perform every word that is written, as it is written.
One who is not faithful to the promises of God can expect to reap the
reward of the unfaithful. We should
teach our children to “fear” God. We should
teach them to stand in awe of Him.
The promise of an eternal
future, in this chapter referred
to as “rest,” has been left
to us. There are many other promises, too, that
have been left to us. The gospel message has been
heralded in one way or another since the Garden of Eden. Paul
wrote that it was
“preached
before” to Abraham. [Galatians 3:8] He wrote
also that it was preached to
them. (vs. 2). The Israelites did not receive the gospel and believe it because of a lack of faith. There is a definite promise of entering into rest, the eternal future. Paul referred to God resting on the seventh day. [Genesis 2:2] Many Bible
students have believed that the six days of creation
refer to the time from creation until the “consummation of this age.” They have
also likened the seventh day to the new day to come; called by Paul, “rest.” Certainly,
Paul was using here the seventh day rest
by our heavenly Father as an illustration of the future age. God rested on the seventh day because He had finished
the creation. It was
all done. Jesus spoke of His
work prior to the crucifixion as
being finished. We are instructed to labour faithfully to the end. The ones who endure to the end will rest from their labours and
enter
the glorious Kingdom of God.
It is interesting to note that in the six days of creation, there is reference made to the “evening
and morning.” This was not so of the seventh day, which may
be teaching that there is no end to the seventh day. We know this to be true of the Kingdom of God; it is without end. Paul emphasized in both verses 6 and 9, “There remained! therefore a rest to the people of God.” The time for
“entering in” is limited. “To day if ye will hear
his voice, harden not your hearts” (v. 7).
Other expressions of Paul that show the urgency of not delaying
are: “Now it is high time to awake out of sleep” [Romans 13:11] “Now is the
day of salvation” [2 Corinthians 6:2] So many people are like Felix the governor, who told Paul, “Go your way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for you” [Acts 24:25] If we
delay, we are showing unbelief.
As Paul admonished the Hebrews, “Let us labour therefore to enter into
that rest” (vs.11).
Paul pointed out that each one will be judged by the Word of God. “The word of God is quick, and
powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword . . ..and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (vs. 12).
The word “quick” indicates
that God’s Word is living. It has
life in it; the
promise of him who is “our life.” It is powerful; powerful in those who will believe and serve God through Jesus. God told Isaiah that His word would not return to Him “void.” It is
sharp, two-edged, even to piercing and dividing.
The word of Yehovah - God has described man in every
way, even to discerning his thoughts and knowing the
intents of the heart. We can
hide nothing from God. We arc given the opportunity to believe the Word. Through it we will be judged. It has all been written for us and nothing is yet to be added to it. Man will separate himself from the promises of God by not heeding the word, being separated
by the Word that is written.
Paul again refers to “a great high priest” (vs. 14). In chapter 2, he first taught that Jesus was
a High Priest. Let us once more realize that Paul was writing to brethren who had been taught and very probably reared under the Mosaic law and traditions. To them, the high priest was the one who administered the sacrifices. Not so with Jesus. He was the “offering.” Again, in chapter 3, Paul called Jesus the “Apostle and High Priest of our profession.” Now, for the first time, Paul taught the
Hebrews
that Jesus, the great High Priest, is passed into
the heavens.
He also refers to the Christian life; being a follower of Jesus; as “our profession.” He shows that Jesus,
the High Priest,
is carrying on in a similar way to that of the
former
high priests. Each high priest interceded for
the Israelites before God. The priest was a man who had hurts, pains, and desires. Jesus was shown by Paul to have these same qualities in that He would be touched “with the feeling of our infirmities” and was “tempted like as we are” (v. 15).
How much we can be thankful for the great privilege that each one of us can “come boldly unto the
throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace [favour] to help in time of need” (vs. 16). Can you not imagine that it took courage (boldness) even to go before the high priest of old with an offering and to admit having sinned? Certainly, it takes courage for us today. But we have an understanding and faithful High Priest in Jesus, who stands before God for us. It is through Him that we “labour to enter into that rest.”
Written by Francis E. Burnett and
edited and added to by Bruce Lyon
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