2 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. Sharper than any two-edged sword — Penetrating the heart more than this does the body.. He enlightens the soul, and calls it gently and efficaciously, when and how he wills. Buy The Complete Bible Summary … Those who restrain the word rest to the signification of eternal glory, say, that ceasing from our own works relates to the sufferings, tribulations, afflictions, etc., of this life; as in Revelation 14:13. (Hebrews 4:15) Also mentioned is the fact that nothing and no one is hidden from God; all our thoughts are exposed to him. Let us therefore fear - Seeing the Israelites lost the rest of Canaan, through obstinacy and unbelief, let us be afraid lest we come short of the heavenly rest, through the same cause. See the notes on Genesis 2:1, etc., and See here Hebrews 2:6; (note). Outline: I. God’s rest: what is it?. 4. From the foundation of the world - The foundation of the world, καταβολη κοσμου, means the completion of the work of creation in six days. Previous | Index | Next >> "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS" Chapter Four Since many Israelites failed to enter their Canaan rest because of unbelief, the author says we should fear lest we come short of our promised rest: heaven (1-10).Diligence is also required, and the third of six warnings is given: a warning against disobedience in view of God’s living and powerful Word (11-13). These parts left out, the discourse runs on with perfect connection. 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,. Rebus aliis omissis, hoc agamus; All things else omitted, this one thing let us do. Hebrews 4:12–13 serves as the conclusion for 4:1-11 as well as for the entire first section of the letter: 1:5-4:13. Promised Rest for God’s People. HEB 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. In Dr. Dodd's collections we find the following: -. This rest for God's people is what was promised throughout the entire Old Testament. Be not slothful to go, and to enter to possess the land; for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any thing that is in the earth; Judges 18:9, Judges 18:10. This is implied in its two edges. He passed through the veil into the holy place, and was not seen even by the priests. St-Takla.org Image: Color the Arabic Holy Bible, with the verse: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16) - Courtesy of "Encyclopedia of the Coptic Ornaments Colouring Images" After all, it is possible that this may be a resumption of the discourse from Hebrews 3:6; the rest of that chapter, and the preceding thirteen verses of this, being considered as a parenthesis. This rest is a finished work God has completed (4-5) IV. But while this effect of the word or true doctrine of God is acknowledged, let it not be supposed that it, of itself can produce such effects. Diogenes the philosopher, observing one who had been victor in the Olympic games often fixing his eyes upon a courtezan, said, in allusion to this custom: Ιδε κριον αρειμανιον, ὡς ὑπο του τυχοντος κορασιου τραχηλιζεται . He well knew how to construct his word, so as to suit it to the state of all hearts; and he has given it that infinite fullness of meaning, so as to suit it to all cases. Finally, he punishes in the most exemplary manner the insults offered to his Father and himself by infidels, unbelievers, and the wicked in general. For the word of God — Preached, Hebrews 4:2, and armed with threatenings, Hebrews 4:3.. Is living and powerful — Attended with the power of the living God, and conveying either life or death to the hearers.. See 1 Thessalonians 5:23. So Isaiah says: The word of our God shall stand for ever; Isaiah 40:8. He is the ruler of the heart, and can turn it where he pleases. Because St. Paul does not use that term to express the Son of God. Listening to the Gospel . Into this rest we should earnestly labor to enter, Hebrews 4:11. The prophecies and promises of the OT are fulfilled in the \"new covenant\" (or \"new testament\"), of which Christ is the mediator. Mr. Pierce observes that our author has been evidently arguing from a tremendous judgment of God upon the ancient Israelites, the ancestors of those to whom this epistle is directed; and in this verse, to press upon them that care and diligence he had been recommending, he sets before them the efficacy and virtue of the word of God, connecting this verse with the former by a for in the beginning of it; and therefore it is natural to suppose that what he says of the word of God may have a relation to somewhat remarkable in that sore punishment of which he had been speaking, particularly to the destruction of the people by lightning, or fire from heaven. 1. Hebrews 4 offers true Sabbath rest for the people of God through faith in Christ. Hebrews 3:4 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Hebrews 3:4, NIV: "For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." It is true the Septuagint generally write Ιησους Ναυη, or Υἱος Ναυη, Jesus Nave, or Jesus, son of Nave, for it is thus they translate נון בן יהושע Yehoshua ben Nun, Joshua the son of Nun; and this is sufficient to distinguish it from Jesus, son of David. The principal are on the word συγκεκραμενος, mixed; which in the common text refers to ὁ λογος, the word mixed; but, in ABCD and several others, it is συγκεκραμενους, referring to, and agreeing with, εκεινους, and may be thus translated: The word of hearing did not profit them, they not being mixed with those who heard it by faith. That is, they were not of the same spirit with Joshua and Caleb. Hebrews 4:1-11 has been used, on one hand, to support the observance of the Sabbath commandment by Christians; and on the other hand, as evidence for the rejection of a literal obedience to the commandment. See Hebrews 2:18, and the note there. And in this place again - In the ninety-fifth Psalm, already quoted, Psalm 95:3. The book of Hebrews was written to Jews who had converted to Christianity and emphasizes the superiority of Grace over the Law. We translate the words, With whom we have to do; of which, though the phraseology is obsolete, yet the meaning is nearly the same. The word of God penetrates deeper into a man than any sword; it enters into the soul and spirit, into all our sensations, passions, appetites, nay, to our very thoughts; and sits as judge of the most secret intentions, contrivances, and sentiments of the heart. Not being mixed with faith in them that heard - There are several various readings in this verse, and some of them important. Download the PDF version here.Download It has been supposed that the phraseology here is sacrificial, the apostle referring to the case, of slaying and preparing a victim to be offered to God. Hebrews 3:3, “more glory”; Matthew 6:25; Luke 11:32, et al.). But the word preached did not profit them - Αλλ ουκ ωφελησεν ὁ λογος της ακοης εκεινους· But the word of hearing did not profit them. This is true, whether we understand the rest as referring to Gospel blessings, or to eternal felicity, or to both. Should the most nutritive aliment be received into the stomach, if not mixed with the above juices, it would be rather the means of death than of life; or, in the words of the apostle, it would not profit, because not thus mixed. This means saved Christians ought to make every effort to obey God while we still can (Hebrews 4:11). This was a second rest which the Lord promised to the believing, obedient seed of Abraham; and as it was spoken of in the days of David, when the Jews actually possessed this long promised Canaan, therefore it is evident that that was not the rest which God intended, as the next verse shows. 10. [This is Week 3 of a 5-week preaching series on Hebrews.] This a poor chapter division. See the note on the verb δοκειν, to seem, Luke 8:18; (note). 2 For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. EF: Subject: The practical implication of Jesus’ superiority to Aaronic priests; Complement: is that we would move toward Jesus when tempted, expecting to be met with compassion and empowering favor to endure by the one made … There are two words in this chapter which we indifferently translate rest, καταπαυσις and σαββατισμος· he first signifying a cessation from labor, so that the weary body is rested and refreshed; the second meaning, not only a rest from labor, but a religious rest; sabbatismus, a rest of a sacred kind, of which both soul and body partake. Analysis Hebrews identifies Jesus as a compassionate high priest. There, remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God - It was not. Day here seems to have the same meaning as rest in some other parts of this verse. He left his disciples by ascending up through the visible heavens, the clouds, as a veil, screening him from their sight. Enter the rest. 4 Therefore, since a promise of entering into his rest remains, let us be on guard* for fear someone among you seems to fall short of it.+ 2 For we have also had the good news declared to us,+ just as they had; but the word that they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. (3:1) After having discussed the necessity of maintaining faith in God’s promise about entering his rest, he again directed attention to Christ and how believers should be affected by his functioning as their high priest. Adapted from The Majestic Son: Reading Hebrews Today by Peter Adam (AIO: Sydney, 1992). Hebrews 3:4, KJV: "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God." —The Greek literally means that Abel’s sacrifice was “more than” Cain’s (comp. The book of Hebrews is a General Epistle (Apostolic Letter). This is a part of our liberty or boldness; we come up to the throne, and we call aloud for mercy, and God hears and dispenses the blessing we need. "Health," says he, it is a certain disposition ὑγρων και ξηρων και ψυχρων και θερμων δυναμεων, η ὑπο τεχνης συγκραθεισων καλως, η ὑπο φυσεως ἁρμοσθεισων τεχνικως, which consists in a proper mixture together of the wet and the dry, the cold and the hot, either by an artificial process, or by the skillful economy of nature.". All the expressions in this view will receive an additional force, for nothing is more quick and living, more powerful and irresistible, sharp and piercing, than lightning. In speaking of the Sabbath, as typifying a state of blessedness in the other world, the apostle follows the opinions of the Jews of his own and after times. In the beginning, God did a whole bunch of stuff. I hope it was not to serve a system, as some have since used it: "Some must go to heaven, for so is the doctrine of the decree; and there must be certain persons infallibly brought thither as a reward to Christ for his sufferings; and in this the will of man and free agency can have no part," etc, etc. Hebrews 1:1-4 – God Speaks by Means of the Son Summary The same God who spoke through Israel's prophets speaks by means of Jesus the Son. (Hebrews 4:12) xxv. Hebrews 4 is the fourth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament of the Christian Bible.The author is anonymous, although the internal reference to "our brother Timothy" (Hebrews 13:23) causes a traditional attribution to Paul, but this attribution has been disputed since the second century and there is no decisive evidence for the authorship. Hebrews 4. Hebrews 4:12-16 falls into two parts. miss it. God speaks now as he spoke before; his voice is in the Gospel as it was in the law. Previous | Index | Next >> "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS" Chapter Four Since many Israelites failed to enter their Canaan rest because of unbelief, the author says we should fear lest we come short of our promised rest: heaven (1-10).Diligence is also required, and the third of six warnings is given: a warning against disobedience in view of God’s living and powerful Word (11-13). For unto us was the Gospel preached - Και γαρ εσμεν ευηγγελισμενοι· For we also have received good tidings as well as they. Because Jesus is sympathetic to the human experience, we can boldly draw near to grace. the whole system of mundane things, begun and perfected; and this appears to be the sense of the expression in this place. Here was the likeness of sinful flesh, Romans 8:5; and by thus assuming human nature, he was completely qualified to make an atonement for the sins of the world. This rest for God's people is what was promised throughout the entire Old Testament. The Bible isn’t a collection of merely old stories and myths. It was written approximately 67 A.D. I understand it as including both. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: The word βονθεια is properly rendered assistance, help, or support; but it is an assistance in consequence of the earnest cry of the person in distress, for the word signifies to run at the cry, θειν εις βοην, or επι βοην θειν . It was a pretty sweet deal, but things weren't working out so well. As Jesus Christ tasted death for every man, so every man may go to that propitiatory, and take the mercy that is suited to his degree of guilt. Sharper than any two-edged sword — Penetrating the heart more than this does the body.. Hebrews 4 (King James Version) 1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Warning Against Neglecting Salvation. That thus coming, feeling, and calling, we may have the utmost confidence; for we have boldness, liberty of access, freedom of speech; may plead with our Maker without fear; and expect all that heaven has to bestow; because Jesus, who died, sitteth upon the throne! x., page 101. So, even at the throne of grace, or great propitiatory, no help can be expected where there is no cry, and where there is no cry there is no felt necessity; for he that feels he is perishing will cry aloud for help, and to such a cry the compassionate High Priest will run; and the time of need is the time in which God will show mercy; nor will he ever delay it when it is necessary. A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God - Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. The Book of Hebrews begins with the declaration that while God has spoken in various ways through the Old Testament prophets, He has now spoken fully and finally in His Son (Hebrews 1:1-4). I summarised the Bible on Twitter between Aug 2010 and Nov 2013 - one tweet per chapter, one chapter per day. [This is Week 3 of a 5-week preaching series on Hebrews.] To help in time of need - Εις ευκαιρον βοηθειαν· For a seasonable support; that is, support when necessary, and as necessary, and in due proportion to the necessity. But perhaps the meaning of the latter clause may rather be: 'It can divide the joints and divide the marrow; i.e. Analysis Hebrews begins by announcing that the God who spoke in many and various ways through the prophets has now spoken in a … Here the apostle shows the great superiority of the privileges of the new testament above those of the old; for there the high priest only, and he with fear and trembling, was permitted to approach; and that not without the blood of the victim; and if in any thing he transgressed, he might expect to be struck with death. This brings us into the rest that Hebrews 4 is talking about. The events of the exodus generation are now applied to the readers’ present situation. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. To this is the reference in the next verse. Hebrews 4. 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