The Promise of God’s Rest is realized through Christ—Let us strive after it by Him, our Sympathizing High Priest.The rest of Christians is attained by faith continues 1–11.
- 3 “We, who have believed, do enter into rest, v. 3. We enter into a blessed union with Christ, and into a communion with God through Christ; we actually enjoy pardon of sin, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, resting from the servitude of sin, and reposing ourselves in God till we are prepared to rest with him in heaven.” M. Henry. Is. 28:12, Jer. 6:16, Matt. 11:28, 29, Rom. 5:1, 2, “For we which have believed do enter into rest.” “The apostle speaks of believers of all ages as a body.” As then unbelievers cannot enter into God’s rest Heb. 3:18, believers must. Pink, Arthur W. We can have no assurance of the thing promised till we do believe the promise: ‘After that ye believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise’ Eph. 1:13. ‘I know whom I have believed,’ ‘and I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day’ 2Tim. 1:12 ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible,’ Mark 9:23.” (Dr. Gouge)
- As I have sworn in My wrath, if they should enter into My rest” (v. 3). “as He said,” Ps. 95:11, simply informs us who are privileged to enter God’s rest, namely, Believers. Dr. Gouge says: “If some ‘must enter…But not unbelievers, for God by oath hath protested against them; Therefore believers shall enter.” Pink Arthur W.
- Although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 13:35, Eph. 1:4, 1Pet. 1:20. There were two “rests” frequently mentioned in the Old Testament as special pledges of God’s favor: the Sabbath and the land of Canaan: the former being styled “the Sabbath of rest to the Lord” Ex. 35:2, and “the Sabbath of the Lord” Ex. 20:10; the latter, “the rest which the Lord gave them” Deut. 12:9; Josh. 1:15. The “rest” here to the Hebrews was so blessed, so important, so far surpassing anything that Judaism had known.
- 6. “Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief” (v. 6). Most of the adult Israelites perished in the wilderness, Caleb and Joshua entered Canaan. Num. 14:12, 31.
- And they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief.” T First, God employed only one ‘preaching of the gospel’ in the saving of sinners from the beginning. Gal. 3:8. Second, the demand of the Gospel from those who hear it is faith, taking God at His word, receiving with childlike simplicity and gladness. Third, that “unbelief” shuts out from God’s favor and blessing. Heb. 11:31 we are told, “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not.” It was only because they believed not that they “perished.” Solemn warning was this for the Hebrews whose faith was waning.
