Today’s liturgical reading includes Hebrews 4:9-11,
Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his. Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.
It’s a fascinating juxtaposition: make every effort in order to rest.
Unless we understand the original meaning of these words, we will be baffled!
But if we intelligently study the passage and work our way through the complexities of what the author of Hebrews meant, we will gain incredible energy and joy in our faith.
Are you ready to dive in? It’s hard work, but the payoff is huge.
It’s a two-step process:
- Take strange, unusual concepts and make them clear and accessible.
- Practically apply the compelling message.
So, Step 1. As I read this passage, I have four questions that I need to answer to understand what it is saying:
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What is this Sabbath rest?
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Who is the person who has entered this rest?
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How do we make every effort to enter into God’s rest?
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How does God’s rest keep us from disobedience?
Let’s look at each of them in turn.
#1: What is the Sabbath rest?
Writing in The UTB Commentary, Donald Hagner states:
Sabbath–rest comes from a single word that occurs only here in the whole of the Greek Bible. This word suggests God’s own sabbath–rest after creation (v. 4). God’s gift of rest may thus be regarded as the gift of his own rest. To enjoy the blessings of the eschaton is to participate in the sabbath–rest of God.
Sigurd Grindheim engages in an extensive review of the concept of rest in the Old Testament. He writes,
Probably, the best summary is that rest is a metaphor for God’s gift of salvation, a gift that is enjoyed in fellowship with him and in his presence
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To enter into rest means to enter into fellowship with God himself and to share in the restful state that he enjoys. Believers are already in the process of entering into this rest, while they are awaiting the full manifestation of God’s resting place in the future (Pillar NTC).
To summarize, “to rest” is not about inactivity, lethargy, or watching Netflix all day!
In the Bible, it is a picture of shalom—of perfection—of the ideal existence. It means that we are with God, in God’s place, under God’s authority, with God’s people, enjoying God’s peace and blessings.
Imagine living in the glory of the Garden of Eden - but perfected and fulfilled. Read Revelation 22:1-5, and ask God to renew your imagination of how amazing it will be to reign with him in the new heavens and earth.
If we default to this idea of sitting on clouds playing harps, it will dull our enthusiasm for God.
You know that you’ve come to understand God’s Sabbath-rest if this idea excites you.
By contrast, if you’re hearing “Sabbath-rest” and feeling bored, you haven’t gotten it.
Still, the artful wordplay makes this passage confusing, as the idea of ‘rest’ takes on new meanings! We’ll see the challenge as we get into verse 10!
Now that we’ve defined “Sabbath-rest,” let’s look at our next question.
#2: Who is the person who has entered this rest?
In verse 10 we read, “For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his.”
Who is this person?
Is this a reference to Jesus, the saints who have died, or living believers who have placed their faith in God?
While commentators suggest that, possibly, the author is referring to Jesus, who entered God’s rest, the weight of the argument is that this is unlikely.
Sigurd Grindheim suggests, “It is natural to take it as a generic reference to the member of the people of God, the believer who partakes of God’s eschatological rest.”
But writing in the NICNT, Gareth Lee Cockerill argues,
It is more likely, then, that this “one who has entered his [God’s] rest” should be identified as a faithful member of “the people of God” whose perseverance is complete…Just as God entered his rest at the culmination of creation, so believers enter God’s “Sabbath rest” at the culmination of their earthly pilgrimage, initially at death and finally at the return of Christ (9:28; 12:25–29).
As I’ve meditated on this passage, I admit to uncertainty. It’s not clear.
However, if we read the wordplay correctly, I think the passage sounds like this:
Therefore, the ultimate Sabbath-rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered the rest of death has rested from his earthly works, just as God rested from the Creation of the earth.
Let us, then, make every effort also to enter the ultimate Sabbath-rest, so that none of us still here will fall away into disobedience.
It’s the same kind of argument the author of Hebrews makes in Hebrews 11, where he reminds us of the many saints who paid a great price for their commitment to God but who are now experiencing God’s reward.
What’s the point?
When I ran marathons, after other marathoners completed their race, some would jog back and find a place to cheer the rest of us on. Precisely because we felt like we could not finish the race, it meant so much to see someone else say, “I’ve done it! I finished the race! You can do it too!”
Do you ever feel like you might not finish your spiritual race?
The author of Hebrews reminds the congregation that others have finished well and are enjoying God’s rest.
His point? You’ll be there soon, too! Keep going!
With this resolved, we’re left with the ‘so what?’ question.
#3: How do we make every effort to enter into God’s rest?
If we’ve followed the passage’s logic correctly, then the answer is clear.
First, we must set our hope on the ultimate goal of human life: to rest with God.
Is this a foreign concept to you? Is it strange or off-putting?
The author of Hebrews tells us that it is worth every effort to gain this Sabbath rest.
“Sabbath-rest” is the pearl of great price. It’s a hidden treasure that most walk by without noticing - but if you knew the priceless value of the buried gold, you would sell everything you had to buy the field.
As Dallas Willard wrote,
What we are aiming for in this vision is to live fully in the kingdom of God and as fully as possible now and here, not just hereafter (Renovation of the Heart).
We can only develop a vision for our lives as disciples of Jesus if we find the vision of life with God to be desirable, appealing, and exciting.
There’s much more to say about this, but that’s is the central point.
First, personally reflect on what it would mean to enjoy eternal Sabbath-rest with God. Make it a detailed, vivid understanding.
Then, ask yourself: would you be willing to arrange your life to attain that end?
By asking these two sets of questions, you are deepening your faith in God and your faithfulness to God.
Your ultimate desires and daily purpose become aligned, integrated, and united.
#4: How does God’s rest keep us from disobedience?
Our final question brings us to the moment of contrast.
How often have we drifted into disobedience because we didn’t know what our lives were about?
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We took each day casually, bringing God into it if we felt like it.
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We attended church if our friends were going or it was convenient.
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We knew it was wrong, but we did it anyway
But what benefit did we gain from wayward, lawless, self-centered living?
The author of Hebrews points out that there are only two paths.
Either we see and value the rest of God and organize our entire lives to be with God.
Or we disdain the Sabbath-rest of God and live disobedient lives.
It’s this simple: which path will you choose?
The passage from Hebrews 4:9-11 presents what seems to be a profound paradox: striving to enter rest.
But once we ‘decode’ the language, it all becomes clear.
First, this “Sabbath rest” is not dull inactivity but joyful, fulfilling, eternal communion with God—the ultimate fulfillment of human existence.
Second, once our hearts are gripped with an earnest desire to know God’s rest, it reorients everything about our lives.
All of our time, money, energy, and relationships are invested in being with God, being faithful to God, and anticipating endless life with God.
Our effort is not about earning salvation but about enthusiastically responding to God’s grace and aligning our lives to the reality of His promised ‘rest.’
If we don’t want to be with God now, why would we want to be with him forever?
But if we want to enjoy God forever, why not enjoy life with him now?
Amidst hardship, difficult circumstances, or even persecution, sometimes it can feel overwhelming to remain faithful to God.
But the author of Hebrews reassures us: a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people! Some have already entered it, and we will experience it soon!
Let’s discuss:
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How does the Bible’s idea of “rest” compare with our modern notions of rest?
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What gets you excited about God’s Sabbath-rest?
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Instead of worrying about legalism, what would it look like for you to be wholehearted for God?
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