Hebrews 4 a sabbathrest for the people of god bible. In genesis, the first book of the bible, god created. There is one door to the safe, peaceful, happy rest of god the door of faith. This type of rest was alluded to right back at the time of creation, as well as at the time of the exodus. However, verses 23a make it clear that he is now talking about entering the kingdom of. Jan 18, 2009 since the greek used in the book of hebrews is the best in the new testament, luke might be a good candidate, but this is doubtful as he is not as artistic as the author of hebrews. The book of hebrews shows us the way to enter into the rest god has for. However, doubt on pauline authorship in the roman church is reported by eusebius. The first rest mentioned is the rest the first generation of israelites failed to enter, namely entrance into the promised land and rest from its enemies hebrews 3.
Anyone who puts faith in gods promises bought for us by the blood of jesus, and is diligent not to throw that faith away, is a part of the people of god. There remains a sabbathrest for the people of god united. Dec 12, 2005 verse three continues with, for we who have believed do enter that rest, as he has said. Study of salvation in book of hebrews wbmoores biblical. Jan 02, 2020 the writer to the hebrews begins his discussion of gods rest in chapter 3, where he references the israelites wandering in the desert. The author of hebrews has been writing about the people whom moses led. There is no doubt that hebrews was, at the time, written for the benefit of 1st century jews.
The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the hebrews is one of the books of the new testament. So this writer says that the israelites had heard the gospel just like his readers had not. The theological arguments in hebrews are more complex than many of those found in the rest of the new testament. As we keep our eyes on him and believe him, we will find ourselves entering this place of rest promised to us in the book of hebrews. When they tried to go in the next day by their own. It is true that the style and content of hebrews are different from the rest of the book.
The author spends the rest of the book describing that. If a minister wanted to thin out his sunday morning crowd, he would only need to announce that, beginning next sunday, ill be starting a long series on the book of hebrews, for hebrews is, for most churchgoers, a mysterious book with ominous warnings that they will get to someday, but not today. These folks knew about angels, the old testament heroes, the devil, and moses tabernacle, but someone thought they needed to know a little more. There are two things that this concept is being used to allude to. Modern biblical scholarship considers its authorship unknown, perhaps written in deliberate imitation of the style of paul. Jul 26, 2008 the other references to rest in this discourse do not use the greek word for the shabbat. The book of hebrews compares and contrasts jesus to key historical people and events from the old testament. The book of hebrews begins with the declaration that while god has spoken in various ways through the old testament prophets, he has now. The author of the book of hebrews never uses the sabbath rest as a daily rest. With its myriad references to hebrew customs and the old testament, the book was likely sent to a jewish christian community, possibly in rome. In giving them the land of canaan, god had promised them that he would go before them and defeat all their enemies in order that they could live securely deuteronomy 12. There was a generation that was offered rest, but the did not enter. In the book of hebrews in the kjv the word rest appears 12 times, twice in chapter 3, and 10 times in 8 different verses of chapter 4. Introduces perspectives on the author, audience, date and purpose of the book of hebrews that can help us interpret the original meaning and apply this book to our modern world.
Although some include the book of hebrews among the apostle pauls writings, the certain identity of the author remains an enigma. Exactly what do all these references mean when they speak about rest. He further states of this rest that it remains that some must enter it. The conclusion is that sabbathkeeping is still necessary for the people of god, the new testament church. Entering into rest sermon by john hamby, hebrews 4. I believe that a study of the book of hebrews may be the next step for us as a church as we seek to grow in our desire for greater intimacy with. That subject is the backdrop of the book of hebrews, and the book s purpose is primarily to get people to refocus on the christian concept of the promises, and to build faith that produces obedience and perseverance. The rest is there, but god does not force it upon us. There are a great number of reasons why i believe it is time for us to study the book of hebrews. Nowhere in the text is it equated with the seventh day of creation, nor is there any grammatical or contextual data suggesting any such equation. Jesus is greater, so hold fast to him overviewbible. Theres a rest that began in creation, continued in the children of israel and davids time, and yet still remains for the people of god. The book of hebrews elevates jesus above historical people. Initially, that seems to mean that they could not enter canaan deuteronomy 1.
Who it was that really wrote the epistle hebrews, god only knows. The writer of the book of hebrews also uses the word rest katapausis in the sense of a future relationship with god saying, we who have believed do enter that rest hebrews 4. What is the difference between apostasy from christ and the kind of falling into sin. The book of hebrews occupies a very important place in the scriptures.
The book of hebrews shows the superiority of christianity over. Waldron copy right 1999 171 walden lane harriman, tn 37748 8653764453 permission granted to make copy without alteration and not for commercial purpose. Missing is pauls customary salutation common to his other works. The other references to rest in this discourse do not use the greek word for the shabbat. The letter to the hebrews shows us that the coming rest of eternal salvation in christ should be sufficient motivation to stay true to him. The writer to the hebrews begins his discussion of gods rest in chapter 3, where he references the israelites wandering in the desert. In other words, long after the people enjoyed the rest of the promised land, david says that god is still holding out to his people an offer of salvation rest. Others believe that it was simply part of the flow of thought right out of chapter 12. But for the seventh there is no mention of an end at all. Gods rest is primarily and fundamentally eschatological, that is, it is brought about by the second coming. Hebrews 4 a sabbathrest for the people of god bible gateway. This phrase, or this idea, appears repeatedly in the book of hebrews. The apparent expansion of the meaning of the psalm relates to hebrews 4. However, verses 23a make it clear that he is now talking about entering the kingdom of god, rather than possessing the land.
There is not sufficient evidence to support any of the theories that have been proposed concerning the authorship of hebrews. This text is actually a defense of the seventhday sabbath, not a negation of it. Faith rest is not something we can manufacture by our own human efforts. This gives readers incentive not to follow the example of the people of moses and to trust that god will truly bring them to eternal rest. Hebrews 4 niv bible therefore, since the promise of. There are several kinds of rest referred to in hebrews. Book of hebrews overview insight for living ministries.
Verse three continues with, for we who have believed do enter that rest, as he has said. The book of hebrews cleverly weaves together three themes of restthe rest promised to israel from enemies, the physical rest of the weekly sabbath, and the spiritual rest through christ. And today we see the need for a new understanding of the book of hebrews. In fact, the author himself noted the priority of sophisticated theological reflection in passages like hebrews 5. Then no one will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey. Nov, 2014 the author spends the rest of the book describing that. Hebrews gives insight into the significance of the jewish rituals and feasts. It is the holy spirits commentary on the pentateuch, especially the book of leviticus. It clarifies the ceremonial law as given through the pages of the old. They reasoned that the day of gods rest had no ending, it was eternal and everlasting. This month in today in the word, we will use the book of hebrews to recalibrate our sense of direction in life. Then there was the rest to which the psalmist referred in psalm 95 that was available in his time today.
For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what he has said, so i swore in my anger, they will not enter my rest, even though his works have been finished since the foundation of. It is a posture of the heart that can only be found when we are looking at our lord. I believe that a study of the book of hebrews may be the next step for us as a church as we seek to grow in our desire for greater intimacy with christ, greater faith, and bolder acts of service. There remains therefore a rest for the people of god hebrews 4. The book of hebrews hebrews is one of the most challenging.
Others see it as an appendix of general advice that the author tacked on at the end, but that it is not conceptually related to the rest of the book. A doctrinal truth is presented in this case, the truth of a remaining rest available by faith then the truth is applied. Hebrews could be called the book of better things since the two greek words for better and superior occur 15 times in the letter. They could not enter gods rest because of their unbelief.
So i swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. Many regard the book of hebrews as the 14th epistle of paul. Rest in the book of hebrews walking in the way of christ. So one of the treatises of the mishna speaks of psalms 92 as a psalm for the time to come, for the day which is all sabbath, the rest belonging to the life eternal. The book of hebrews is a long list of reasons to cling to jesus. Aug 31, 2016 the book of hebrews is a long list of reasons to cling to jesus. Hebrews on rest the book of hebrews states that those who are faithful will enter into gods rest, but over time the location of that rest has. Hebrews 4 niv a sabbathrest for the people of god bible. In a logical argument, the author demonstrates christs superiority, then adds practical instructions for following jesus. Book of hebrews, part 4 rest, sabbathrest, and rest in. Those who believe enter that rest, but those who do not believe will not enter his rest. A striking feature of this presentation of the gospel is the unique manner in which the author employs expositions of eight specific passages of the ot scriptures. Thats a really, really highlevel overview of hebrews, but it should serve as a foundation for understanding this list of reasons why i use hebrews 10.
It clarifies the ceremonial law as given through the pages of. Hebrews was written for christians who had been in the church for a while. Significantly, the book makes no reference to the destruction of the temple at jerusalem in ad 70, and the author wrote as if the sacrificial system were still in existence hebrews 10. Dont harden your hearts, and you will enjoy gods rest referred to at the end of the psalm 95. He is greater than angels, the torah, moses, the promised land, priests, melchizedek, sacrifices, and the covenant. The text does not mention the name of its author, but was traditionally attributed to paul the apostle.
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