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Hebrews Chapter
Four
I.
Content of the Chapter
Christ is More Excellent than Joshua and
Aaron
A. Christ is the Apostle
who is more excellent
than Joshua (v.1-13).
1. Whether we will be enabled to enter into
that rest is decided by whether we have faith or not (v.1-6).
2. Joshua cannot give rest to the people of God
(v.7-9).
3. He who has ceased from his works ---- to
believe Christ ---- will be enabled to enter into that rest (v.10-11).
4. The word of God will manifest the one who
really believes Him (v.12-13).
B. Christ is the High Priest
who is more
excellent than Aaron (v.14-16).
1. The Son of God is the High Priest who has
passed through the heavens (v.14).
2. He was in all points tempted as we are
so
He is able to sympathize with our weakness (v
3. He has overcome all temptations and has
never committed sin (v.15b).
4. He sits on the throne of grace and gives
help to men in time of need (v.16).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
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.”
YLT:
“We may fear
then
lest a promise being left of entering into His rest
any
one of you may seem to have come short
”
Meaning
of Words: “seem to”: be accounted
suppose
think; “any of you”: anyone; “come short of”: be
later
be destitute
fail
suffer need;
Literal
Meaning: “since a promise remains of entering His rest”
“a promise”: the
promise of God
which is also called “My rest” (Heb. 3:11; 4:3
5)
“His rest”
(Heb. 3:18)
“that rest” (Heb. 4:3
11)
“a rest” (Heb. 4:9) ---- all of them
are used to describe the true spiritual rest in Christ
namely
“the Sabbath”
in the times of the Old Testament ---- the seventh day (see v.4) and “the land
of rest”
which is typified by the land of Canaan (see Heb. 11:9).
“Entering
His rest”
“enter” means going into a certain sphere. The
third chapter mentions that the people of
“Let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it”
“fear”
it shows that the promise of
entering His rest is not only a kind of privilege but also responsibility. If
we neglect the right and are unwilling to obtain and enjoy it
we will be
condemned by God. “Come short of”: come behind
be later
fail;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is insufficient for believers to know the
Lord Jesus is their lord and they are delivered from the punishment of sins
only
for the salvation also includes entering His rest. Therefore
we shall be diligent to seek to obtain His perfect salvation.
2) We Christians are not occupied with nothing
after we are saved. Instead
there is a long race that is waiting for us to run
ahead. If we do not run well
we shall give an account to the Lord. Therefore
we shall fear.
3) Though all Christians will enter into the
sphere of eternal life ultimately (John 3:16)
each of us shall give an account
to God (
Heb. 4:2 “For indeed the gospel was
preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit
them
not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.”
YLT:
“for we also are having good news proclaimed
even as they
but the word heard
did not profit them
not being mixed with faith in those who heard
”
Meaning
of Words: “mix”: commingle
combine
assimilate;
Literal
Meaning: “for indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to
them”
“the gospel”
here
the gospel does not refer to the gospel of remission
but the good news of the
promise of entering His rest (see v.1); “as well as to them”
it indicates that
the good news of entering His rest is still preached as in the times of the Old
Testament.
“But the word which they heard did not profit them”
“the word” refers to
the good news preached to them
namely
the promise of entering His rest;
“Not being mixed with faith in those who heard it”
it means that they have no faith to
receive the word concerning entering His rest.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If Christians have not experienced the
perfect salvation that the gospel has brought to us
the reason must lie in our
own
for the gospel we have heard is totally the same with that others have
head and yet our response is different from that of others.
2) Faith is the only tool for us to receive the
word of God. Those who lack faith profit nothing from the word of God.
3) We shall have fellowship with God and read
His word by faith
for only faith makes our heart lean to God and desire to
enter His rest.
Heb. 4:3 “For we who have believed
do enter that rest
as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath
"They
shall not enter My rest
"' although the works were finished from the
foundation of the world.”
YLT:
“for we do enter into the rest -- we who did believe
as He said
`So I sware
in My anger
If they shall enter into My rest -- ;' and yet the works were done
from the foundation of the world
”
Literal
Meaning: “for we who have believed do enter that rest”
“who have believed”: those who have faith; “enter”
it
indicates that we are even enabled to enjoy the rest of God now
not until the
future.
This verse has clearly indicated faith is the condition of entering that
rest. Faith means that one believes God instead of himself and commits oneself
unto Him and lets Him fulfill full responsibilities. Therefore
faith means
honoring God more than anything
and God also highly respects our faith and
please to open the gracious door to all those who believe and greet them to
enter His rest.
“As He has said”
the perfect tense of “has said” shows the effect of
His word endures.
“"So I swore in My wrath
"They shall not enter
My rest"'”
it is quoted from the Book of Psalm (95:11).
“Swore”
it refers to very serious declaration. “Enter My rest”: enjoy the rest
that God has promised;
“Although the works were finished from the foundation of
the world”
“the works”: all
the works of God’s creation; “were finished”: it indicates that since the works
of God’s creation have already perfectly fulfilled because of His word (see Ps.
33:9)
it really sinful of the people of God that they are even unwilling to
believe His promise in spite of the power of His word (see Luke 1:37). No
wonder God swore in His wrath that they shall not enter His rest.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Whether one shall obtain that rest is
decided by his faith. Only those who really have faith are enabled to enter
that rest.
2) We are now able to enjoy the rest and
blessings kept for us in the future by faith. We appropriate the promise of God
by faith (see v.1).
3) The eyes of faith make us see God himself.
Only Him is our rest. The eyes of faith also make us see the works of God have
already finished and all things are in His hands working for good to those who
love God (
4) Many Christians are unable to enjoy the rest
of God
for they do not know the power of God. He can keep all that we have
committed to Him (see 2Tim. 1:12).
Heb. 4:4 “For He has spoken in a
certain place of the seventh day in this way: "And God rested on the
seventh day from all His works";”
YLT:
“for He spake in a certain place concerning the seventh thus: `And God did rest
in the seventh day from all His works;'”
Meaning
of Words: “rest”: cease
settle down;
Literal
Meaning: “for He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in
this way”
“the
seventh day”: the seventh day
of God’s creation; “a certain place”: Gen. 2:2;
“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”
“rest”
it contains the meaning of
“ceasing from the works” as well as “fulfillment”.
Heb. 4:5 “and again in this place:
"They shall not enter My rest."”
YLT:
“and in this again
`If they shall enter into My rest -- ;'”
Literal
Meaning: “and again in this place”
the word in verse three is repeated as below.
“They
shall not enter My rest.” This is the third
time that the same word is mentioned (see v.3; 3:11).
Heb. 4:6 “Since therefore it
remains that some must enter it
and those to whom it was first preached did
not enter because of disobedience
”
YLT:
“since then
it remaineth for certain to enter into it
and those who did first
hear good news entered not in because of unbelief --”
Meaning
of Words: “disobedience”: disbelief
unbelief;
Literal
Meaning: “since therefore it remains that some must enter it”
“it remains”
whether it is “those who remain” or “the rest that remains”
the Bible exegetes
have not reached an agreement. Since God has commanded that someone “shall not”
enter the rest (see v.5)
the rest are those who “are able to” enter into the
rest.
“And those to whom it was first preached”
“preach”: the
preachment of the good news of entering His rest (see v.2).
“Did not enter because of disobedience”
“disobedience”
is different from “unbelief” (see Heb. 3:12
19). “unbelief”: the condition of
unbelieving; “disobedience”: the action of unbelieving;
According to the third and fourth chapters
of this book
“hardening of one’s heart” (see v.7; 3:8
13
15) and “unbelief”
(see v.2; 3:12
19) and “disobedience” (see v.6
11) are synonymous
which are
interchangeable with one another. Someone gives the following explanation: 1)
firstly
men do not know God for they “err in heart” (3:10); 2) then
they do
not believe the word of God; 3) they become “hardened in heart” and are
unwilling to hear the word of God; 4) thus
they have works of “disobedience”;
5) they are counted as those who do “not believe”.
Heb. 4:7 “again He designates a
certain day
saying in David
"Today
" after such a long time
as it
has been said: "Today
if you will hear His voice
Do not harden your hearts."”
YLT:
“again He doth limit a certain day
`To-day
' (in David saying
after so long a
time
) as it hath been said
`To-day
if His voice ye may hear
ye may not
harden your hearts
'”
Meaning
of Words: “designates”: mark out
appoint;
Literal
Meaning:
“again He designates a certain day
saying in David
"Today
" after
such a long time”
“in David”: in the Book of Psalm; the Jews often
call the Book of Psalm “the Book of David”
and call the Book of Genesis
and
the Book of Exodus and the Book of Leviticus and the Book of Numbers and the
Book of Deuteronomy “the Pentateuch”
and call the Book of Proverbs and the
Book of Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs “the Books of Wisdom of Solomon”.
“Again
He designates a certain day”
God gives a
chance again.
“As it has been said”
it refers to the word in chapter three (Heb.
3:7-8) quoted from the Book of Psalm (95:7-8). This is the third time of
mentioning this verse.
“Today
if you will hear His voice
Do not harden your
hearts”
“today”: the
present chance; note that the importance of the word “today” can be viewed from
the seven times mentioning of it (Heb. 1:5; 3:7
13
15; 4:7; 5:5; 13:8).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers lose the spiritual blessings
because of their neglect of the chances of being blessed and failure to catch
the day that God has designated instead of their sins.
2) He who has wisdom is the one who knows how
to catch the opportunity (see Eph. 5:15-16).
3) “Today” is a chance gifted by God to us. And
we have to catch “today” to hear His word
for today may be the last day of us.
Heb. 4:8 “For if Joshua had given
them rest
then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.”
YLT:
“for if Joshua had given them rest
He would not concerning another day have
spoken after these things;”
Literal
Meaning: “for if Joshua had given them rest”
“Joshua”: the leader Hosea
who brought the people of
“For if … had given them rest”
it is in
subjunctive mood
which shows that Joshua had not given them rest.
“Then He would not afterward have spoken of another day”
“another day”
is “today” (see v.7; 3:7
13
15)
namely
the rest that God has promised to
remain for us (see v.9).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though the people of
2) If a promise of God has not been fulfilled
on us
it does not mean that His promise has failed
for we have not given the
chance to let the promise fulfilled on us (see 2Cor. 1:20).
Heb. 4:9 “There remains therefore a
rest for the people of God.”
YLT:
“there doth remain
then
a sabbatic rest to the people of God
”
Meaning
of Words: “rest”: the Sabbatismos
rest”
which appears only once in the New Testament and is different from the
Sabbath.
Literal
Meaning:
“therefore”
this is a word
linking between the words before it and that after it
showing that the people
of
“There
remains a rest for the people of God.”
“A rest”: a rest that is different from the Sabbath
of the Old Testament. The purpose of God’s setting the Sabbath in the Old
Testament is to let men rest from the labor every week off day and enjoy the
rest that God’s creation brings to them with God. However
such rest is not
real rest
for it only typifies the mental and spiritual rest that the works of
God’s new creation bring to men (see Eph. 2:10; 2Cor. 5:17). That rest is a sabbatic rest
which is obtained in Christ by faith (see
Heb. 3:14).
The famous Bible scholar Westcott translates this
verse as follows: “even believers who live in this age can also pre-taste that
sabbatic rest. One needs only to reckon himself to be dead and obey Christ
totally. It is no longer he that lives
but Christ living in him (Gal. 2:20).
He has totally rested from his own works”.
Controversial Clarification: it is held in the Seventh-day Adventist that
believers in the New Testament shall still keep the Sabbath. However
we cannot
approve of it for the reasons as follows:
1) The Sabbath is a shadow of things to come
but the body of Christ (
2) He who does not keep the Sabbath does not
destroy the commandments of God
for Jesus Christ has fulfilled the
requirements of the law concerning the Sabbath for us (see Matt. 5:17-19).
Today
we just enjoy the salvation that Christ has fulfilled for us today ----
the real rest.
3) As the “Son of Man”
He said it became him
to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15). He did not command the disciples to
keep the Sabbath
but let the Jews judge him violation of the Sabbath.
Therefore
the Jews schemed to kill Jesus (Luke 4:16
31; 6:1-6; 13:11-17;
14:1-6; John 5:18).
4) The apostle Paul was a Pharisee
and
fulfilled all the righteousness in the law (Phil. 3:5-6). He entered into the
synagogue many times on the Sabbath for the purpose of preaching when the Jews
were gathered rather than keeping the Sabbath (Acts 13:13-41
44-49; 16:13-14;
18:4).
5) The Lord Jesus said that the Sabbath was
made on account of man
not man on account of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). The
purpose of God’s setting the Sabbath in the times of the Old Testament is
leading men to know the Lord of the Sabbath ---- Christ. Now
Christ has come
we are not under the law (Gal. 3:24-25).
6) Believers in the New Testament keep the
Lord’s day instead of the Sabbath ---- it is not changing or destroying the law
of God (see Dan. 7:25)
for we are not under law but under grace (Rom. 6:14;
7:4; Gal. 5:18) and we have no need to put us under the yoke that even the Jews
are unable to bear (Acts 15:10).
7) We must keep all the moral commandments that
are ordered to keep in the New Testament
for example
worship God (forty
times)
not worship idols (twelve times)
honor one’s father and mother (six
times)
not commit adultery (twelve times)
not steal (six times)
not bear
false witness (four times)
not covet (nine times)
not kill (seven times).
Only the commandment of keeping the Sabbath among the “Ten Commandments” has
not appeared in the New Testament. Therefore
it is not set for Gentile
believers
and we need not to keep it. (Note that the commandment of not idly
uttering the name of Jehovah has not clearly mentioned
but we it can be seen
from the Lord’s Prayer that “hallowed be thy name”).
8) Those who are of the Seventh-day Adventist
only keep the Sabbath apparently
and fail to keep all the customs of the
Sabbath perfectly
e.g. keep it for twenty-four hours (Lev. 23:32)
bear no
burden (Jer. 17:21)
kindle no fire (Ex. 35:3)
not cook or bake (Ex. 16:23)
etc. If one offends in one
he has come under the guild of all (James 2:10).
Therefore
they have not kept the Sabbath perfectly.
9) When the Lord was crucified
He had already
nailed the law which was contrary to us to the cross (Col. 2:14). Therefore
the law of the Sabbath can no longer bind believers in the New Testament. Why
need we put us into the net and under the yoke (Gal. 5:1)?
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since there is a rest remaining for
believers in the New Testament
if we are qualified
we can even pre-taste the
rest today.
2) The rest that believers in the New Testament
enjoy is not only the deliverance from heavy labor and burden (Matt. 11:28) but
also the enjoyment that the Lord is our rest.
Heb. 4:10 “For he who has entered His
rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”
YLT:
“for he who did enter into his rest
he also rested from his works
as God from
His own.”
Meaning
of Words: “cease…from”: desist;
Literal
Meaning: “for he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased
from his works”
“ceased from his works”: cease from the vain works that go against
God
namely
removing the dead works (see Heb. 9:14)
totally relying on God and enjoying the rest in God’s arms;
“As God
did from His”
“as God did”
it
indicates that the real rest of man is like the rest of God. “Did from His”
it
shows that God’s rest originated from His perfect satisfaction with His
creation without any addiction or improvement and therefore he ceased from His
works and enjoyed the fulfillment of His works in rest (see Gen. 2:2-3). “As”
it means that God ceases from His works because of His satisfaction with His
works and man shall in like manner also satisfy because of God’s satisfaction
and thus cease from our works and enjoy the salvation that He has accomplished
for us.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God’s ceasing from His works shows His
perfect satisfaction with His works. Our ceasing from our works also shows our
perfect satisfaction with God’s works.
2) If believers desire to enjoy the rest of
God
they have to receive the works of God and satisfy with what God satisfies.
Thus
they will have the rest as that of God.
3) No matter how man works
he can not work to
a flawlessly perfect degree
so he can not enter into perfect rest. Only when
man ceases from his own works and lets God work can he obtain the rest as that
of God.
Heb. 4:11 “Let us therefore be
diligent to enter that rest
lest anyone fall according to the same example of
disobedience.”
YLT:
“May we be diligent
then
to enter into that rest
that no one in the same
example of the unbelief may fall
”
Meaning
of Words: “diligent”: earnest;
Literal
Meaning: “let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest”
the meaning of “be diligent” is totally opposite to “ceasing from his
works” (see v.10)
but they are not contradictory. “Ceasing from his works”:
cease from labor in one’s flesh; “be diligent”: hold the faith earnestly and
let one not follow that example of disobedience;
“Lest anyone fall according to the same example of
disobedience”
“lest”
if it is
not so
there will be bad results; “according to the same example of disobedience”: follow the examples of failure; “fall”: be
judged unqualified and thus unable to attain the goal;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Concerning the matter of entering that rest
Christians are not “diligent to work”
but “are diligent not to work” and look
unto and trust in the Lord only.
2) Everyone is supposed to take responsibility
for his own spiritual condition ---- this is our personal relationship with
God. And no individual or group can replace our personal faith toward God.
3) We are able to replace our faith toward and
obedience to God by nothing. We have none way of obtaining rest and joy than
faith and obedience
and thus we are enabled to enter into Christ and live in
His rest.
Heb. 4:12 “For the word of God is
living and powerful
and sharper than any two-edged sword
piercing even to the
division of soul and spirit
and of joints and marrow
and is a discerner of
the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
YLT:
“for the reckoning of God is living
and working
and sharp above every
two-edged sword
and piercing unto the dividing asunder both of soul and
spirit
of joints also and marrow
and a discerner of thoughts and intents of
the heart;”
Meaning
of Words: “word”: logos; “living”: to live
quicken; “powerful”: operative
effectual; “sharper”: more keen; “discerner”: judge;
Literal
Meaning: “for the word of God is living and powerful”
“the word of God”:
the abiding word of God; here it especially refers to the word of His promise
concerning entering into His rest that is preached to the people of Israel and
to us through the gospel (see v.1-2)
namely
the word of the Old Testament and
the New Testament in the Scriptures. “Living”: the manifestation of the life in
the word; God is the origin of life and so His word is full of power of life
(Luke 1:37). “Powerful”
it is the effect of the spirit in the word that will
shine and enable man to discern (see Ps. 119:105
130).
If the word of God in the Scriptures is translated into the transient
word (rhema)
it is the spirit and life (John 6:63) to those who have heard
(see v.2
7). Therefore
it is living and powerful.
“And sharper than any two-edged sword”
“two-edged sword”
it indicates the power of piercing and
division.
“Piercing even to the division of soul and spirit
and of
joints and marrow
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”
“soul and spirit”:
man is composed of spirit and soul and body (see 1Thess. 5:23). The physical
body is easily seen. However
the internal soul and spirit are often confused
so the feelings and activities of the soul life are often misunderstood as that
of the spirit and many problems are thus caused. Therefore
it is necessary to
discern between them.
“Joints and marrow”
marrow is deep in the hollow center of bones. If the joints are not open
man
cannot see the marrow. Therefore
here they are used to compare the deepest
thoughts hidden in man’s heart
namely
“the thoughts and intents of the heart”.
“Piercing even to the division”
“pierce”: penetrate into
go through;
“division”: divide into different parts; “piercing even to the division”
it shows that the word of God has the
penetrating power to discern the hidden and obscure thoughts and intents of
man.
“And is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart”
“heart” includes
mind and emotion and will and conscience; “thoughts”: the thoughts in man’s
mind; “intents”: the decision in man’s will; “discerner”
it is used to
describe that the husbandmen divide the wheat and the chaff with dustpan
and
here it refers to the division between good and evil of the thoughts and
intents of the heart.
Verse twelve and thirteen after the
exhortation concerning rest show that God is willing to help us to obtain such
spiritual rest though His “word” ---- “His word shall be that goes forth out of
my … accomplish that for which I send it” (Is. 55:11).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Scriptures the word of God is living and
powerful.
a)
The word of God is
the sword of the spirit (Eph. 6:17)
which is able to penetrate into man and
manifest his internal condition and intent (Heb. 4:12).
b)
The word of God is a
mirror that manifests one’s true colors (James 1:22-25)
which is able to shine
and manifest one’s reality (
c)
The word of God is a
burning fire (Jer. 23:29)
which is able to burn up the impurities of man’s
heart (Jer. 5:14) and to make one’s heart burning (Luke 24:32).
d)
The word of God is
like a hammer breaking the rock in pieces (Jer. 23:29).
e)
The word of God is
the incorruptible seed (1Pet. 1:23)
which is able to regenerate those who have
heard it (
f)
The word of God is
the spiritual milk (1Pet. 2:2-3)
which is able to make the spiritual life
grown up and built (Matt. 4:4; Heb. 5:12-14; Acts. 20:32).
g)
The word of God is
the light that brings believers (Ps. 119:105).
h)
The word of God is
the water that cleanses and sanctifies believers (John. 15:3; 17:17)
which is
able to wash the church to be holy and blameless (Eph. 5:25-26).
i)
The word of God is
the weighted line that measures believers
which makes men approved unto God
(2Tim. 2:15).
2) The word of God is powerful. Once it is gone
forth
it shall not return unto God void
but it shall do that which He pleases
(Is. 55:10-11).
3) The marrow is hidden deeply in the bones
and the spirit is also hidden deeply in soul likewise. If we desire to divide
the joints and the marrow
the joints shall be pierced and divided. In like
manner
if the spirit and soul shall be divided
the soul shall be pierced and
divided.
4) Only the word of God has the power of
penetrating into and dividing our soul. The light in the word of God enables us
to discern what is out of the mind and emotion and will of soul so that we will
know some of our feelings and activities are out of our soul life instead of
spirit.
5) The Lord’s word tells us
“if anyone desires
to come after me
let him deny himself and take up His cross and follow me”
(Matt. 16:24). And the life of one’s self is his soul (Matt. 16:25). Therefore
concerning the matter of following the Lord
man’s soul must be dealt with.
6) We must deny our soul
i.e. not set our soul
on things that are of men (Matt. 16:23;
7) God is a God who searches reins and hearts
(Rev.2:23). And God’s word is also able to penetrate into man’s inmost heart
(see Acts 2:37) and discern the thoughts and intents of his heart and expose his
manifest motives.
8) Only when man’s life and mind are totally
shone by God’s living word of life can he enter into real rest.
9) Once a believer has the watering and shining
of God’s word
he will understand the will of God and receive the power of life
so as to keep the will of God.
10) God’s word is living and powerful and is
swifter and is able to pierce and divide and discern. The word of God has the
following effects on us:
a)
It is not dead
letter
so is able to provide life to quicken man.
b)
It is not stagnant
but living and operative
so is able to renew man’s strength.
c)
It is not dull or
slow
but swift and sharp
so is able to make man pricked in heart.
d)
The piercing power
of God’s word is able to deal with the inmost problems of man.
e)
The dividing and
discerning power of God’s word helps man to measure and judge him.
Heb. 4:13 “And there is no creature
hidden from His sight
but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to
whom we must give account.”
YLT:
“and there is not a created thing not manifest before Him
but all things naked
and open to His eyes -- with whom is our reckoning.”
Meaning
of Words: “no hidden”: manifest
reveal; “word”: logos; “naked”: nude; “open”: lay bare;
Literal
Meaning: “and there is no creature hidden from His sight”
“from His sight”:
from God’s sight; here the writer of this book joints the works of God with the
works of God’s word (see v.12)
showing that the effect of God’s word in us is
the result of God’s works in us by the Spirit (see John 14:16; 16:13).
“There is no…”: all of them are…; “no hidden”: one’s neck is jerked
backward in the wrestling and thus his face turns upward. It is used to
describe the defenseless condition against any attack.
“But all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to
whom we must give account”
“to the eyes of Him to whom
we must give account”: it indicates that
we have to be responsible to God.
This verse is composed of two clauses. The
first one is double negative ---- “there is no creature hidden from His sight”
and the second one is double positive
---- “all things are naked and open”.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) No matter what we do
we cannot escape from
the Lord’s sight. Therefore
our walking shall be worthy of the Lord’s calling
(Eph. 4:1).
2) If we desire to give good account to God
we
have to keep His word. Therefore
we shall trust in God’s word more and keep it
more faithfully.
3) The word of God can help man to sift the
wheat from the chaff (see v.12)
and even all things are unable to be hidden
before Him. Hidden things tend to be with filth. However
if they are open to
all
they will not be hidden and are easy to be cleansed (see Eph. 5:12-13).
Heb. 4:14 “Seeing then that we have
a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens
Jesus the Son of God
let us hold fast our confession.”
YLT:
“Having
then
a great chief priest passed through the heavens -- Jesus the Son
of God -- may we hold fast the profession
”
Meaning
of Words: “hold fast”: use strength
seize
retain;
Literal
Meaning: “seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has
passed through the heavens”
“then”
it indicates that the following word
corresponds to the word in chapter three “consider the Apostle and High Priest
of our confession
Jesus” (Heb. 3:1). “Through the heavens”
it means that he
has not remained when he passes through the first and second heavens
but
ascents into the third heaven before the throne of God (see 2Cor. 12:2; Rev.
5:6). “Honor” shows that His person and works and fulfillments are much
honorable and glorious (see Heb. 1:3
8; 2:9; 6:19; 9:24).
“High
Priest”
it is contrast
with “the Apostle” (see Heb. 3:1). Both of them refer to two different
ministries of Christ: “the Apostle”: the one who is sent by God and represents
God before men or brings God to men; “the High Priest”: the one who represents
those who are of God and brings us to God and fulfills the ministry of mediator
for us (see Heb. 7:21-25; 8:1
6).
“Jesus the Son of God”
“the Son of God” refers to His divinity;
“Jesus” refers to His humanity. Both the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ
make Him fit to fulfill the ministry of the High Priest and be the mediator
between God and men.
“Let us hold fast our confession”
“our
confession” refers to our
faith
namely
“the common faith” (Titus 1:4; Judas v.3).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We have a great High Priest. All that He is
and He has and He does and He has experienced are for us. We are able to
appropriate all that are of Him to deal with our deed.
2) Many times
we are oppressed by our
surrounding and unable to transcend it. However
the High Priest who is willing
to help us has passed
through the heavens and put everything
under His feet. Once we ask for Him
He will make us overcome all.
3) He is “Jesus the Son of God”
who has both
divinity and humanity ---- He has the power of God on one hand and is able to
condescend to the weakness of men (see v.15). Only He is worthy of our trust.
4) We can only appropriate His riches by faith.
Once we have lost the faith
we will be unable to have fellowship with the High
Priest
Jesus. Therefore
we “have to hold fast our confession”
and this is
His only requirement for us.
Heb. 4:15 “For we do not have a High
Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses
but was in all points tempted
as we are
yet without sin.”
YLT:
“for we have not a chief priest unable to sympathise with our infirmities
but
tempted in all things in like manner -- apart from sin;”
Meaning
of Words: “sympathize”: feel sympathy with; “without
sin”: be separated from sin
outside of sin;
Literal
Meaning: “for we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses”
“sympathize”: identify with
have empathy with; “our
weakness”: our inborn weakness in the flesh
for example
our weariness
and
our inclination of escape in difficulties and bitterness
etc.
“But was in all points tempted as we are”
“in all points”:
three sorts of temptations that we may encounter in lifetime (see 1John 2:16)
instead of all the details of everyone; “was tempted”
it indicates that the
Lord Jesus had been tempted on the same principle and yet he has overcome
(Matt. 4:1-11).
“Yet without sin”
it means that he has never fallen into the traps when he is tempted ---- not
only perfect in actions but also innocent in mind. It is just like a doctor
who has not the symptoms of the patient
but he totally understands the
suffering of the patient and knows how to cure him.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Who is weak
and I am not weak (2Cor.
11:29)? Weakness is not sin
but man may commit sins because of weakness.
Therefore
we shall discern our weakness appropriately and seek the solutions.
2) Christ is our help in weakness: a) He is
able to sympathies with our weakness; 2) He graciously grants sufficient power
to dwell upon us (2Cor. 12:9).
3) If a man in his failure knows that another
one has not failed in the same experience
he will surely be comforted and
encouraged.
4) Since He was in all points tempted
He was able to sympathize with our weaknesses. And He is without sin
so He can help all those who are trapped in sin.
5) The Lord sympathizes with our weakness
not
sin. His sympathy will finally enable us to overcome sins so that we will more
than conquer.
Heb. 4:16 “Let us therefore come
boldly to the throne of grace
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help
in time of need.”
YLT:
“we may come near
then
with freedom
to the throne of the grace
that we may
receive kindness
and find grace -- for seasonable help.”
Meaning
of Words: “boldly”: confidence
frankness; “come”: draw near; “in time of”:
well-timed
opportune;
Literal
Meaning: “let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace”
“boldly”: be full of confidence; it means that we
need only to confess our sins frankly and let our need be made known to God
without any confusion or panic; “us…come”: the repeated and habitual and
continual activities; “come”: draw near; this word in the Septuagint is used to
describe the action of the priest’s drawing near God when he fulfilled the
ministry. Now the priest’s privilege of drawing near God has been passed to
Christians. “The
throne of grace”
it is the
mercy-seat on the ark of the testimony in the times of the Old Testament (Ex.
26:34)
which symbolizes the presence (Lev. 16:2) and grace of God.
“Come
boldly to the throne of grace”
since it is throne
it may refer to the throne of
God in the heavens and of the Lamb (see Rev. 7:17; 22:1
3). And it must not be
things after the Rapture that we who still live on the earth are enabled to
come to the throne. Here
it relates to the true worship in spirit (see John
4:23-24)
for God and Christ have now dwelt in our spirit (
“That we may obtain mercy and find grace”
“obtain mercy”
it shows that we need the mercy of our High
Priest because of the failure and sins in our past (see Heb. 2:17); “and
find grace”
it points that we
need the help of our faithful High Priest (Heb. 2:17) for the sake of the
present difficulty and possible impending problems.
“To help in time of need”
“help”
the word in the original is composed of
crying and running
which is used to describe a mother who come immediately
when she hears the crying of her baby. Here
it points that He will immediately
give us help as long as we ask for Him with boldness.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Only those who know Him will come to Him
with boldness. Therefore we shall seek more knowledge about the Lord and His
person and works.
2) We come to the throne of grace
not the
throne of judgment. If God only sits on the throne of judgment
there will be
serious consequences for the world.
3) “Mercy”
God provides His mercy for man to
appropriate at any time in his weakness (see v.15). “Grace”
it is sought and
found according to the personal need.
4) “Grace” is none other than Himself who has
become our enjoyment and experience. And the One we enjoy and experience has
become our power in weakness and help at any time.
5) The High Priest among men can help others
once a year (the Atonement Day). However
the High Priest in the heavens helps
us not only everyday but also at anytime.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Reason for Fear
A.
lest
any of you seem to have come short of it (v.1);
B.
For
indeed the gospel was preached to us (v.2);
C.
For God
swore in His wrath that those who did
not believe would not enter His
rest (v
D.
For the rest of God
remains for us from the foundation of the
world (v.3b-10);
1.
God rested on the
seventh day
which proved that there was another spiritual rest (v.3-4
10);
2.
God’s promise of
entering into rest of the
3.
God
designates a certain day by David
which proves that there is
another spiritual rest (v.7);
4.
God mentioned
another day for Joshua had not given them rest (v.8);
5.
The conclusion:
there is another rest remaining for us (v.9);
E.
For someone
fell according to the same
example of disobedience (v.11);
Know the Rest
A. “His rest” (v.1
3
5
10) ---- it is the
rest that God enjoys
and only Him is able to give such rest;
B. We can only enjoy such rest by faith. Those
who do not believe or obey will not enter into the rest (v.2-3
6
11);
C. It is the rest that are enjoyed after works
(v.3-4
10) ---- we can enjoy such rest only after we rest from our works
and
appreciate and satisfy with the works of God;
D. It is the rest that God foretold His people
many times (v.7-8);
E. It is the rest that God remains for His people
(v.9) ---- only the real people of God is capable to enjoy and obtain such
rest;
F.
The word of God
helps to obtain and enjoy such rest (v.2
6-7
12-13);
Let Us Be Diligent to Enter That Rest
A. Let us seek the highest and fullest will of
God (v.1);
B. Let us receive the gospel that God has
promised by faith (v.2-3);
C. The three aspects of meaning of rest
(v.3-11);
1. The rest that God’s works have been finished
---- the rest on the seventh day (v.3-6
10):
a.All the works of God are perfect works (v.3).
b.The works of God need never to be added or modified
or changed (v.4-5).
c. All the continuous labor is the sign
of unbelief (v.3
5-6);
d.Let us utterly enter into that rest on account of
the works of Christ (v.10).
2. The rest that the death of Christ purifies
our natural life ---- the rest that Joshua brought the people into (v.8-11);
a.It is drift in ourselves
and rest in Christ ----
this is a spiritual law (v.10);
b.The rest of entering into
c. The death of Christ shall destroy all the
difficulties of our natural life (v.8-9);
d.The works of the cross bring us into the experience
of the rest (v.10-11);
3. Christ in the Spirit is our true rest ----
the rest that David promised (v.7
9);
a.Christ is the end of all the meaning of the rest
(v.9);
b.There remains a rest for the people of God (v.9);
c. The full Christ is the rest of God’s
people (v.7);
D. The living word of God is our power that
enables us to enter into the rest (v.12-13);
1. The working of God’s word full of life ----
it is living (v
2. The word of God with full effect ---- it is
powerful (v.12b);
3. The word of God with the fearful power of
light (v
a.The division of soul and
spirit
---- the natural life is shone and smitten and
demolished
;
b.The division of joints and
marrow ---- the most hidden and complicated part of the
whole man;
c. The
division of the thoughts
and intents of the heart ---- heart and motivation;
4. God’s word is the Lord Himself (v.13);
Things that Christians Shall Do Diligently
A. Let us be diligent to enter that rest
lest we all (v.1
11);
B. Let us be diligent to hold fast the faith
lest we lose the promise of
God (v.2-3
6
11);
C. Let us be diligent to read the words of God
lest we sin against God
(v.12-13);
D. Let us be diligent to pray more to God
lest we lose help (v.14-16);
The Transcendence of Christ as the High
Priest
A. He is the great High Priest who has passed
through the heavens (v
B. He is the Jesus the Son of God (v.14b) ---- who has the life that is of
God;
C. He sympathizes with our weaknesses (v
D. He was in all points tempted as we are
yet without sin (v.15b) ---- who has victorious experience
in many things;
E. He sits on the throne of grace (v
F. He is ready to give us help in time of need (v.16b) ---- who enables man to fulfill the
mission;
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou