Hebrews 4:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:1-11

The more terrible result of apostasy from Christ seen in the better rest to which Christ leads. Still dealing with the superiority of Christ to Moses. Having shown the possibility of departing from Christ as they did from Moses, he goes on to show that, since Christ was greater than Moses, the evil of departing from him was so much more terrible. There is a Divine promise of rest unexhausted in Old Testament times, and only fulfilled through faith in Christ. "Let us fear therefore, lest... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:1

Let us therefore fear - Let us be apprehensive that we may possibly fall of that rest. The kind of “fear” which is recommended here is what leads to caution and care. A man who is in danger of losing his life or health should be watchful; a seaman that is in danger of running on a lee-shore should be on his guard. So we who have the offer of heaven, and who yet are in danger of losing it, should take all possible precautions lest we fail of it.Lest a promise being left us - Paul assumes here... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 4:1-2

Hebrews 4:1-2. In this chapter, which is of the same nature with the foregoing, the apostle proceeds with his exhortation to the Hebrews, and all professing Christians, to faith, obedience, and perseverance; and enforces it by a most apposite and striking instance in the punishment which befel the Israelites, those ancient professors of the true religion, who were guilty of sins contrary to those duties. And the example, as has been often observed, was peculiarly suitable, taken from their... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 4:1-13

Warning against unbelief (3:7-4:13)The writer warns his disheartened Jewish readers with some reminders from Israel’s experiences in the wilderness (see Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13; Psalms 95:7-11). Those experiences show that people who appear to be God’s people may be so unbelieving, bitter and complaining, that they cannot enjoy the inheritance God has promised (7-11). They should resist the tendency to unbelief and stubbornness, by encouraging one another to maintain their faith with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 4:1

lest = lest haply. Greek. me pote. rest . Greek. katapausis. See Acts 7:49 . any . Greek. tis . App-123 . come short = have failed. Greek. hustereo. See Romans 3:23 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 4:1

EXHORTATION CONTINUED;THE CHRISTIAN'S REST ATTAINED BY FAITH;THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD;THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST;BOLDNESS AT THE THRONE OF GRACELet us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise of being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. (Hebrews 4:1)Why should people fear, especially Christians? Simply because great and eternal rewards are subject to forfeit as long as people are in the flesh, because a powerful and aggressive foe in the person of Satan... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 4:1

Hebrews 4:1. Let us therefore fear, &c.— The promise of God's rest, signifies such a rest as his is; namely, a state of peace and enjoyment, and freedom from labour. When a rest was promised to the children of Israel, it was a freedom from the uneasinesses and dangers of the wilderness; God's rest, when promised to the faithful Christians, is a freedom from troubles, in a state of eternal happiness. A promise then of this sort being made to us, we are to take care, not to neglect or... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:1

1. Let us . . . fear—not with slavish terror, but godly "fear and trembling" ( :-). Since so many have fallen, we have cause to fear ( :-). being left us—still remaining to us after the others have, by neglect, lost it. his rest—God's heavenly rest, of which Canaan is the type. "To-day" still continues, during which there is the danger of failing to reach the rest. "To-day," rightly used, terminates in the rest which, when once obtained, is never lost ( :-). A foretaste of the rest Is given in... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:1

The writer expressed concern in this verse that some of his readers might conclude that they had missed entering into their rest (i.e., their full spiritual inheritance). Apparently some of the original readers had doubts because the Lord had not yet returned. They expected Him to return soon after He ascended into heaven (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). Later the writer urged his readers to wait patiently for the Lord to return (Hebrews 10:36-37). None of the original... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:1-14

C. The Possibility of Rest for God’s People 4:1-14The writer returned again from exhortation to exposition. He now posed the alternatives of rest and peril that confronted the new people of God, Christians. It seems that this section ends with Hebrews 4:14 rather than 15 since 14 contains the end of an inclusio that begins in Hebrews 3:1. The writer warned his readers so they would not fail to enter into their rest."Since Moses was unable to lead the Israelites into Canaan, the writer reflects... read more

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