Hebrews 4:2-6 ASV

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:3

Rest a present possession of the Christian believer. "For we which have believed do enter into rest." The use of the present tense here ("do enter") has caused some difficulty to some expositors. Alford explains the text thus, that they are to enter into the rest who at the time of the fulfillment of the promise shall be found to have believed. Stuart points out that in "the idiom of the Bible, the present tense is often used as a universal tense, embracing time past, present, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:3-10

The course of Christian effort is justified by the certainty of a future rest. In these verses we have the gradual development of the idea of rest, which begins with the sabbath rest, in which God saw that all that he had made was very good, and he blessed the work of his hands. To keep this fact before the minds of Israel he ordained the celebration of the weekly sabbath, in which, as the Lord of time, he required his people to remit their daily labors, and acknowledge him as the Creator... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:4-5

For he hath said somewhere ( που cf. Hebrews 2:6 ) of the seventh day on this wise, And God rested the seventh day from all his works; and in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Here the argument is carried out. The first passage quoted shows what must be understood by the "rest of God;" the second shows that it still remains open, that "it remaineth that some should enter thereinto." This being the case— read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:6-7

Since therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached entered not in because of disobedience, he again defineth a certain day, saying in David, after so long a time, Today; as it hath been before said, Today, if ye will hear his voice, etc. The continued openness of the rest, and the failure of the Israelites of old to enter it, are the reasons why a further day for entering was defined in the psalm. But here the thought is... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:2

For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them - This translation by no means conveys the sense of the original. According to this it would seem that the “gospel,” as we understand it, or the whole plan of salvation, was communicated to “them,” as well as to “us.” But this is by no means the idea. The discussion has reference only to “the promise of rest,” and the assertion of the apostle is that this “good news” of a promise of rest is made to us as really as it was made to “them.”... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:3

For we which have believed do enter into rest - That is, it is a certain fact that believers “will” enter into rest. That promise is made to “believers;” and as we have evidence that “we” come under the denomination of believers, it will follow that we have the offer of rest as well as they. That this is so, the apostle proceeds to prove; that is, he proceeds to show from the Old Testament that there was a promise to “believers” that they would enter into rest. Since there was such a promise,... read more

Albert Barnes

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

For he spake - Genesis 2:2. “And God did rest.” “At the close of the work of creation he rested. The work was done. “That” was the rest of God. He was happy in the contemplation of his own works; and he instituted that day to be observed as a memorial of “his” resting from his works, and as a “type” of the eternal rest which remained for man.” The idea is this, that the notion of “rest” of some kind runs through all dispensations. It was seen in the finishing of the work of creation; seen in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:5

And in this place again - Psalms 95:11.If they shall enter - That is, they shall not enter; see the notes at Hebrews 3:11. The object of quoting this here seems to be two-fold:To show that even in this Psalm God spoke of “his” rest, and said that they should not enter into it; and, (2)It is connected with Hebrews 4:6, and is designed to show that it was implied that a rest yet remained. “That which deserves to be called “the divine rest” is spoken of in the Scriptures, and as “they” did not... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:6

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein - That is, “Since there is a rest spoken of in the Scriptures, implying that it is to be enjoyed by some, and since they to whom it was first promised did not inherit it, it follows that it must still be in reserve.” This is the conclusion which the apostle draws from the argument in the previous verses, and is connected with Hebrews 4:9, where he says that “there remaineth a rest to the people of God” - the point to which the whole... 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

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:3-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:4-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:6-7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:3

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:6

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

Group of Brands