Hebrews 4:2-6 ASV

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:6

6. it remaineth—still to be realized. some must enter—The denial of entrance to unbelievers is a virtual promise of entrance to those that believe. God wishes not His rest to be empty, but furnished with guests (Luke 14:23). they to whom it was first preached entered not—literally, "they who first (in the time of Moses) had the Gospel preached to them," namely, in type, see on Hebrews 4:2. unbelief—Greek, rather "disobedience" (see on Hebrews 4:2- :). 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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:2

What is the "good news" that both the Israelites and the original readers of this epistle had heard preached to them? It was probably the news about their inheritance and the possibility of entering into their rest. This seems clear from the context. This is not a reference to the gospel message. The good news the Israelites heard did not profit them because they refused to trust God but rebelled against Him. Likewise the good news of our inheritance and rest may not profit us if we fail to... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:3

A better translation of "we who have believed" would be "we who believe" (Gr. pisteusantes, aorist active participle). The writer was not looking back to initial faith that resulted in justification but to present faith that would result in entering into rest (inheritance). The quotation from Psalms 95:11 emphasizes the impossibility of entering without faith. The writer added that this was true even though God had planned rest for His people when He created the world. God’s purpose and... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:4-5

The writer evidently introduced the idea of God resting on the seventh day (cf. Hebrews 4:3) because it illustrates the fact that rest follows work. The work God called the Israelites in the wilderness to do was trusting and obeying Him. This would have resulted in rest from wandering in the wilderness, rest in the land, if they had carried this work out. The work He calls us to do is also continuing to trust and obey Him. If we do this we can look forward to receiving our full inheritance... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:6-7

All the descendants of Abraham did not lose their opportunity to receive God’s inheritance because the generation of Israelites living during the wilderness wanderings failed God. In David’s day God re-extended His offer of entering rest, and that generation had to respond. The title of Psalms 95 in the Septuagint credited David with writing it. They had their "today" of opportunity also. Every generation of believers needs to continue to trust and obey to enter into our rest... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Hebrews 4:4

4:4 works. (c-21) See Genesis 2:2 . read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Hebrews 4:6

4:6 word, (b-29) Apeitheo . see Note e, John 3:36 . 'Who had not hearkened to the word' is, I apprehend, the true force here. It is taken from the LXX, Numbers 14:43 and Deuteronomy 1:26 , which refer to the occasion on which God declared their carcases should fall in the wilderness. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:1-13

The Supremacy of Christ. The OT. itself testifies to His supremacy as God's Son over its own chief personages: (a) first the angels, through whom the Jews believed that creation had been effected and the Law given (Heb 1:4 to Heb 2:18).He is also superior (b) to Moses, the founder of the national religion, yet only a servant, whereas He is a Son (Heb 3:1-6), He is superior (c) to Joshua. He has rest to give, which Christians are warned not to miss by unfaith-fukiess, as Israel missed the rest... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:1-16

Jesus Christ, Giver or the Promised Rest, and High Priest to being Men to God1-13. Israel through unbelief failed to enter into the promised rest. The rest, therefore, remains open and a promise of entrance is made to us. Let us not make the same mistake and fail to enter in because of unbelief. For by no possibility can the most secret unbelief escape the searching eye of the living God.1. Being left] God’s promise of rest cannot fail. Israel having failed to enter into it, the promise remains... read more

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:6

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

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:2

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:3

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:4-5

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:6-7

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Hebrews 4:4

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Hebrews 4:6

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:1-13

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:1-16

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