Hebrews 4:8-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 4:1-10

Here, I. The apostle declares that our privileges by Christ under the gospel are not only as great, but greater than those enjoyed under the Mosaic law. He specifies this, that we have a promise left us of entering into his rest; that is, of entering into a covenant-relation to Christ, and a state of communion with God through Christ, and of growing up therein, till we are made perfect in glory. We have discoveries of this rest, and proposals, and the best directions how we may attain unto it.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 4:1-10

4:1-10 It is true that the promise which offers entry into the rest of God still remains for us; but beware lest any of you be adjudged to have missed it. It is indeed true that we have had the good news preached to us, just as those of old had. But the word which they heard was no good to them, because it did not become woven into the very fibre of their being through faith. It is we who have made the decision of faith who are entering into the rest, for of them God said: "I swore in my... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 4:8

For if Jesus had given them rest ,.... That is, Joshua; for Hosheah, Joshua, and Jesus, are one and the same name; or Jesus himself, as two of Stephens's copies read; and so Joshua is called Jesus by the Septuagint interpreters on Exodus 17:10 and other places where he is mentioned; and also, by Josephus F8 Antiqu. Jud. l. 4. c. 7. sect. 2. c. 8. sect. 46, 47, 48. & l. 5. c. 1. sect. 1. & passim. , and Philo F9 De Charitate, p. 698, 699, 700. the Jew. The Syriac... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 4:9

Tamid, c. 7. sect. 4. T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 97. 1, Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. 16. 3. Massecheth Sopherim, c. 18. sect. 1. Tzeror Hammor, fol. 3. 1. F12 Zohar in Gen. fol. 31. 4. Shaare Orn, fol. 17. 1. Caphtor, fol. 64. 1. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:8

For if Jesus had given them rest - It is truly surprising that our translators should have rendered the Ιησους of the text Jesus, and not Joshua, who is most clearly intended. They must have known that the יהושע Yehoshua of the Hebrew, which we write Joshua, is everywhere rendered Ιησους , Jesus, by the Septuagint; and it is their reading which the apostle follows. It is true the Septuagint generally write Ιησους Ναυη , or Υἱος Ναυη , Jesus Nave, or Jesus, son of Nave, for it is... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:9

There, remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God - It was not, The rest of the Sabbath; it was not, The rest in the promised land, for the psalmist wrote long after the days of Joshua; therefore there is another rest, a state of blessedness, for the people of God; and this is the Gospel, the blessings it procures and communicates, and the eternal glory which it prepares for, and has promised to, genuine believers. There are two words in this chapter which we indifferently... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:8

Verse 8 8.For if Jesus had given them rest, or, had obtained rest for them, etc. He meant not to deny but that David understood by rest the land of Canaan, into which Joshua conducted the people; but he denies this to be the final rest to which the faithful aspire, and which we have also in common with the faithful of that age; for it is certain that they looked higher than to that land; nay, the land of Canaan was not otherwise so much valued except for this reason, because it was an image and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:1-11

The gospel rest. In this passage the writer explains what is to be understood by the "rest" to which God had invited his ancient people, and urges the Hebrews of his own day to strive to attain it as the most Divine of all blessings. I. THE REST OF GOD . "His rest" ( Hebrews 4:1 ); "my rest" ( Hebrews 4:3 , Hebrews 4:5 ). Rest belongs essentially to God, for he is all-perfect and self-harmonious. Being infinite in purity and love, in knowledge and power, he is the God... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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

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

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