17/01/2026
Commentaries — David Guzik
Study Guide for Hebrews 4
Click here to view listing below for Heb 4:1
« Prior Book
« Prior Chapter
Next Chapter »
Next Book »
Entering Into His Rest
A. How to enter God’s rest.
1. (Hebrews 4:1-2) The warning is repeated: don’t miss God’s rest.
Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 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.
a. Therefore: The idea is carried on without pause from Hebrews 3, that unbelief kept the generation that escaped Egypt from entering Canaan. The promise remains of entering His rest, and we can enter into that rest by faith. Unbelief will make us fall short of the rest God has for us.
i. The old Puritan commentator John Owen described five features of this rest for the believer:
Rest means peace with God.
Rest means freedom from a servile, bondage-like spirit in the worship and service of God.
Rest means deliverance from the burden of Mosaic observance.
Rest means the freedom of worship according to the gospel.
Rest means the rest that God Himself enjoys.
b. Let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it: This place of rest is so wonderful it should concern us when others or we seem to come short of it. It isn’t enough to almost enter His rest; we don’t want to come short of it.
i. Adam Clarke on come short: “It is an allusion, of which there are many in this epistle, to the races in the Grecian games: he that came short was he who was any distance, no matter how small, behind the winner.”
c. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them: Hearing God’s word isn’t enough. Ancient Israel heard the word but it did not profit them because they did not receive it with faith. Hearing gave them the opportunity, but the opportunity only profited if it was mixed with faith.
d. Mixed with faith: One may hear God’s word and have spiritual experiences, but unless the work of God is mixed with faith it will do no good. This explains why two people can hear the same message and one benefits while the other does not. It also shows that when there is more faith — more of the anticipation of blessing and favor from God — there is more blessing indeed.
i. Clarke on mixed: “It is a metaphor taken from the nutrition of the human body by mixing the aliment taken into the stomach with the saliva and gastric juice… so that on this process, properly performed, depend (under God) strength, health, and life itself.”
ii. Think of the joy Israel had in coming out of Egypt and approaching the Promised Land — and then think of all the graves dug in the desert. A wonderful promise was available but unattained. They came short because though they heard God’s word, it was not mixed with faith.
2. (Hebrews 4:3-5) The rest for God’s people is like God’s own rest.
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. 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”; and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”
a. We who have believed do enter that rest: This is in contrast to the previously mentioned ones who did not enter into God’s rest. Unbelief keeps many out of God’s rest; faith (we who have believed) guides God’s people into this rest.
b. My rest: This quote from Psalm 95:11 demonstrates that this rest is God’s; it is His rest. God finished His work of creation long before Israel came into Egypt or before David wrote Psalm 95 (Genesis 2:2). Yet, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world, He still spoke of “My rest” — demonstrating that God still has this rest.
i. This rest is after the pattern of God’s own rest on the seventh day from all His works, as described in the quote from Genesis 2:2.
ii. In a certain place reminds us that ancient scrolls were somewhat unwieldy, and specific passages were not precisely cited according to our more modern tools of chapter and verse.
3. (Hebrews 4:6-9) The rest that remains for the people of God.
Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 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.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.
a. Therefore it remains that some must enter it: God did not create this place of rest in vain. If Israel (those to whom it was first preached) failed to enter because of disobedience, then someone else would enter into that rest.
b. Today, if you will hear His voice: The appeal in Psalm 95:7-8 proves that there is a rest remaining for God’s people to enter, beyond the fulfillment under Joshua. If Joshua completely fulfilled the promise of rest, God’s appeal through David, saying “Today” makes no sense.
c. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God: All this together proves the point that there is a rest for the people of God. This is a rest that is spiritual, yet patterned after the rest provided for Israel through Joshua.
i. The mention of Joshua reminds us that the name “Jesus” is the same as “Joshua.” The second Joshua will finish what the first Joshua left unfinished. Jesus is greater than both Moses and the first Joshua.
ii. This rest is in a person — in Jesus Christ, more than in doctrines and ideas. If you meet a troubled, crying child and try to comfort them and give them rest using ideas and logic, it won’t do much good. But when mommy comes, the child is happy again.
iii. Those who preach this rest must possess it themselves. “Not long ago, one of our ministers was preaching upon salvation, and the work of the Spirit in the heart, when one of the congregation rose and asked him respectfully, ‘Sir, do you know all this by the report of others, or has this taken place in your own experience?’ The preacher was by no means put about by the question, but rather rejoiced in it; for he could honestly reply, ‘I have trusted Christ. I am saved, and I know and feel the peace which results there from.’ If he could not have made that solemn statement, he would have had no influence over the person who had put the question.” (Spurgeon)
4. (Hebrews 4:10) Rest means to not continue on in works.
For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
a. He who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works: Entering this rest means no longer needing to work. The idea isn’t that there is no longer any place for doing good works. The idea is that there is no longer any place for works as a basis for our own righteousness.
i. “There is a sense in which to enter Christian salvation means to cease from one’s works and rest securely on what Christ has done.” (Morris)
b. Ceased from his works as God did from His: This cessation from works as a basis for righteousness fulfills our “Sabbath rest.” God rested from His works on the original Sabbath of Genesis 2:2 because the work was finished. We cease from self-justifying works because Jesus finished the work on the cross.
5. (Hebrews 4:11) Applying the idea and the invitation to enter God’s rest through faith.
Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
a. Let us therefore: This phrase, or this idea, appears repeatedly in the Book of Hebrews. A doctrinal truth is presented — in this case, the truth of a remaining rest available by faith — then the truth is applied.
b. Be diligent to enter that rest: The rest is there, but God does not force it upon us. We must enter that rest. Clearly, the rest is entered by faith; but it takes diligent faith. This shows us that faith is not passive; it takes diligence to trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus and His work for us.
c. Lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience: If we are not diligent to enter that rest, the result can be a disaster. We may fall according to the same example of disobedience. We may fall, even as the children of Israel did in the wilderness.
6. (Hebrews 4:12-13) Found out by God’s Word.
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. 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.
a. For the word of God: God’s Word diagnoses the condition of man with a surgeon’s precision. It lays open the heart and accurately discerns spiritual health. In the case of those the writer to the Hebrews first addressed, they were too ready to follow in the failure of the children of Israel and to give up strong, living faith.
b. Living and powerful: When the word of God exposes our weakness and unbelief like this, it demonstrates its inherent power, sharpness, and accuracy. It bears constant reminding that as we submit ourselves to the word of God, we do it for far, far more than intellectual knowledge or to learn Bible facts. We do it for the ministry of the Word, because God meets us in His Word and the Holy Spirit works powerfully through the word of God. This spiritual work of God’s Word goes far beyond the basic educational value of learning the Bible.
i. God’s word brings true health, fruitfulness, prosperity and success to what we do. (Psalm 1:3)
ii. The word of God has healing power and the power to deliver from oppression. (Psalm 107:20, Matthew 8:8, Matthew 8:16)
iii. God’s word cleans us. If we take heed according to God’s word, our way will be cleansed. (Psalm 119:9, John 15:3, Ephesians 5:26)
iv. The word of God, hidden in our hearts, keeps us from sin. (Psalm 119:11)
v. God’s word is a counselor. When we delight in God’s word, it becomes a rich source of counsel and guidance for us. (Psalm 119:24)
vi. God’s word is a source of strength. (Psalm 119:28)
vii. God’s word imparts life. It is a continual source of life. (Psalm 119:93, Matthew 4:4)
viii. God’s word is a source of illumination and guidance. When God’s word comes in, light comes in. It makes the simple wise and understanding. (Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130)
ix. God’s word gives peace to those who love it. They are secure, standing in a safe place. (Psalm 119:165)
x. When the word of God is heard and understood, it bears fruit. (Matthew 13:23)
xi. The word of God has inherent power and authority against demonic powers. (Luke 4:36)
xii. Jesus Himself — His eternal person — is described as the Word. When we are into the word of God, we are into Jesus. (John 1:1)
xiii. Hearing God’s Word is essential to eternal life. One cannot pass from death into life unless they hear the word of God. (John 5:24, James 1:21, 1 Peter 1:23)
xiv. Abiding — living in — God’s word is evidence of true discipleship. (John 8:31)
xv. God’s word is the means to sanctification. (John 17:17)
xvi. The Holy Spirit can work with great power as the word of God is preached. (Acts 10:44)
xvii. Hearing God’s word builds faith. (Romans 10:17)
xviii. Holding fast to the word of God gives assurance of salvation. (1 Corinthians 15:2)
xix. The faithful handling of the word of God gives the ministers of the word a clear conscience. They know that they did all they could before God. (2 Corinthians 4:2, Philippians 2:16)
xx. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is equipment for spiritual battle, especially in the idea of an offensive weapon. (Ephesians 6:17)
xxi. The word of God comes with the power of the Holy Spirit, with “much assurance.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
xxii. The word of God works effectively in those who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
xxiii. The word of God sanctifies the very food we eat! (1 Timothy 4:5)
xxiv. The word of God is not dead; it is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword. The word of God can probe us like a surgeon’s expert scalpel, cutting away what needs to be cut and keeping what needs to be kept. (Hebrews 4:12)
xxv. The word of God is the Christian’s source of spiritual growth. (1 Peter 2:2, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
![John 14:9-14 NIV[9] Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyon...](https://img5.prayers1.com/791/239/1308775847912391.jpg)
![1 John 4:19-21 AMP[19] We love, because He first loved us. [20] If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) ...](https://img4.prayers1.com/785/355/1242697537853556.jpg)
![Philippians 3:13-14 NIV[13] Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I...](https://img5.prayers1.com/453/646/1209201764536467.jpg)
