Hebrews 4 - Where Do You Find Grace When You Need It The Most!

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A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

4 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’” And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

As you probably know the commandment to keep the Sabbath Day is of paramount importance in the Jewish faith. It always has been that way. After the first three commandments regarding honoring God, the next commandment is keeping the Sabbath day holy. God instituted the Sabbath to remind the Israelites of the day he rested after creating the world, to set aside a time worship, and to rest from their labors. The Sabbath was meant to be His gift to His people. As Jesus said, "The Sabbath is made for man, not man made for the Sabbath."

But the sense of the word as the author has been using it so far is more a "spiritual" rest. A rest from the battle against sin, death, and the power of the devil. Literally when the Israelites went into the Promised Land, God wanted them to have rest from their enemies. But ultimately true rest would come from the promised Messiah Jesus. But for the Jews who did not obey God, they lost the privilege of entering into God's rest. 

- 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.

6 Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience, 7 God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

The author continues to use the example of the Sabbath, which has many iterations from Israel's history. Joshua led the people to have rest in the promised land. David defeated Israel's enemies to give them rest militarily, but Jesus gave them another kind of rest. Yet, similar to his earlier comments, the author urges them not to give up their spiritual rest through disobedience. 

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. (Guzik)

“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)

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

These two verses are worth memorizing. They have many applications. The Word of God is not a dead letter, it is alive and active. The Word judges the deep attitudes and thoughts of our heart. The Word reveals our true heart condition. The Word is the truth of God. It never changes, it never misleads, and always accomplishes what God wants it to do. 

God created the world and everything in it through His Word. God spoke His Word and the greatest powers of the world were demolished. God's Word spoken by Moses parted the Red Sea. God spoke through the prophets and one day the sun stood still. Finally and most importantly God sent His Word, Jesus, into the world to show His great and saving love. Jesus, the Word, went to the cross and died for us so that we might be freed from sin, death and the power of the devil

God's Word still seeks to save the least and the lost today. It is always speaking. God's Word judges the terrorists in the Middle East and promises they will be held accountable for their atrocities. God's word promises mercy to those who are innocent. God's Word never fails!

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The author moves from the analogy of the Sabbath, to the metaphor of the high priest. The high priest went into in the temple once every year to offer the blood of an innocent lamb, as a sacrifice for the sins of the Israelites. When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said, 

"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world." John 1:29-32

Jesus, as the ultimate High Priest, is superior to his predecessors for many reasons. 

1. Jesus has ascended to heaven at the right hand of the Father. 

2. Jesus made the once and for all sacrifice for the sins of the world. It will never have to be made ever again. 

3. Because Jesus was a human being, he can identify with all the struggles we experience. 

4. Jesus was tempted in every way but did not sin. This means there is no temptation we undergo that we cannot overcome with His help and the power of His Holy Spirit.  

5. When we do fall time to temptation we can go to Jesus because gracious and merciful and give us what we need in our time of need.  

Where do you need Jesus' grace in your time of need?

Thankfully, God provides help in our time of need. No request is too small, because He wants us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer… let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)