Hebrews 4 - We May Fool Others, Or Even Ourselves, But We Can't Fool God!

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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.[a] 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.’”[b] 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.”[c] 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”

Resting on the Sabbath is at the heart of the Jewish faith, and it is the 3rd of Ten Commandments given to Israel by Moses. This rest was a foreshadowing of the rest they would enter into one day in the Messianic age. But though the Jewish people were set free from slavery in Egypt, they never reached Canaan and the Promised Land, where they would receive true rest. They failed to enter because they did not respond to the message by faith. 

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. - Guzik

Some day when we Jesus takes us home to heaven we will be in a place of eternal rest. 

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.”[d]

There are some who have not entered God's rest through faith in Jesus, but there is still time. God has given them more time before Jesus' return. The writer calls this "Today". Since we never know when the Lord is going to take us if we need to make things right with God we need to go to God "Today". If we have not accepted the free gift of God in Jesus for salvation, we need to go to him Today! Don't wait! 

Many people hold off coming to God thinking they have plenty of time to clean up their act. They don't realize that trusting in Jesus for salvation is not about cleaning up your act but about receiving God's free gift of eternal life through what Jesus did for us on the cross. If more people saw the consequences of their unbelief, they would probably have a much greater sense of urgency. 

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,[e] 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.

There is a different kind of rest than just physical rest. There is spiritual rest, which comes about when you put your faith in Jesus. No longer does one think they have to enough good works for God to accept them. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28,

"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest, rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light".  

If you are always thinking you are not doing enough for God. Or, have no peace about your salvation, because you don't think you have done enough, you are not trusting in and resting in God's promises. 

The bible says, "Cease striving and receive the peace that passes understanding!" Philippians 4:6 And, "Be still and I know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

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.

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.

Although we may try to fool God with our good works or false piety, God's Word reveals the true condition of our hearts. The word of God is the truth about us, and the truth about God, and the truth about what He has done for us in sending His Son to save us. When the apostle Peter preached in Acts after Pentecost, here is how they people reacted, 

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37

The Holy Spirit takes God's Word and it leads us to repentance, turning from what we know is wrong to trust in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. It is only God who judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. This is why don't have the right to do it and shouldn't do it. I'm sure when we get to heaven there will be some people we are surprised are there, and others who aren't. 

We may fool others, or even ourselves, but we can't fool God! 

This is why it is important to confess our sins to God, to each other, and corporately in worship. Not only do we confess our sins but turn to do what is alignment with God's will which is revealed in His Word. 

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,[f] 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 Jewish Christians would have been very familiar with the idea of a high priest. A priest is a mediator between God and man. Moses brother, Aaron, was the first high priest in the Old Testament. The Most High Priest would be in the temple to offere the sacrifices on the day of atonement (Yom Kippur) for the Israelites' sin. As a human, the high priest could only identity with the sins of the people in a very limited way. 

But our Great High Priest Jesus, knows us inside and out. He knows our weaknesses and the "thorns in our flesh". Jesus knows how we are tempted because he was tempted just as we are, because he was truly a man. But Jesus did not sin or he couldn't be the perfect sacrifice for our sin. If he sinned, he would have had to die for HIS OWN SINS!

In Corinthians 10:13, Paul tells the believers that though they are tempted, there is no temptation they have to give in to. 

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

This is a great verse to put to memory. It has served me well! 

For these reasons, we can go to Jesus our high priest who intercedes on behalf of us to the Father. We never have to be ashamed to go before God. No matter what we have done, he wants us to come to him and not hide out in our guilt and shame. In the times we need God's grace and mercy the most, and God is happy to give it us. But we need to come to Him and to his throne through Jesus, our High Priest! 

When is that last time you have approached God's throne of grace with something heavy on your heart? Do you need to do it now?