Digging Into the "Rest" of Hebrews 4

For we which have believed do enter into rest, as He said, 

As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into My rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 

For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, 

And God did rest the seventh day from all His works. 

And in this place again, If they shall enter into My rest. 

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, 

and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 

Again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; 

as it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.  

For if Joshua had given them rest, 

then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. 

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

Hebrews 4:3-9

"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." Heb. 4:9. This text and its context require frequent explanation. 

We accordingly give the following, which, although brief, will, we think, be found a sufficient key to the entire chapter. 

 

The apostle says, 

"And God did rest on the seventh day from all his works." This is positive proof of the statement made just before, namely, that "the works were finished from the foundation of the world." 

Gen. 2:3 says that God "rested on the seventh day from all his works which he had made," and that His blessing pronounced upon the seventh day.

 

The Sabbath, therefore–the memorial of God's rest–a day in which to be glad through the work of God, and to triumph in the works of His hands, as we meditate upon their greatness (Ps. 92:4, 5), is an assurance that God has prepared a rest for His people, and that they will share it just as surely as he is the great Creator who changes not. 

The rest that remains is, therefore, the coming inheritance and kingdom of the saints. The "another day" of Joshua is the day of final reward."  

E.G. Waggoner