Hebrews Chapter Four, Today

 

Hebrews 4:6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, [7] 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.”

 

The allusion to the Jewish Sabbath continues. I stress the “Jewish” Sabbath because Christians do not celebrate the Sabbath. Traditionally, we celebrate the Lord’s Day, which is the first day of the Jewish week, or in modern terminology, Sunday.

Hebrews Chapter Four, To Rest

 

Hebrews 4:3 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. [4] 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”; [5] and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”

 

The author contrasts his Jewish/Christian audience with the Hebrews of yore. Whereas they did not mingle faith with hearing, resulting in the forfeiture of entry into the Promised Land, the writer references those who, having heard believed.

Hebrews Chapter Four, Progressing From Hearing To Faith

 

But the spoken word did not profit them. What does it mean to profit? The word means “advantage or benefit” and comes from the Latin “profectus” meaning “progress,” according to Oxford. They did not progress from hearing to listening. The gospel accorded them no advantage or benefit because they disregarded its message; therefore they disregarded the efficacy of that message. The gospel has no power to convert when the individual has no interest in believing.

Hebrews Chapter Four, Profitable Hearing

 

Hebrews 4:2 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.

 

For those among us that believe the gospel is entirely a New Testament, church-era doctrine, we would be mistaken. Of course we would be. God has only, and will only, save those who believe the message of salvation. The gospel was preached to us: an inclusive catch-all indicating the church, and them: Israel in the days prior to Christ, a particular nation chosen by God as His revelatory vessel until the hour of the fulfillment of the times.

Hebrews Chapter Four, Entering God's Rest

 

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

 

We find the word, “therefore,” once again, so here we pause and consider. Therefore is written to direct our attention to a previously revealed truth or point the writer wishes to emphasize. In this case, Hebrews 3:18, 19, etc. The rebels heard the word proclaimed along with those of faith, but it profited them nothing. 

Defiling The Marriage Bed: The World's Corruption of Marriage And Sex

 

We live in a society in America awash in sexual excess. What was once considered the fundamental norm is now an antiquated notion reflecting outmoded societal values. Love, sex and marriage are being constantly redefined and updated by the vocal minority and lawmakers who permit these things to be so. But what does Scripture say about these three, extremely controversial topics? And how do we, as Christians, treat them? Do we align with the views of our Lord and Savior by obeying what He says regarding sex and marriage? Or do we cast off our Lord’s yoke in favor of progressive advancements to societal enlightenment?

Hebrews Chapter Three, False And Genuine Faith

 

Hebrews 3:16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? [17] Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? [18] And to whom did He swear that they wound not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? [19] So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

 

Scripture presents the two-sided coin of salvation: Faith and obedience. Permit me to explain. Works DO NOT save anyone. Going backward in these verses, let us begin with verse 19. We learn that the Jews of Moses’ time did not enter into the Promised Land under Joshua because of unbelief.

Hebrew Chapter Three, Whom To Trust

 

Hebrews 3:14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, [15] while it is said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

 

Verse 14 relates back to the latter portion of verse 6, stating, “whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.” What is the beginning of a Christian’s confidence? It isn’t in our effort or accomplishment. “Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,” Romans 4:4, 5. 

Hebrews Chapter Three, The Danger Of Sin's Deceit

 

Hebrews 3:12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; [13] but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

 

The letter to the Hebrews began with, “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets,” Hebrews 1:1. This verse would be most meaningful to the Jewish audience the author was writing to.

Hebrews Chapter Three, Action & Reaction

 

Hebrews 3:10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ [11] So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest.’”

 

We know from verse 9 that “this generation” refers to Israel wandering for forty years when the spies gave a bad report to the congregation. In this we see the difference between genuine faith demonstrated by Joshua and Caleb, and the ten spies who spoke contrarily about Canaan and its insurmountable dangers.

Hebrews Chapter Three, Rebellious Israel

 

Hebrews 3:7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, [8] Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, [9] Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years.

 

The quote the writer uses beginning with verse 7 comes from Psalm 95:7b-11. It would benefit us to look back on this Psalm, entitled in my NKJV as “an exhortation to worship,” to learn why it was written. Verses 1 and 2 commend singing as a method of worship. Above that, in both verses the word “shout, NKJV” is used twice, denoting lively and loud singing at that. The word “shout” is followed by the adverb “joyfully,” connoting the inner nature of the worshiper singing to God. 

Hebrews Chapter Three, Over His Own House

 

Hebrews 3:5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, [6] but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

 

The author takes pains to reiterate Moses’ fidelity toward God. Though in verse 3 we learn that Christ is worthy of more glory than Moses, this is by virtue of His very nature. Verses 3 and 4 clarify this point: Jesus, the maker of all things is worthy of more glory than Moses since He is the Creator. Hebrews 1:4 stated that Jesus is superior to the angels by virtue of the inheritance of His name. 

Hebrews Chapter Three, Worthy Of Honor

 

Hebrews 3:3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. [4] For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.

 

Continuing to contrast Jesus and Moses, we are told that Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses; the reason being that the builder of a house deserves more honor than the house itself. The house, impressive though it may be, is a testimony of the genius and ingenuity that designed and constructed it.