Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Philemon James
Hebrews 4
Concise Complete
Humble, cautious fear is urged, lest any should come
short of the promised rest, through unbelief. (1-10) Arguments and motives to
faith and hope in our approaches to God. (11-16)
Verses 1-10 The
privileges we have under the gospel, are greater than any had under the law of
Moses, though the same gospel for substance was preached under both Testaments.
There have been in all ages many unprofitable hearers; and unbelief is at the
root of all unfruitfulness under the word. Faith in the hearer is the life of
the word. But it is a painful consequence of partial neglect, and of a loose and
wavering profession, that they often cause men to seem to come short. Let us
then give diligence, that we may have a clear entrance into the kingdom of God.
As God finished his work, and then rested from it, so he will cause those who
believe, to finish their work, and then to enjoy their rest. It is evident, that
there is a more spiritual and excellent sabbath remaining for the people of God,
than that of the seventh day, or that into which Joshua led the Jews. This rest
is, a rest of grace, and comfort, and holiness, in the gospel state. And a rest
in glory, where the people of God shall enjoy the end of their faith, and the
object of all their desires. The rest, or sabbatism, which is the subject of the
apostle's reasoning, and as to which he concludes that it remains to be enjoyed,
is undoubtedly the heavenly rest, which remains to the people of God, and is
opposed to a state of labour and trouble in this world. It is the rest they
shall obtain when the Lord Jesus shall appear from heaven. But those who do not
believe, shall never enter into this spiritual rest, either of grace here or
glory hereafter. God has always declared man's rest to be in him, and his love
to be the only real happiness of the soul; and faith in his promises, through
his Son, to be the only way of entering that rest.
Verses 11-16
Observe the end proposed: rest spiritual and eternal; the rest of grace here,
and glory hereafter; in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven. After due and
diligent labour, sweet and satisfying rest shall follow; and labour now, will
make that rest more pleasant when it comes. Let us labour, and quicken each
other to be diligent in duty. The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God
sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and
comforts powerfully. It makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and
a perverse spirit, to be meek and obedient. Sinful habits, that are become as it
were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, are separated and cut off by
this sword. It will discover to men their thoughts and purposes, the vileness of
many, the bad principles they are moved by, the sinful ends they act to. The
word will show the sinner all that is in his heart. Let us hold fast the
doctrines of Christian faith in our heads, its enlivening principles in our
hearts, the open profession of it in our lips, and be subject to it in our
lives. Christ executed one part of his priesthood on earth, in dying for us; the
other he executes in heaven, pleading the cause, and presenting the offerings of
his people. In the sight of Infinite Wisdom, it was needful that the Saviour of
men should be one who has the fellow-feeling which no being but a
fellow-creature could possibly have; and therefore it was necessary he should
actual experience of all the effects of sin that could be separated from its
actual guilt. God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh,
romans 8:3 ; but the more
holy and pure he was, the more he must have been unwilling in his nature to sin,
and must have had deeper impression of its evil; consequently the more must he
be concerned to deliver his people from its guilt and power. We should encourage
ourselves by the excellence of our High Priest, to come boldly to the throne of
grace. Mercy and grace are the things we want; mercy to pardon all our sins, and
grace to purify our souls. Besides our daily dependence upon God for present
supplies, there are seasons for which we should provide in our prayers; times of
temptation, either by adversity or prosperity, and especially our dying time. We
are to come with reverence and godly fear, yet not as if dragged to the seat of
justice, but as kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grace reigns. We have
boldness to enter into the holiest only by the blood of Jesus; he is our
Advocate, and has purchased all our souls want or can desire.
Chapter 4:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Philemon James
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
