QT 6/15/2026 Heb 4:6-12, What is the rest?

Hebrews 4:6–12 (ESV) —

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words 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 of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

 

NOTE: Each generation gets its own chance to enter into God's rest. Each has to decide to obey or ignore God. What is this rest? Is it the millennial kingdom or our future in heaven? Those are guaranteed by saving faith, not by what appears to be walking faith, the day-to-day life with God. We are to strive to enter this rest, and it is affected by our disobedience. This doesn't seem to be salvation, which cannot be lost because of disobedience. There is no striving but rather simple trust in our savior. And additionally, we know the Hebrews were not growing in their faith but falling back into Judaism and needed to relearn the basics all over again (Heb 5:11-12).

 

A Christian does strive to live out the Christian life, by obedience to God's word, not out of fear of hell, but out of joy and thanksgiving for our eternal salvation.

Ephesians 4:1 (ESV) — I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

Colossians 1:9–10 (ESV) — 9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

1 Thessalonians 2:11–12 (ESV) — 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

When we live in such a way, we not only glorify God but there is a peace and joy (a rest to use another word) that comes through our spiritual maturity in Christ. This type of rest can come here and now, even despite the pains and circumstances of life.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I living in the rest that comes by a deep walk with God?

 

PRAYER: Father, this is hard passage, and it is certainly possible that I have misunderstood the author's point, and yet it makes so much more sense. Help me to continue to grow in my faith, and to continue to grow in rest (total trust in your deliverance).