Hebrews 4

From the REV  Hebrews 4:1-5

1The promise of entering his rest still remains open. Let us fear, therefore, lest any of you fails to reach it. 2For indeed we have had Good News told to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not combined with trust in those who heard 3(for we who have believed enter into that rest), just as he has said, as I swore in my wrath, “They will not enter into my rest,” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he spoke somewhere of the seventh day like this: And God rested on the seventh day from all his works, 5 and in this place again, They will not enter into my rest.

The promise of entering his rest still remains open. Let us fear, therefore, lest any of you fails to reach it.

“lest any of you fails to reach it.” The Greek text has the word dokeō (#1380 δοκέω), which can mean to seem, to think, to suppose, etc. This causes more literal versions such as the KJV to say things such as: “any of you should seem to come short of it.” This is very confusing to the English reader. Do people fall short, or do they just “seem” to fall short? The key to understanding the verse is to realize that the Greeks had a “rhetorical” use of dokeō, in which the word was used by way of courtesy to moderate a statement so it would not seem to be so harsh (cp. BDAG; EDNT; Thayer). The problem is that we do not use “seem” in that way, so if we translate it into our English version it imports a meaning that the Greek text does not have. The verse is saying that people should “fear” (be afraid and therefore careful) that they do not miss the rest God has provided, which is still open to them.

Ask anyone who can speak multiple languages will tell you it is not an exact science. There are words that do not translate into English in an exact form this is true today it is even harder at times to go from Koine Greek or Hebrew or Aramaic to English

2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The word perfect is the Greek word artios and this is the only place it is used in the Greek scriptures. Different versions translate it differently.

New International Version

so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

English Standard Version

that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

New American Standard Bible

so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

King James Bible

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

All we can really say is that the born again man of God who is doing that which the word of God tells him to is fully equipped for anything he comes in contact with.

No matter what the situation maybe as long as we do verse 16 then 17 says we are ready for it.

So as you can see at times it can be difficult.

Verse 2,3 are a statement of the promise those who believe will enter into the rest and those who don’t won’t enter into the rest

Verses 4 and 5 are quoting Genesis 2:2 that speaks of God’s rest or what became the Sabbath Day.

KJV

4 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. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

7 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.

8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

In verse 6 it says those to who it was first preached enter  not in. That has to be the Jews they were the first to hear the gospel on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:5) in fact there is not a single record in Acts of a non Jew being preached to till Acts 10 which would make it in the area of 37 AD about 10 years after the day of Pentecost.

This is from Bible Hub

from above graphic

Acts 13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

On Cyprus

4The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.

Still looking to go to the Jews

13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.

Still going to the Jews

46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.47 For this is what the Lord has commanded us:

“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles,

that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. ”

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. 50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Now where I stopped in Acts is 13 is about the same time as the writing of Hebrews starts. Paul and everyone else gave the Jews every chance to believe the Gospel and they rejected it the same as the heads of the temple rejected Christ. (John 7:7)

We have entered into the rest.

The word into is very import it is the word eis it means to travel the length of a vector. So what does that mean Don? Well it means you head towards something and you get there.

If I said Mike went to the store that means I saw Mike in his car heading in the direction of the store. Now this word eis means mike went to the store and brought back a frozen pizza. You know he made it to (EIS) the store.

We have made it into God’s rest for us. The more we work for God the more we will be rewarded The workman is worthy of his wage.(1 Timothy 5:18).  There are those who being saved yet do nothing for God Who will receive nothing at our judgment (1 Corinthians 3:13).  They will however not lose that salvation.(1 Corinthians 13:15, 1 Peter 1:23) We need to do for God

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Notice it doesn’t say by doing good works but instead it says we saved to do good works.

Verse 7 is a gnome (a quotation from the Hebrew Scriptures) Psalms 95:7, 8

7for he is our God

and we are the people of his pasture,

the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,

8“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,a

as you did that day at Massahb in the wilderness,

God does not want his people hardening their hearts as the Jews did many times. Sometime search harden their hearts to see many of the times it happened.

The best way I have found to not let this happen is keep studying, praying, fellowshiping with like minded believers..

Remember this section is about the Sabbath meaning a day of rest and we are still waiting for it.

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.

Be ready to enter that rest but in the mean time work like crazy for God!