November 1, 2010 thru November 7, 2010

Jesus: Rest We’ve

Been Looking For
Hebrews 4:1-13

Introduction
When you hear the word “rest”, what comes to mind? Do you conjure up images of a beach and
calm waves, the quiet caws of seagulls in the distance and iced tea in a glass? Or do you
picture a lazy family hang out in the living room on a rainy Saturday afternoon? What is rest to
you?

Now let’s talk about rest for your soul.

Memory Verse
Hebrews 4:9-10

There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest

for the people of God;
for anyone who enters God's rest
also rests from his own work,
just as God did from His.

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1. Observation
(Read the instructions on Page 2 and make your observations here)

1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may

seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as

they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in

those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE

IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST, "although His works were finished from the

foundation of the world. 4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD

RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; 5 and again in this passage, "THEY

SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.” 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who

formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again

fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said

before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.” 8 For if Joshua

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had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a

Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also

rested from his works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so

that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of

God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the

division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and

intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open

and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

Notice several warnings (v1, 11, 12-13). Write down the emphasis of these warnings.

Notice the quotation in v7. It is from Psalm 95, which itself is a quote from Numbers 13. Why
did the Israelites under Joshua not enter God’s rest? What did they enter, though?

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 2. Interpretation
There are several ways to define the rest Hebrews is speaking
about. What are some possible interpretations of rest mentioned
in the text?
The book is written to
Jews who received
Jesus by faith but had
begun slipping out of
the church and back
into Judaism. God had In verse 3, what do we need in order to enter God's rest?
never intended for
Judaism to become
what it had become by
Jesus' day. It had
devolved into a set of
do's and don'ts that In verse 8, what is not entering God's rest?
were complicated and
oppressive. This text
warns the Jewish
Christians that going
back to Judaism will
not get them anywhere
In verse 9-10, when I am in God's rest, what am I resting from?
spiritually. Though
externally it may turn
down the heat of
persecution, internally
Judaism did not get
Joshua's generation,
How does v12-13 describe God's character?
David's generation,
nor our generation
into God's rest. But,
"we who have believed
enter that rest" (v3).

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3. Application

How is belief a restful thing? How are you more at rest now than before you had faith?

Imagine the rest that awaits us in glory! (v6, 11) What will that ultimate rest be like?

How does the closing phrase of this section (v13b) challenge and motivate you?

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