The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 134

Vers, 1-11.-The more terrible result of apostasy from Cfhrist seen in the better rest to which Christ leads. Still dealing with the superiority of Christ to Moses. Having shown the possibility of departing from Christ as they did from Moses, he goes on to show thnt, since Christ was greater than Moses, the evil of departing from him was so much more terrible. There is a Divine promise of rest une:,;hausted in Old Testament times, and only fulfilled through faith in Cfhrist. "Let us fear therefore, lest a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to come short of it. For, indeed, we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they. But the Word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard. For we which ha'l"e believed do enter into that rest." This is proved (as usual) from their own Scriptures. "Even as he hath said, As I aware in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." 'l'hat is, the promised share in God's rest cannot be that after his creative work, for it had not been enjoyed two thousand years after the creation ; nor could it be the rest of Canaan, for long after the entrance into Canaan, David, in the ninety-fifth psalm, speaks of it es still unpossessed. " He again defineth," etc. What then ? " There remaineth therefore a rest," etc. I. THE CERTAmTY OF DrvrKE REST TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. This is rest on earth, for "we who have believed do," eto. This is also rest in heaven, for "let us labour therefore,'' etc. But these two are one. Yet so much better is the latter, the believer being ever able to say," There remaineth a rest," etc., that we refer this mainly to the rest of the eternal world. And this is certain: 1. Becaitse God continues his work till it is perfected. "God did 'rest the seventh day from all bis works," because they were complete. It reminds us that God always perfects what he begins-that is a necessity of his nature. Now he has begun his work wherever "repentance toward God, and faith toward," etc., are; then he will perfect it. That makes our future rest certain, for perfection brings rest. Our sabbath must follow our perfection. 2. Because the promised rest has not yet been reached. The argument applies to us as to the Hebrews. We may have been persuaded into the Christian life by " Come unto me, and I will give you rest," but our experience is far below what is thus assured to the believer. Where we have most it falls short of the promise. Then the promise has yet to be fulfilled. 3. Because Clirist rests after his redemptivti work. "For he that has entered into his rest "-i.e. Christ-" he also bath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." As the Father rested after his creative work, so did the Son after his work of redemption, and for the same reason. It was because he could say, "It is finished," that "he sat down at," etc. If, then, Christ only rested because he had made our perfect redemption secure, we know we shall enter into rest. 'l'he vision of the Redeemer resting from his work conveys the utmost assurance that to his ptwple the blessings of redemption, in their height, and depth, and length, and breadth, are as sure as though they possessed them. II. THE BLl!:SSEDNESS OF THE DIVINE REB'r WHICH APPERTAINS TO THE CHURCH 01'" CHRIST. The English word "rest" occurs nine times in the context, but in the oiuLh verse a different Greek word is used, which (as it is said to occur nowhere else in Greek literature except in one passage of Plutarch) may be said to have been coined for the occasion-sabbatismos, a sahbath-keeping. No word could convey a deeper sense of rest to the Hebrews; for they bad a seventh-day sabbath, and every seventh year a sabbath year, and every seventh seven years of sabbaths the year of jubilee. See here the kintl of rest to which Jesus leads his people. 1. It will be rest in finished labour. Whatever inward rest his people have now, they have also much outer weariness-weariness of labour, sorrow, co1i.tlict, advanced age. Christ leads to rest from this. Rest for the weary brain, the aching heart, the tired feet, the tempted spirit, the weight of years - the world's sounds all hushed, and the world's work laid aside; Sunday morning after the week's toil-a sabbath-keeping. 2. it will be rest in l}ivine fellowship. Rest with God. Not simply life's business suspended and its shops closed, but the multitude gathered in the place of prayer to keep holy day in communion with God. "If they shall enter into my rest." ln Christ, God and his peoplo find a common rest. That, 126 THE EPISTLE 'l'O THE HEBREWS. [en. 1v. 1-16,