The Epistle to the Hebrews

Lesson 5Our Sabbath Rest

Hebrews 4:1-11

The Sabbath in the Old Testament• The Sabbath Day is not mentioned by

name until Moses (cf. Genesis 2:1-3)– The Patriarchs were not required to keep it.

• Facts about the giving of the Sabbath law:– When? After Israel left Egypt (Exo. 16:23-30)– Where? Sinai (Exo. 20:8-11; Nehemiah 9:13f.)– To Whom? Israel (Deut. 5:1-3, 15; Exo. 31:16)– Why? As a sign between God and Israel

(Exodus 31:13, 17; Ezekiel 20:10-12)– Sabbath observance was regulated by the Law

of Moses (Exodus 35:3; 20:10; 31:14-15)

The Sabbath in the New Testament • Christ obeyed the Law of Moses

– Jesus kept the Law of Moses and encouraged Jews to do so (Matthew 5:17-10; 23:2-3)

– He kept the Law of the Sabbath (Luke 4:16)– He was Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28) – He knew the purpose of the Sabbath and never

violated it, although He was accused of doing so (Matthew 12:11-12; John 5:16-17; 7:23-24)

• Christ gave us a New Covenant – He fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17)– He is the Mediator of a New Covenant

(Hebrews 8:8-13; Galatians 3:23-25)

The Sabbath in the New Testament • The Law of Moses is no longer binding

– Christians are dead to the Law (Romans 7:4)– The Law, including the Sabbath requirement,

was nailed to the cross (Colossians 2:14-17)– Nine of the Ten Commandments are

incorporated anew in the Law of Christ. Only the Sabbath is not (1 John 5:21; Ephesians 4:6, 29; 6:1-3; Romans 13:9).

• Since the Old Covenant which contained the Sabbath Law has been abolished, and since the Sabbath Law was not included in the New Covenant, we are not to keep it.

The Sabbath in the New Testament

• Why do Christians assemble to worship on the First Day of the Week?– Christ arose on the first day of the week

(Mark 16:9; Luke 24:1, 7, 13, 21)– The church began on the first day of the week

(Acts 2:1-4, 38, 41)– The first day of the week is when the disciples

assembled to break bread (Acts 20:7)– Christians gathered and gave on the first day of

the week according to 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

Our Sabbath Rest Hebrews 4:1-11

A Promise is Left us of Entering God’s Rest• We should fear lest we come short of it (4:1-2)

– Both we and the Israelites have had good tidings preached to us.

– The word they heard did not profit them because it was not mixed with faith!

– Could what happened to them happen to us? Yes! (4:11)

Our Sabbath Rest Hebrews 4:1-11

A Promise is Left us of Entering God’s Rest• We who “have believed” will enter rest (4:3-5)

– The concept of “rest” exists from creation. God rested!

– Later, Israel was offered rest but did enter into it due to disobedience.• “The idea is this, that the notion of rest of some

kind runs through all dispensations. It was seen in the finishing of the work of creation; seen in the appointment of the Sabbath; seen in the offer of the promised land, and is seen now in the promise of heaven.” (Barnes)

Our Sabbath Rest Hebrews 4:1-11

A Promise is Left us of Entering God’s Rest• A rest remains for the people of God (4:6-11)

– The rest is for someone! (4:6a)– Those to whom it was first proclaimed did not enter

into rest because of disobedience. (4:6b)– The rest was still available in the time of David (4:7)

• After such a long time (500 years), David was still telling people to hear God’s voice and not harden their hearts “Today” (see Psalm 95:7-8)

• The implication is that the “rest” was still available in David’s day.

– If Joshua had given them rest, God would not have later spoken of another day through David (4:8)

Our Sabbath Rest Hebrews 4:1-11

A Promise is Left us of Entering God’s Rest• A rest remains for the people of God (4:6-11)

– There remains a rest for God’s people that involves ceasing to work (4:9-10; Revelation 14:13)

– We must “be diligent” to enter that rest.• The KJV translates this phrase “Let us labor”• The Greek word is σπουδαζω (spoudazo) which is

defined in Thayer’s Lexicon as “to hasten, make haste, to exert one’s self, endeavour, give diligence”

• The same word is found in 2 Peter 1:10 & 15.– If we are not diligent, we can “fall” in the same way

Israel did through disobedience (4:11)