Hebrews 3:16-19

Hebrews 3:16-19

[16] For  when they had heard,  did provoke:  howbeit  not  all  that came  out of  Egypt  by  Moses.  [17] But  with whom  was he grieved  forty  years?  was it not  with them that had sinned,  whose  carcases  fell  in  the wilderness?  [18] And  to whom  sware he  not  enter  into  his  rest,  to them that believed not?  [19] So  we see  that  they could  not  enter in  because  of unbelief. 

What does Hebrews 3:16-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

These verses constitute an exposition of the passage quoted. The questions indicate the diatribe style of rhetoric in which the speaker raises questions and provides answers. The Israelites who died in the wilderness were mostly redeemed believers (cf. Exodus 14:31). [1] They died as believers; they did not lose their salvation. However they did fail to enter into the blessings that could have been theirs because they refused to believe that God would defeat their enemies and bring them into rest in the Promised Land. If we fail to believe that Jesus has defeated and will defeat our enemies ( Hebrews 1:13-14), we too will fail to enter into all the blessing that can be ours in heaven. We need to continue to trust and obey just like the Israelites should have done.
"By saying So we see that [2], the writer assumes that his reasoning will be self-evident." [3]
"The conclusion thus introduces the motif of the impossibility of a second repentance after apostasy, in anticipation of a fuller treatment later in the sermon ( Hebrews 6:4-8; Hebrews 10:26-31; Hebrews 12:16-17 ...). The hearers are left with the overwhelming impression that unbelief would expose them to the same precarious situation as Israel at Kadesh." [4]
The apostate generation of Israelites failed to enter the Promised Land when they hardened their hearts and provoked God by their disbelief. Is the implication that Christians who do the same will not enter heaven? Many interpreters have taken this view. However, the New Testament elsewhere teaches that all who believe in Jesus Christ will go to heaven because simple faith in Christ is what saves us (e.g, Ephesians 2:8-9). God has promised to complete the work of salvation that He began in us (cf. John 10:27-28; Romans 8:30; Philippians 1:6; et al.). He will glorify us just as he justified us and just as He is sanctifying us. He will do this despite our subsequent unbelief (cf. 2 Timothy 2:13). If our subsequent unbelief resulted in our loss of salvation, the condition for being saved would have to be faith plus faithfulness, which it is not. Remember, "rest" does not equal the Promised Land (for the Israelites, or heaven for Christians) but obtaining all the inheritance that God wants to give believers in the Promised Land (or heaven).