Hebrews 3:7-11

Hebrews 3:7-11

[7] Wherefore  (as  the Holy  Ghost  saith,  To day  if  ye will hear  his  voice,  [8] Harden  not  hearts,  as  in  the provocation,  in  the day  of temptation  in  the wilderness:  [9] When  fathers  tempted  and  works  forty  years.  [10] Wherefore  I was grieved  generation,  and  said,  alway  err  in their heart;  and  they  not  known  ways.  [11] So  I sware  in  wrath,  not  enter  into  rest.) 

What does Hebrews 3:7-11 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"The grand and terrible lesson of Israel"s history is that it is possible to begin well and end poorly. In fact, this tragic human tendency dominates much human spiritual experience." [1]
""Rest" (katapausis), as used here, points to a place of blessing where there is no more striving but only relaxation in the presence of God and in the certainty that there is no cause for fear." [2]
"Rest" is another of the writer"s favorite words. For Israel, "rest" meant the enjoyment of all that God had promised the nation when they entered the Promised Land, not just entrance into the Promised Land. The next generation of Israelites did enter the Promised Land and experienced rest there because they chose to trust and obey God (cf. Joshua 1:13; Joshua 1:15; Joshua 21:44; Joshua 22:4; Joshua 23:1). For the Christian, "rest" is the enjoyment of all that God has promised us, not just going to heaven. This includes the full enjoyment of rewards that can be ours if we follow the Lord faithfully. All Christians will go to heaven and receive many blessings ( Ephesians 1; 1 Peter 1), but some blessings are reserved for believers who continue to trust and obey God when faced with temptations to apostatize. [3] The crown of righteousness, the crown of life, the crown of glory, etc, are such rewards. Much confusion has resulted because Christians have interpreted "rest" simply as Canaan and heaven. In chapter4 , the writer spoke of "Sabbath rest," which is something different.