Hebrews 4
The background of this text is a letter to the Jews who are being persecuted for their faith and the Greeks in Rome.
In 49 A.D. Claudius expelled the Christians from Rome.
Also A.D. In 64, many Christians were persecuted by Nero.
This chapter can be divided into two main parts.
The first part is an explanation of the rest that God has promised (verses 1-13).
The second part is an account of the High Priest Jesus Christ (verses 14-16).
The writer of Hebrews deals with “the superiority and excellence of Jesus Christ” and argues that Jesus Christ is superior to the angels and prophets, Moses, Joshua, and the high priests of Jewish culture.
Why does the writer of Hebrews compare Jesus Christ with so many other beings known to the Jews?
This is because Jewish Christians did not break free from the bondage of national religion and Judaism, and did not know the superiority of Jesus Christ.
After 430 years of slavery in Egypt, the Hebrew people moved to the land of Canaan, flowing with milk and honey. However, they did not enter the promised land.
Why?
This is verse 2. “Like them, we too have been preached of the gospel, but the words that we have heard do not benefit them, because those who hear do not combine them with faith.”
The reason they could not enter the promised land was because those who heard the word of God did not link faith with the word.
As you well know, ahead of the entry into Canaan, there was an incident where spies were sent from each of the twelve tribes, leaders who were excellent in faith and in every way.
People were shaken by the negative reports of the ten spies.
They prioritized their visible environment, culture, and values over God, and eventually disobeyed and rebelled against God.
As a result, the first generation who wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and disobeyed became dust of sand except for Joshua and Caleb.
Verse 11 of the text strongly tells the saints to “make every effort to enter into rest.”
How do saints enter into rest? (Verses 12-13)
Entering into rest begins when we remain before the Word.
Almighty God created the heavens and the earth through the Word and finally rested.
Remembering the word of the covenant, He led the Hebrew people to Canaan, flowing with milk and honey.
The writer of Hebrews presents the superiority and excellence of Jesus Christ.
Verses 14-16.
The high priest of the Aaronic class could go to God only once a year, on the 10th of July, the Day of Atonement.
But Jesus Christ tore the veil in the temple and opened the way for eternal communion with God.
Moreover, our High Priest, Jesus, is not unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.
The saints who are humbled before the word come back to the throne of the Lord by the love and word of the Lord.
The writer of Hebrews eloquently explained to believe and trust in Jesus Christ above all the superiority of Jewish culture.
Eternal salvation and rest comes from the Word of God, and Jesus Christ, who is the aggregate of the Word, knows all the weaknesses and shortcomings of mankind, so we declare that he is the only great High Priest who connects God and mankind.