Hebrews 4:11-16

 

Heb 4:11 (KJB)

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

 

Let us labour - We should be diligent or hasten

Fall - Fall in ruins, go astray, or be ruined

Unbelief - Disobedience

 

Based upon the information we received in the previous verses the warning goes out to all to be diligent in making sure that we seek the Kingdom of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. The Israelites in the wilderness had the law but it only showed them how sinful they really were. The warning is to make sure that we are not going astray as the Israelites did because of their core unbelief. Those who are unsaved have unbelief as their core and in one way it manifests itself in rebellion as we saw in the wilderness wandering. (Heb 11:6 KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

Heb 4:12 (KJB)

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

Quick - Living

Powerful - Effective

Piercing - Penetrate or pass through

The dividing asunder - Separation or division

Marrow - Smallest division being applied to man’s being

Discerner - Able to judge

Thoughts - Thoughts that grows out of one’s character

Intents - Deep thoughts which have developed into character shaping intentions

 

This verse is probably one of the best descriptions of the Word of God. First we are told that the word of God is quick, that is alive. It is not a dead word because it does not come from a dead source. What God has written He stands behind it with all His being. Then we are told that the word is powerful or effective. Whatever subject the Bible deals with, there will always be an effected outcome. Whether it is used for evangelism, people will be saved, or if it is used for correction, people will be corrected. This is because the Bible is sharper than a two-edged sword, that is, a two-edged sword only deals with the physical body but the word of God is able to divide the soul and spirit. The Soul of man being their entire being with the breath of life. (Gen 2:7 KJV) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. It pertains to the life that is both in man and animals. The difference between them is in the word Spirit where man is renewed to life by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We are made alive unto God through salvation. The Bible has the ability to distinguish between the saved, those who have the Spirit and the unsaved, those who only have the breath of life. We may be fooled by those who put on a religious or pious exterior but the Word of God is not fooled. Then we are told that the word of God has the ability to make judgments in the joints and marrow, which is the smallest division of man. It has the ability to discover the motivation behind people’s actions and words. It gets down to the minute details in a person’s life, far deeper than we can ever think. The word of God is able to judge the thoughts and the deeper thoughts which affect a person’s characteristics. In summary, the Bible has the ability to show us things about ourselves that we never knew or even suspected. This is why people do not like to read the Bible because it mirrors our soul and intentions and our heart. No one wants to be scrutinized like that because it reveals who we really are and how sinful man really is.

 

Heb 4:13 (KJB)

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

 

That is not manifest - Invisible, hidden, or not appearing

Naked - Unclad or bare

Opened - Having been laid bare

 

Here is a verse that teaches us that there is nothing or anyone on this earth who can hide themselves from God. The wicked may think that they can hide themselves but that can never happen. (Isa 29:15 KJV) Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? This is why the final judgment of unsaved man will be so intense and not a thing will ever be lost. (1 Cor 4:5 KJV) Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. Every sin which every unredeemed person has committed will be brought to light. Sometimes even believers think that they can hide things from God, but this can never be.

 

Heb 4:14 (KJB)

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

 

Profession - Confession

 

The difference between the unbeliever and the believer is that the sins of the unbeliever are bare and naked before God. To be naked means a person has no covering and this is precisely the situation with the unbeliever who has no covering for their sin. Now the writer states that “we” have a great High Priest and that “we” is speaking of the believers. As we have a High Priest in Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ, is constantly making intercession for the believers and because we have Him, we do not presume upon His ministry and think that we can live any way we want. We are told to hold fast to our profession of faith, that is, we are to maintain our Christian testimony and lifestyle in this world. It is those two things which distinguish us from those who have no covering for their sin. We are to hold on to our faith no matter what trials we are put through. In the Old Testament, the High priest appeared in the Holy of Holies once a year to make atonement for the people according to the law which God gave. The Lord Jesus Christ is the High Priest for the Christians and He made atonement for us one time removing all our sins and never again having them charged to our account. All our sins were placed upon the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary. (Col 2:13-14 KJV) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; {14} Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; His atonement was so effectual that never again would Christ ever have to pay for the sins of His people, it was done once and that was final. (John 19:30 KJV) When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

 

Heb 4:15 (KJB)

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

Be touched with the feeling - Sympathize or have compassion

Infirmities - Weaknesses

Tempted - Put to the test or enticed to sin

As - Likeness, resemblance, or similarity

 

When the Lord Jesus was here on earth, He faced temptations and the weakness of the flesh. Satan offered Him all the kingdoms of the world if he would worship him. If Satan would make that offer to the Bilderbergers, or the Trilaterals, they would jump at the opportunity but they would not realize that this earth is only temporary and the permanent earth will be the New Earth. Jesus understood what it was like to be tempted especially when Satan tempted Him after He did not eat for 40 days. Esau came home hungry and sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentils. So Jesus knew the weakness of the flesh. (Mat 26:41 KJV) Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. The great difference is that Jesus did not yield to any of the temptations and because of this He remained sinless for His entire trek upon earth. Even though Jesus can sympathize with us in our weaknesses, it does not mean we continue to sin and then claim weakness of the flesh. Many Christians walk around with a self-deprecating attitude and claim “I am just a sinner saved by grace.” If that is all you believe Calvary accomplished for you, then no wonder you are weak. Think like a sinner and act like a sinner! Think like a Saint and live like a Saint! We are all weak in flesh but that does not mean we live like an unbeliever.

 

Heb 4:16 (KJB)

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

Boldly - Confidence

Since the Lord Jesus Christ is totally familiar with the weakness of the flesh and because His atonement was totally effectual, we are told to come to the throne of Grace in confidence. Our confidence is based on two things: First, it is based on the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ knows weak flesh; Secondly, we come with confidence knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ has secured us for eternity and will continue to come to our aid while we are in this weak body. The Christian comes to the throne of Grace in a time of trial or testing where we will find mercy and grace but not justice. The Justice of God was satisfied on behalf of the believers by Christ on Calvary. The readers to the Hebrews were facing the test of abandoning the Lord Jesus in the face of persecution and it is in these times when we pray for strength, the Lord Jesus Christ will strengthen us so we will not lose out to temptation. This is a great promise and a great strength for the believer because we all face those times of weakness. (Heb 13:5 KJV) Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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