Persevere and Enter the Land

“For the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath” – Matthew 12:8

Rest is a theme throughout the Scriptures, found in both the old and new testaments. It starts with creation, extends to the old covenant with Israel finding rest in a physical land, and reaches its fulfillment in the gospel and the new covenant. The picture of rest in the old covenant is fulfilled in the new covenant? But how? What is rest? What is the Sabbath? Let’s dig in:

Genesis 2:1-3

Six days of speaking creation into existence and one day of rest. But, did God get tired? Was He exhausted? Does God need sleep? NO! God is not created, only created beings need rest. God does not sleep. Isaiah 40:28 states that “God does not faint or grow tired.” So what does the Scripture mean when it reads, “He rested?” It means God was done creating the world and then He marveled and took glory in what He had created.

Deuteronomy 5:12-15

God commands the nation of Israel to observe a day of rest called the Sabbath. They were to do no work on that day. The purpose of the Sabbath was to remember who they were and how God physically redeemed them from being enslaved to Egypt. God was serious about this. Exodus 31:12-18 states anyone who worked on the Sabbath had to be killed. So, there was no playing football on Sunday or going out to eat at after church if you lived under the Old Covenant. Yet, it pointed to something greater. Jesus and Paul both address the Sabbath. Paul says in Colossians 2:16-17, “Let no one pass judgment on you in question to food, or drink….or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.” The Sabbath was a picture and pointed to something greater, Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4

Rest, the Sabbath, was a picture of something greater. Because of the nation of Israel’s disobedience under Moses, they did not enter the “rest” of the promise land. After that generation, Joshua led the nation of Israel into the promise land (Joshua 23:1). They entered the rest.  But like Israel, rest in the promise land was a picture of greater things to come. Under the new Covenant the picture becomes clear reality. Salvation is resting in the gracious act of Christ (Matthew 11:25-30). We can’t earn, gain, or produce good works to gain salvation. The old covenant never could change hearts. The final fulfillment of rest (Promised Land) for the believer is Heaven. The context of Hebrews is perseverance in the faith. This is another example of now, not yet. IF you hold fast till the end, you will enter the rest, Heaven. IF you do not hold fast your confession of Christ, you will be like the Israelites under Moses and not enter the rest, Heaven.

As you read and study, questions for reflection:

1. What was rest or the Sabbath a picture of in the Old Covenant?

2. Did God actually get physically tired after He created the world? If not, why does He say "He rested?"

3. What does it mean when Jesus says, "Come to me and I will give you rest"?

4. How does the gospel give rest?

5. According to Hebrews 4, what was the promise land a picture of?

6. In what ways are you not resting in the gospel? 

7. Remember the context of Hebrews 3 and 4. How is perseverance as believers tied to the fulfillment of our rest? In other words, in context of Hebrews, what happens to those individuals who turn their backs on the gospel? Do they get to enter the rest?