“For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:10).
If we consider the framework that our author has established in Hebrews chapter two, we find that the concept of “rest” encompasses the past, present, and future. Let’s consider how the author of Hebrews has built that premise in chapter four.
We began with a reference to the seventh day of creation in Hebrews 4:4: “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:2-3).
We can harmonize this Old Testament account with the New Testament message of Hebrews 4:10 in the following manner…
“On the seventh day, the day after creation had been completed, God rested from his labours. In the creation story in Gen 1:1-31; Gen 2:1-25 there is a strange fact. On the first six days of creation it is said that morning and evening came; that is to say, each day had an end and a beginning. But on the seventh day, the day of God’s rest, there is no mention of evening at all.
From this the Rabbis argued that, while the other days came to an end, the day of God’s rest had no ending; the rest of God was for ever. Therefore although long ago the Israelites may have failed to enter that rest, it still remained.” (1)
Our author next moved to the conquest of Canaan, led by Joshua in Hebrews 4:8 (see Deuteronomy 12:8-11). Yet, even though Israel took possession of God’s Promised Land, they only experienced a foreshadow of the rest He intended.
That brings us to our modern-day opportunity to enter God’s rest. As another source observes, “[This is not] a cessation from doing good works, but a cessation from works as a basis for righteousness. This fulfills our ‘Sabbath rest,’ even as God rested from His works on the very first ‘Sabbath.'” (2)
Hebrews 4:9 then concludes by saying, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.” We can summarize the future aspect of that rest in the words of 1 Peter 1:3-4…
“Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you” (HCSB).
(1) Barclay, William, William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible [Commentary on Hebrews 4]
(2) Guzik, Dave, Hebrews 4 – Entering Into His Rest https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/hebrews-4/