“Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:6).
Hebrews 4:6 adds another consequence of unbelief to the list of negative behaviors cataloged in our previous study: disobedience. While an attitude of disobedience may be permissible in the face of human injustice, that does not apply when speaking of the God of the Scriptures, a Being who is loving, just, and morally perfect.
This passage also helps us understand why human beings may sometimes act in ways that are needlessly self-destructive or difficult to explain. The answer may be related to an attitude of disobedience prompted by unbelief.
For instance, a person who doesn’t believe that he or she will account for his or her life before a righteous and all-knowing God (unbelief), may choose to live in an ungodly manner (disobedience). That was certainly true for the Old Testament nation of Israel as one commentary explains…
“All of Moses’ generation failed to achieve ‘rest’ (Heb_3:16-19), settlement in the land. Indeed, all subsequent generations from Joshua on, with the notable near exceptions of David and Josiah, failed to subdue all the land promised to Abraham. Thus the psalmist (Psa_95:7-8) could warn his own and subsequent generations to obey God’s word or the same thing would happen to them” (1)
Another source adds…
“Thus, while entering a type of God’s rest, they failed to attain any reality of it; and furthermore, all this came about in spite of the fact that God was fully prepared to welcome them into such a glorious rest, indeed, had been anticipating it ‘from the foundation of the world.'” (2)
On the other hand, Hebrews 4:6 also tells us that God’s promise of rest remains for those who accept it. The author of Hebrews will later highlight this idea with a concluding summary in verses nine to eleven. The New Testament book of Revelation echoes this conclusion as well…
“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, ‘Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ‘ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them'” (Revelation 14:13).
For many, however, the best-known Biblical promise of rest comes directly from Jesus Himself…
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
(1) Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary [Hebrews 4:6-7]
(2) Coffman, James Burton. “Commentary on Hebrews 4”. “Coffman’s Commentaries on the Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bcc/hebrews-4.html. Abilene Christian University Press, Abilene, Texas, USA. 1983-1999.