Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
it remaineth.
Hebrews 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
some.
Numbers 14:12,31 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they…
Isaiah 65:15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:
Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
they.
Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Hebrews 3:19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
it was.
Hebrews 3:18,19 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? …
and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience,
This part references the Israelites who, despite hearing God's promises, failed to enter the Promised Land due to unbelief and disobedience (Numbers 14:22-23). The "good news" they heard was the promise of entering a land flowing with milk and honey, which parallels the gospel message of salvation through Christ. Their failure serves as a warning and a lesson for contemporary believers about the consequences of unbelief and disobedience. This historical context underscores the importance of faith and obedience in the Christian life, as echoed in other scriptures like Psalm 95:7-11, which is also cited earlier in Hebrews 3:7-11.
“Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest”
• God is still holding the door open. The promise of rest is not a relic of the past (Hebrews 4:1).
• “His rest” points to both present fellowship in Christ (Matthew 11:28-29) and the future, eternal Sabbath with Him (Revelation 14:13).
• The word “some” highlights personal invitation. Just as Joshua eventually led a believing remnant into Canaan (Joshua 21:43-45), God now invites every hearer to step in by faith (Hebrews 4:3).
• This ongoing invitation underscores God’s patience (2 Peter 3:9). The clock hasn’t run out yet, so we can still respond.
“and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience”
• The “good news” echoed through the wilderness generation: God would bring them into a land of rest (Exodus 3:17; Numbers 13-14).
• They heard, but hearing alone was not enough. Unbelief produced disobedience (Hebrews 3:16-19).
• Disobedience showed up as
– doubting God’s character (Numbers 14:1-4)
– craving Egypt’s comforts over God’s promise (Acts 7:39)
– testing the Lord through complaint and idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:5-11).
• Their failure stands as a sober warning: the same gospel invitation can be missed today if it is met with a hard heart (Hebrews 4:7; Psalm 95:7-11).
Hebrews 4:6 teaches that God’s promise of rest is wide open, yet entering it hinges on obedient faith. The past generation’s unbelief serves as a mirror: what kept them out can still keep us out. Responding now—trusting Christ and yielding to His voice—brings us into the rest God lovingly prepared and still offers.
(6) The substance of the preceding verses may be thus expressed: There is a rest of God, into which some are to enter with God,--a rest not yet entered at the time of the wandering in the wilderness, and therefore not that which followed the work of creation,--a rest from which some were excluded because of unbelief. These five particulars are repeated in substance in the present verse: "Seeing, therefore, it is (still) left that some should enter in, and they to whom formerly glad tidings were declared entered not in because of disobedience, He again," &c. "Disobedience"--though Hebrews 4:2 speaks of unbelief as the cause: see Note on Hebrews 3:18. In John 3:36, the transition from "believeth" to "obeyeth" is equally striking.Verses 6, 7. - Since therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good tidings were before preached entered not in because of disobedience, he again defineth a certain day, saying in David, after so long a time, To-day; as it hath been before said, To-day, if ye will hear his voice, etc. The continued openness of the rest, and the failure of the Israelites of old to enter it, are the reasons why a further day for entering was defined in the psalm. But here the thought is suggested that the Israelites had not finally failed, for that, though those under Moses did so, the next generation under Joshua did attain the promised land. No, it is replied; the rest of the promised land was but a type after all; it was not the true rest of God: otherwise the psalmist could not have still assigned a day for entering it so long after the arrival at Shiloh; -