John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. For we which have believed do enter into rest , etc..] Not eternal rest; all believers shall enjoy this, and they only; but this is not now, or at present enjoyed, unless things future may be said to be present, because of faith in them, and the certainty of them but spiritual rest in Christ under the Gospel dispensation, which is a rest from the burden of the law of Moses, and from all toil and labour for life, and salvation by works, and lies in an enjoyment of much inward peace of soul, notwithstanding the world's troubles and Satan's temptations; and such who believe the word or Gospel preached, and Christ in it, not with a general and historical high, or only in profession, but with the heart, and in truth, these enjoy this rest; they are kept in perfect peace, and have much spiritual ease and comfort: this character distinguishes them from the unbelieving Israelites of old, and from present hypocrites and formal professors: as he said, as I have sworn in wrath, if they shall enter into my rest ; the words are in ( Psalm 95:11), and are before cited in ( Hebrews 3:11) they entered not in because of unbelief; none but believers enter into spiritual rest. The apostle applies this proof to his design, by removing all other rests, and particularly by showing that does not mean God's rest from the works of creation: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world ; that is, though the works of creation, that God designed to make, were finished and perfected within the first six days of the world, and then God rested, or ceased to work in a creative way; yet this is not the rest designed in the passage of Scripture cited, nor is it that rest which believers enter into.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - The privileges we have under the gospel, are greater than any had unde the law of Moses, though the same gospel for substance was preache under both Testaments. There have been in all ages many unprofitabl hearers; and unbelief is at the root of all unfruitfulness under the word. Faith in the hearer is the life of the word. But it is a painfu consequence of partial neglect, and of a loose and wavering profession that they often cause men to seem to come short. Let us then giv diligence, that we may have a clear entrance into the kingdom of God As God finished his work, and then rested from it, so he will caus those who believe, to finish their work, and then to enjoy their rest It is evident, that there is a more spiritual and excellent sabbat remaining for the people of God, than that of the seventh day, or tha into which Joshua led the Jews. This rest is, a rest of grace, an comfort, and holiness, in the gospel state. And a rest in glory, wher the people of God shall enjoy the end of their faith, and the object of all their desires. The rest, or sabbatism, which is the subject of the apostle's reasoning, and as to which he concludes that it remains to be enjoyed, is undoubtedly the heavenly rest, which remains to the people of God, and is opposed to a state of labour and trouble in this world It is the rest they shall obtain when the Lord Jesus shall appear from heaven. But those who do not believe, shall never enter into thi spiritual rest, either of grace here or glory hereafter. God has alway declared man's rest to be in him, and his love to be the only rea happiness of the soul; and faith in his promises, through his Son, to be the only way of entering that rest.
Greek Textus Receptus
εισερχομεθα 1525 5736 V-PNI-1P γαρ 1063 CONJ εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF καταπαυσιν 2663 N-ASF οι 3588 T-NPM πιστευσαντες 4100 5660 V-AAP-NPM καθως 2531 ADV ειρηκεν 2046 5758 V-RAI-3S-ATT ως 5613 ADV ωμοσα 3660 5656 V-AAI-1S εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF οργη 3709 N-DSF μου 3450 P-1GS ει 1487 COND εισελευσονται 1525 5695 V-FDI-3P εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF καταπαυσιν 2663 N-ASF μου 3450 P-1GS καιτοι 2543 CONJ των 3588 T-GPN εργων 2041 N-GPN απο 575 PREP καταβολης 2602 N-GSF κοσμου 2889 N-GSM γενηθεντων 1096 5679 V-AOP-GPN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. For we which have believed do enter into rest (eisercomeqa gar eiv thn katapausin oi pisteusantev). I say by faith, for, we believers, who embraced the Christian faith when it was offered to us (note the aorist participle), do enter into the rest. jEisercomeqa categorical; not are entering or are on the way to, but entering into the rest is a fact which characterizes us as believers.As he said (kaqwv eirhken). We enter in accordance with the saying which follows.
As I have sworn - if they shall enter. The statement is somewhat obscure. The meaning is, we (who believed) enter into rest in accordance with God's declaration that they (who did not believe) should not enter. The point is faith as the condition of entering into the rest.
Although the works were finished (kaitoi twn ergwn genhqentwn). This is an awkward and indirect way of saying, "these unbelievers did not enter into God's rest, although he had provided that rest into which they might have entered." The providing of the rest is implied in the completion of God's works. The writer assumes the readers' acquaintance with the narrative of the creation in Genesis.
