““There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”

““2828: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are : Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.heavy laden, and I will give you rest.2929: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; : Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11Matt. 11).).

““77: And to you who are troubled rest with us, : And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels…” (heaven with his mighty angels…” (2 Thes. 12 Thes. 1))

““2828: Come unto me, all ye that labor and are : Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.heavy laden, and I will give you rest.2929: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; : Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11Matt. 11).).

““77: And to you who are troubled rest with us, : And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels…” (heaven with his mighty angels…” (2 Thes. 12 Thes. 1))

““There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”

““The word ‘rest’ here is a noun in the accusative, not a The word ‘rest’ here is a noun in the accusative, not a verb, as English readers might at the first glance verb, as English readers might at the first glance suppose. It literally denotes relaxation, ease. The suppose. It literally denotes relaxation, ease. The meaning of the passage is that it is a righteous thing meaning of the passage is that it is a righteous thing with God to recompense rest to you who are afflicted. with God to recompense rest to you who are afflicted. The recompense of the persecutors – those who The recompense of the persecutors – those who afflict, is affliction; the recompense of the persecuted – afflict, is affliction; the recompense of the persecuted – the afflicted, is rest…The happiness of heaven on its the afflicted, is rest…The happiness of heaven on its negative side, as freedom from earthly affliction and negative side, as freedom from earthly affliction and persecution, is here stated. It is rest to the weary, persecution, is here stated. It is rest to the weary, freedom to the enslaved, release from sorrow, freedom to the enslaved, release from sorrow, suffering, and pain, relaxation from toil, ease from suffering, and pain, relaxation from toil, ease from noise and turmoil, the quiet haven of peace after being noise and turmoil, the quiet haven of peace after being tossed about in the tempestuous ocean” (tossed about in the tempestuous ocean” (The Pulpit The Pulpit CommentaryCommentary on on 2 Thessalonians 1: 72 Thessalonians 1: 7). ).

““There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”

““99: There remaineth therefore a rest to the : There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.people of God.1010: For he that is entered into his rest, he also : For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.from his.1111: Let us labor therefore to enter into that : Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief” (of unbelief” (Heb. 4Heb. 4).).

The special idea of rest:

““There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”

1. 1. Exodus 20: 8-11Exodus 20: 8-11. .

2. 2. Genesis 2: 1-3, Hebrews 4: 4Genesis 2: 1-3, Hebrews 4: 4..

Rest in the Hebrew Scriptures:

““There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”

Not for disobedient (Not for disobedient (Num. 26: 64, 65, Num. 26: 64, 65, Heb. 3: 18Heb. 3: 18).). Not for idolaters (Not for idolaters (Rev. 14: 11, 9, 10Rev. 14: 11, 9, 10).). Not for those who harden their hearts Not for those who harden their hearts

((Heb. 3: 7-11, 12, 15-19Heb. 3: 7-11, 12, 15-19).).

Viewed from the negative:

““There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”

Those who fear (Those who fear (Heb. 4: 1Heb. 4: 1).). Accept Jesus’ yoke (Accept Jesus’ yoke (Matt. 11: 29Matt. 11: 29).). Those who learn of Jesus (Those who learn of Jesus (Matt. 11: 29Matt. 11: 29).). Accept Jesus’ Lordship (Accept Jesus’ Lordship (Luke 6: 46Luke 6: 46).). Those who know God (Those who know God (2 Thes. 1: 82 Thes. 1: 8).). Those who obey the gospel (Those who obey the gospel (2 Thes. 1: 82 Thes. 1: 8). ).

Viewed from the positive:

““There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”

Rest for God’s people (Rest for God’s people (Heb. 4: 9Heb. 4: 9). ). Those who labor (Those who labor (Rev. 14: 13Rev. 14: 13).). The promised rest is for those who die in The promised rest is for those who die in the Lord (the Lord (Rev. 14: 13Rev. 14: 13). ).

““There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”There remaineth…a rest to the people of God”

When labor is over (When labor is over (Heb. 4: 10Heb. 4: 10).). After death (After death (Rev. 14: 13Rev. 14: 13).). At the judgment (At the judgment (Matt. 25: 31-46Matt. 25: 31-46).).

When is the rest realized?