Hebrews chapter 4

vs 9

This really gives a full meaning to the idea that the OT exists as an example for the spiritual reality - the rest promised to Israel is only an example of the true rest offered to all through Christ.

vs 10

The end of God's plan is for us all to have rest. Work was given to humanity to do, but is not the ultimate goal of God. The ultimate goal is rest. Work itself wasn't a curse (though it did become cursed) - work was given to man in the garden before the fall. But it's also not eternal, it would seem.

vs 11

I wonder if this is a broad link to the idea of life being work. The allusion here is to the wanderings in the desert - if they had strived harder to enter the Promised Land, instead of whinging, they may have made it to their promised rest after the travel. Is the spiritual life a life of work in order to enter a heavenly rest? Well, not really. I mean, it is, but in the end, that's not what gets you into the rest. It's faith.

vs 12

This does not make obedience worthless. Faith and obedience go hand in hand. And so God's Word exists so that we may obey it. And it is by the Word that we will be judged.

vs 13

If you think you can escape God's judgment - it's just not going to happen. He sees all, and not just externally. The Word separates out even the heart, and therefore all is laid bare.

vs 14

No high priest ever went into heaven to go and talk to God. God had to create a little sanctuary on earth so that the high priest could pretend. Again, a reflection of Christ, but Christ did the real thing.

And notice the author's focus on application of these theological truths. It's not just telling us that Christ is the ultimate high priest. So what? So hold firmly to your faith, that's what.

vs 15

Who else but God gets both sides of the coin? We get a high priest who is human in every way, and therefore can sympathise with us in a way that would otherwise not be possible, even for God. And yet, he is able to maintain his holiness by being without sin.

See, even God does not agree that you need to experience something directly to be sympathetic. God went as far as to experience temptation, but not sin. A counsellor doesn't need to experience heroin addiction to help heroin addicts. We've got to be careful there.

vs 16

God has gone through all this to make himself more approachable, so therefore we should approach. That's his goal, and it's so beneficial to us. Why not do it!