Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,
The cross references for Hebrews 4:9 all relate to the idea of a rest or peace that God provides for his people. Isaiah 60:19-20 speaks of God's everlasting light and the end of mourning. Titus 2:14 speaks of redemption and purification. Hebrews 3:11 and 4:1-3 both refer to the promise of entering God's rest. 1 Peter 2:10 speaks of God's mercy and the transformation of his people. Finally, Revelation 7:14-17 and 21:4 both speak of a peace and rest in the presence of God, free from pain, suffering, and death.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Isaiah 60:19-20: The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. | Both passages speak to the hope of God's people for a time of rest and renewal. Hebrews 4:9 speaks of a Sabbath rest for the people of God, a time of rest from the toil of life and a time to draw near to God. Isaiah 60:19-20 speaks of the Lord being an everlasting light, a light that will never go out, and a time of mourning that will be ended. This speaks of a time of joy and peace that will never end, a time of rest and renewal that will come with the Lord's everlasting light. |
| Titus 2:14: who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. | Both passages speak to God's desire for His people to be in relationship with Him. Hebrews 4:9 speaks of the Sabbath rest that God provides for His people, a time for them to pause and reflect on their relationship with Him. Titus 2:14 speaks of God's selfless act of redemption for His people, providing them with the opportunity to be purified and to serve Him with zeal and good works. |
| Hebrews 3:11: As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” | Both passages reference the concept of a Sabbath rest, which is a time of rest and reflection for the people of God. Hebrews 4:9 states that there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, suggesting that this is something that believers can still experience. Hebrews 3:11 provides context for this idea, as it references the wrath of God and how those who disobey Him will not be able to enter His rest. This implies that those who do follow Him will be able to experience His Sabbath rest. |
| Hebrews 4:1: Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. | Both passages in Hebrews 4 discuss the idea of a Sabbath rest for the people of God. Hebrews 4:1 encourages readers to not miss out on this rest, as it is a promise from God. Hebrews 4:9 states that there is a Sabbath rest for the people of God, and it is available to them if they do not miss out on it. This rest is a sign of God's presence and a reminder of the covenant He has made with His people. |
| Hebrews 4:3: For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. | Both passages refer to the same concept of rest that is available to the people of God. Hebrews 4:9 speaks of a Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God. Hebrews 4:3 explains that this rest is available to those who believe, because God has already finished His works from the foundation of the world. |
| 1 Peter 2:10: Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. | Both passages emphasize the mercy of God, and how it is available to all people. Hebrews 4:9 speaks of the Sabbath rest for the people of God, which is a reminder of the grace and love of God, and the blessing of being able to rest in Him. 1 Peter 2:10 speaks of how once we were not a people, but now we are God's people, and how, through His mercy, we have received His grace and favor. |
| Revelation 7:14-17: I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” | Both passages refer to the same people, the people of God, who are promised rest and protection. Hebrews 4:9 speaks of the Sabbath rest for the people of God, a promise of eternal rest in God's presence. Revelation 7:14–17 describes the fulfillment of this promise, where the people of God are brought into the presence of God and given everlasting protection and comfort. They will never be hungry or thirsty, and the Lamb will be their shepherd, leading them to living waters and wiping away all their tears. |
| Revelation 21:4: He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” | Both passages refer to the hope of a new and better world. Hebrews 4:9 speaks of a Sabbath rest for the people of God, which is a metaphor for the peace and rest that will be found in the world to come. Revelation 21:4 speaks of a world in which death, mourning, crying, and pain are all gone, which is a beautiful image of the perfect world that God has promised. |
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of Your Son, who gave Himself to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession. We thank You for the promise of entering into Your rest, and we humbly ask that You would help us to not fail to reach it.
We thank You for Your mercy and grace that has made us Your people and given us hope. We thank You for the promise of eternal rest, free from sorrow and pain.
We pray that You would guide us to springs of living water, and that You would shelter us under Your presence. We pray that You would wipe away every tear from our eyes and give us peace in the midst of all our trials and tribulations.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.