Hebrews 4:13

‘And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.’

And not only is all of man open to Him, but all men, and indeed all His creatures (including especially human creatures). They are all openly revealed in His sight. They cannot hide from Him. They are laid bare before Him, and they have to have dealings with Him because He is the Creator. There is nothing that is not open to Him.

This mention of creatures supports the idea that entering into rest has to do with our being new creatures in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). With regard to the ‘old’ creatures he knows their unbelief and disobedience. He knows them for what they are. With regard to the new He knows them as acceptable in His sight because of the work of their great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 2:17), and their constant walk with Him under the yoke of Christ (Matthew 11:29). He knows that they are enjoying His rest, and are resting from their old works.

We Have A Great High Priest Who Will Maintain Us In Our Rest (Hebrews 4:14-16).

The account, having dealt in some depth with the question of man’s response to God, and the need for the readers to ensure that they are partakers of Christ who have entered into God’s rest, now returns to the subject mentioned in Hebrews 2:17 to Hebrews 3:1, our great High Priest. It is because of our great High Priest that the rest is attainable. Thus Hebrews 3:2 to Hebrews 4:13 is sandwiched in between those two references to the work of our great High Priest so as to draw attention to that fact.

Many criticise the chapter division here, suggesting that these three verses should commence chapter 5, but that is to miss the fact that they are very essential to the closing of Hebrews 2:17 to Hebrews 4:13. They both close that section, generally re-emphasising what was said at its opening in Hebrews 2:17, as well as preparing for the next. But we would agree with the one who chose where to end the chapter as it is, for we feel that its closest and most necessary connection is with the former section. For Christians enter into their rest precisely because of His having offered Himself as a once-for-all sacrifice, and because they have access to Him on His throne where his gracious and merciful activity is available on their behalf.

For we should note that reference to the High Priest does not commence here. In fact the High Priesthood of Jesus the Son of God has been spoken of in every chapter. In Hebrews 1:3 it is the High Priesthood of ‘the Son’, and His work is seen as completed, He has made cleaning for sin; in Hebrews 2:17 it is the High Priesthood of ‘Jesus’ Who is concerned with making propitiation for the sins of the people; in Hebrews 3:1 He is closely compared with Moses with His being seen as the builder of the house consisting of His people to whom He offers rest; and here the ideas of ‘Son’ and ‘Jesus’ are combined in the term ‘Jesus the Son of God’, the Man Who is God, but where the thought is similar to Hebrews 1:3. All aspects are combined.

As the great (superior to the earthly) High Priest He is greater than the angels, He has been humbled in order to become restored Man and be like His brothers and sisters, and He has been concerned with establishing His house and granting His people rest. Now again He is seen as having passed through the heavens to be seated at God’s right hand (Hebrews 1:3), His priestly work having been completed, in order to grant rest to His people continually.