John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 4:3

"For we who have believed do enter into that rest; even as he hath said, As I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world." — Hebrews 4:3 (ASV)

He now begins to embellish the passage he had quoted from David. He has until now taken it, as they say, according to the letter—that is, in its literal sense—but he now amplifies and decorates it. Thus, he alludes to rather than explains the words of David.

Paul employed this sort of decoration in Romans 10:6, when referring to these words of Moses: “Say not, who shall ascend into heaven!” etc. Nor is it indeed unsuitable, when applying Scripture to the subject at hand, to illustrate with figurative terms what is delivered more simply. However, the sum of the whole matter is this: what God threatens in the Psalm regarding the loss of His rest also applies to us, since He also invites us today to a rest.

The chief difficulty with this passage arises from the fact that many pervert its meaning. By declaring that there is a rest for us, the Apostle had no other aim than to rouse us to desire it and also to make us fear that we might be shut out of it through unbelief. However, He also teaches us at the same time that the rest into which an entrance is now open for us is far more valuable than that in the land of Canaan. But let us now come to particulars.

For we which have believed do enter into rest, or, for we enter into the rest after we have believed, etc. This is an argument from the contrary. Unbelief alone shuts us out; therefore, faith alone opens an entrance. We must indeed remember what he has already stated: that God, being angry with the unbelieving, had sworn that they should not partake of that blessing. Therefore, they enter in where unbelief does not hinder, provided only that God invites them. But by speaking in the first person, he allures them with greater sweetness, separating them from outsiders.

Although the works, etc. To define what our rest is, he reminds us of what Moses relates: that God, having finished the creation of the world, immediately rested from His works. He finally concludes that the true rest of the faithful, which is to continue forever, will be when they will rest as God did.

And undoubtedly, as the highest happiness of man is to be united to his God, so this union ought to be his ultimate end, to which he should direct all his thoughts and actions.

This he proves because God, who is said to have rested, declared a long time afterward that He would not give His rest to the unbelieving. He would have declared this to no purpose if He had not intended that the faithful should rest after His own example.

Hence he says, It remaineth that some must enter in: for if not entering in is the punishment for unbelief, then an entrance, as has been said, is open to believers.