Useful Bible Studies > Hebrews Commentary > chapter 4

The same gospel

Hebrews 4:2

Many Christians will not consider this verse easy to understand. But if you learn its message, the whole Book of Hebrews will become clearer.

This is the problem that those Christians have to deal with. Some Christians say that Moses’ laws are the opposite of Christ’s good news. They teach that the books of Moses are strict and severe. And that Jesus came to free people from the laws that Moses wrote.

But this verse does not agree. It speaks both about us, and about the people that Moses led. And it says that both we and they received the same good news. Moses declared God’s good news to the people, even as Jesus did!

God has not changed (Hebrews 1:10-12). His law does not change (Matthew 5:17-18). The gospel (God’s good news) is the same (Galatians 1:6-9). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and always (Hebrews 13:8).

This is an important principle for the author of Hebrews. He will soon use the laws of Moses to teach about Jesus. When Moses wrote those laws, he was declaring God’s good news about Jesus. It is not different good news – it is the same good news! And it remains the same in every age.

But there is a difference between us, and the people who first heard Moses’ laws. The difference is not the good news or its message (its meaning). The difference is – or should be – our reaction.

We know from history about their reaction. Their attitudes were completely wrong. They did not have faith (active belief and trust in God). They showed complete unbelief.

But our reaction can be different. We can choose to trust God and to obey him. And it is important that we do. We did not just receive God’s message from his servant, like them. We received it from Jesus, God’s Son. So our responsibility is greater.

Next part: How to enter God’s rest (Hebrews 4:3-5)

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