Hebrews 4:10

He that is entered. Rather, “he who entered,” that is, any one of “the people of God” (v. 9). The Greek construction makes it clear that some have already entered into God’s “rest.”

Rest. Gr. katapausis (see on Heb. 3:11). Although the word for “rest” in Heb. 4:10 is different from that of v. 9 (sabbatismos), the context makes evident that both refer to the same thing (see on v. 9). The “rest” that remains (v. 9) is obviously the “rest” into which the believing Christian of v. 10 enters. The word “for” of v. 10 makes v. 10 contingent upon, and a conclusion drawn from, v. 9.

He also. That is, in addition to, or in the same manner as, God.

Hath ceased. Gr. katapaud, the same word translated “did rest” in v. 4 and “given . . . rest” in v. 8 (see on Heb. 3:11). Although the translation “hath ceased” obscures the relationship of the statement here made to other instances in which katapaud and katapausis appear in chs. 3 and 4, it is nevertheless more appropriate to the thought of v. 10 in that it stresses the idea of cessation from “works” rather than the continuing state of “rest” that follows upon cessation.

His own works. Upon entering into God’s “rests,” which consists of confidence in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, the Christian has of necessity already “ceased” from attempting to become righteous by his own works. The writer may also have in mind the Christian’s “rest” from the “works” of sin, works that prevented the generation of Israelites who were delivered out of Egypt from entering the Promised Land, and later generations from entering into God’s spiritual rest (see on chs. 3:8, 9; 4:8).