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I. WHAT IS THIS REST? It is —

1. A felicitating rest. In it there is —

(1) Freedom from all troublesome evils.

(a) Sin (Romans 7:24) is the most grievous, but in heaven there is no sin (Ephesians 5:27). In paradise there was a tempter, but not in heaven.

(b) Misery and affliction (Revelation 22:4).

(2) An enjoyment of all good, even God. To our felicity three things are necessary.

(a)  A prepared faculty;

(b)  a suitable object;

(c)  the conjunction of these.In a state of glory these things concur. The faculty is more prepared than here as we are purged from sin and fleshly delusions — the object is more manifested (1 Corinthians 13:12); the conjunction is more intimate; for here it is by faith, there by vision, here by an imperfect, there by a perfect love.

2. A holy rest, a perpetual sabbatizing (Hebrews 4:9). The Sabbath is not a time of idleness; on it the sacrifices were doubled (Numbers 28:1). So our service is not ended with our lives; holy work will be part of the blessedness of heaven (Revelation 7:14, 15).

3. A rest for the whole person — body and soul.

II. WHY OUR REWARD IS REPRESENTED AS REST. Because it suits —

1. The aim of the saints. It is the end of motion. None have it but those that seek after it. We are all travelling to the other world. Some are posting to eternal torment on the broad road, others to life and rest by the narrow way (Matthew 7:13, 14). Every day a Christian gets nearer the goal (Romans 13:11).

2. The goodness of God, who delights to recompense His people for their pain and weariness. He has a care for His weary servants here and gives them rest (Isaiah 50:4; Matthew 11:28).

III. "REST WITH US."

1. All Christians have the same felicity for substance though the degrees are different. Those who have been together in the labour, duty, and danger shall be together in the rest and recompense (Matthew 25:1). The grounds of essential happiness are the same to all.

(1) The same Redeemer (Exodus 30:15; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 3:22).

(2) The same covenant which is the common charter of the saints (Acts 2:39). It is a covenant which —

(a)  Offers the same benefits, pardon, life (Romans 4:23, 24; 2 Timothy 4:8).

(b)  Requires the same duties (Galatians 6:16; Romans 1:16).

2. Though the essential happiness of the saints is the same, yet there are degrees in glory. What relation holiness has to heaven, so more holiness here means more happiness there.

3. It is a comfortable adjunct to our felicity that we shall have such company there (Matthew 8:11; Hebrews 12:22, 23; Ephesians 2:19; Ephesians 3:15). Let this promote church unity.

(T. Manton, D. D.)

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KJV: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;

WEB: Since it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,