HebrewsChapter 4

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¹God's promise that we can enter his rest still stands. So let's be careful. Don't let any of you be found to have missed out on it. ²We heard the good news just as they did. But the message they heard didn't help them. That's because they didn't share the faith of those who understood it.a ³We who have believed enter that rest. But about the others, God said, "So in my anger I swore an oath. I said, 'They will never enter my rest.'" Yet God's work has been finished since he made the world. ⁴Somewhere in Scripture God talks about the seventh day like this: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work." ⁵And in the passage above he says again, "They will never enter my rest." ⁶So some people still get to enter God's rest. And those who heard the good news before didn't enter because they disobeyed. ⁷So God again chose a certain day and called it "Today." A long time later he spoke about it through David. It's what was just quoted: "Today, if you hear his voice, don't make your hearts hard." ⁸If Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹So there is still a Sabbath rest waiting for God's people. ¹⁰Anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work. That's just what God did when he rested from his work. ¹¹So let's try our very best to enter that rest. Then no one will fall by disobeying the way they did. ¹²The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword with two sharp edges. It cuts deep enough to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and plans of the heart. ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before his eyes. And we must explain ourselves to him. ¹⁴We have a great high priest who has gone up through the heavens. He is Jesus, the Son of God. So let's hold tight to the faith we say we believe. ¹⁵Our high priest understands how weak we are. He was tempted in every way that we are. Yet he never sinned. ¹⁶So let's come boldly to the throne of grace. There we will receive mercy. And we will find grace to help us when we need it.