New Testament
Hebrews 4
Overview
Continuing the meditation on Psalm 95 begun in chapter 3, the author argues that God's "rest" remains open, and warns the readers to fear lest any of them "seem to have failed to reach it" (4:1). He builds a careful exegetical case: God's rest goes back to creation, for "God rested on the seventh day from all his works" (4:4, quoting Genesis 2:2); the wilderness generation failed to enter through disobedience; and even Joshua's conquest of Canaan did not exhaust the promise, since long afterward God still said "Today" through David in Psalm 95. Therefore "there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God" (4:9), a rest entered by faith, in which one ceases from one's own works as God did from His. The author urges, "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest" (4:11), then turns to the searching power of God's word, "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword" (4:12), before which all is exposed. The chapter ends by gathering up the priesthood theme: because we have "a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God," who sympathizes with our weaknesses yet was without sin, we may "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace" (4:14-16).
1Let’s fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.
2For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.
3For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works;”
5and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”
6Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter into it, and they to whom the good news was preached before failed to enter in because of disobedience,
7he again defines a certain day, “today”, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”
8For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.
9There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.
11Let’s therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
12For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.
14Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession.
15For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.
16Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.