The Believer’s Rest

Therefore, we must fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have (A)come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also did; but (B)the word [a]they heard did not benefit them, because [b]they were not united with those who listened with faith. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

(C)As I swore in My anger,
They certainly shall not enter My rest,”

although His works were finished (D)from the foundation of the world. For He has said (E)somewhere concerning the seventh day: “(F)And God (G)rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this passage, “(H)They certainly shall not enter My rest.” Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who previously had good news preached to them failed to enter because of (I)disobedience, He again sets a certain day, “Today,” saying [c]through David after so long a time just (J)as has been said before,

(K)Today if you hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

For (L)if [d]Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. Consequently, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also (M)rested from his works, as (N)God did from His. 11 Therefore let’s make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same (O)example of (P)disobedience. 12 For (Q)the word of God is (R)living and (S)active, and sharper than any two-edged (T)sword, even penetrating as far as the division of (U)soul and (V)spirit, of both joints and marrow, and (W)able to [e]judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And (X)there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are (Y)open and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom [f]we must answer.

14 Therefore, since we have a great (Z)high priest who has (AA)passed through the heavens, Jesus (AB)the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our (AC)confession. 15 For we do not have (AD)a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been (AE)tempted in all things just as we are, yet (AF)without sin. 16 Therefore let’s (AG)approach the throne of grace with (AH)confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.

The Perfect High Priest

For every high priest (AI)taken from among men is appointed on behalf of people in (AJ)things pertaining to God, in order to (AK)offer both gifts and sacrifices (AL)for sins; [g](AM)he can deal gently with the (AN)ignorant and (AO)misguided, since he himself also is [h](AP)clothed in weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices (AQ)for sins for himself, (AR)as well as for the people. And (AS)no one takes the honor for himself, but receives it when he is called by God, just (AT)as Aaron also was.

So too Christ (AU)did not glorify Himself in becoming a (AV)high priest, but it was He who (AW)said to Him,

(AX)You are My Son,
Today I have fathered You”;

just as He also says in another passage,

(AY)You are a priest forever
According to (AZ)the order of Melchizedek.”

In the days of [i]His humanity, [j](BA)He offered up both prayers and pleas with (BB)loud crying and tears to the One (BC)able to save Him [k]from death, and He [l]was heard because of His (BD)devout behavior. Although He was (BE)a Son, He learned (BF)obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been (BG)perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him, 10 being designated by God as (BH)High Priest according to (BI)the order of Melchizedek.

11 Concerning [m]him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become [n]poor listeners. 12 For though [o]by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you (BJ)the [p](BK)elementary principles of the (BL)actual words of God, and you have come to need (BM)milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an (BN)infant. 14 But solid food is for (BO)the mature, who because of practice have their senses (BP)trained to (BQ)distinguish between good and evil.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:2 Lit of hearing
  2. Hebrews 4:2 One early ms it was not united with faith in those who heard
  3. Hebrews 4:7 Or in
  4. Hebrews 4:8 Gr Jesus
  5. Hebrews 4:12 Or discern
  6. Hebrews 4:13 Lit is our word
  7. Hebrews 5:2 Lit being able to
  8. Hebrews 5:2 I.e., weak by nature
  9. Hebrews 5:7 Lit His flesh
  10. Hebrews 5:7 Lit who having offered up
  11. Hebrews 5:7 Or out of
  12. Hebrews 5:7 Lit having been heard
  13. Hebrews 5:11 Lit whom; or which
  14. Hebrews 5:11 Lit sluggish in hearing
  15. Hebrews 5:12 Lit because of the time
  16. Hebrews 5:12 Lit elements of the beginning

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