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

A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God

Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.(A) For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed.[a](B) Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

“So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”[b](C)

And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c](D) And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”(E)

Therefore since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of their disobedience,(F) God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    do not harden your hearts.”[d](G)

For if Joshua had given them rest,(H) God would not have spoken(I) later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e](J) just as God did from his.(K) 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.(L)

12 For the word of God(M) is alive(N) and active.(O) Sharper than any double-edged sword,(P) it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.(Q) 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.(R) Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest(S) who has ascended into heaven,[f](T) Jesus the Son of God,(U) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.(V) 15 For we do not have a high priest(W) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are(X)—yet he did not sin.(Y) 16 Let us then approach(Z) God’s throne of grace with confidence,(AA) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,(AB) to offer gifts and sacrifices(AC) for sins.(AD) He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,(AE) since he himself is subject to weakness.(AF) This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.(AG) And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.(AH)

In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory(AI) of becoming a high priest.(AJ) But God said(AK) to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”[g](AL)

And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.(AM)[h](AN)

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions(AO) with fervent cries and tears(AP) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard(AQ) because of his reverent submission.(AR) Son(AS) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered(AT) and, once made perfect,(AU) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest(AV) in the order of Melchizedek.(AW)

Warning Against Falling Away(AX)

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths(AY) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!(AZ) 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,(BA) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature,(BB) who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.(BC)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts because those who heard did not combine it with faith
  2. Hebrews 4:3 Psalm 95:11; also in verse 5
  3. Hebrews 4:4 Gen. 2:2
  4. Hebrews 4:7 Psalm 95:7,8
  5. Hebrews 4:10 Or labor
  6. Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens
  7. Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7
  8. Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4

Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.

Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.

And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.