竭力进入安息

所以,既然那进入神[a]安息的应许还存留,我们就该惧怕,免得我们[b]当中有人看来达不到了。 实际上,我们也是得以听到福音的,就像他们那样;但是他们所听的话语对他们没有益处,因为他们没有因着信,与所听的相配合。 其实,我们这些相信的才能进入那安息,正如神所说:

“所以我在自己的震怒中起誓:
‘他们绝不能进入我的安息。’”[c]

事实上,神的工作从创世以来,就已经完成了。 原来关于第七日,他在经上某处这样说:

“神在第七日,
歇了他所有的工作。”[d]

在这里他又说:“他们绝不能进入我的安息。”[e] 所以,既然这安息为了一些进入它的人被保留下来,可是由于那些原先得以听到福音的人,因着不信从而没有进去, 神就再次设定了一个日子——“今天”,就是在很久以后藉着大卫所说的,像预先说过[f]的那样:

“今天,你们如果听见他的声音,
就不可硬着你们的心。”[g]

如果约书亚已经使他们得了安息,神后来就不会再说到另一个日子了。 这样,就有一个“安息日的安息”为了神的子民被保留下来。 10 原来,那进了神[h]安息的人,也歇了自己的工作,就像神歇了自己的工作那样。 11 所以,我们要努力进入那安息,免得有人照着那同样不信从的样式跌落了。

12 神的话语[i]是有生命的,是有功效的;比任何双刃的剑更锋利,能刺透到魂和灵的分界,以及骨节和骨髓的分界,也能辨明心中的思想和意念; 13 并且被造之物在神面前,没有一样不是显明的;万有在他眼前,都是赤裸敞开的;我们都要向他交代。

我们的大祭司

14 所以,我们既然有一位已经越过了诸天的、尊贵的大祭司——神的儿子耶稣,我们就要持守信仰[j]告白; 15 因为我们的大祭司不是不能同情我们的种种软弱,而是在各方面照着与我们相同的样式受过试探,只是没有犯罪。 16 因此,让我们坦然无惧地来到恩典的宝座前,为要得着怜悯,寻见恩典,做为及时的帮助。

Footnotes

  1. 希伯来书 4:1 神——原文直译“他”。
  2. 希伯来书 4:1 我们——原文直译“你们”。
  3. 希伯来书 4:3 《诗篇》95:11。
  4. 希伯来书 4:4 《创世记》2:2。
  5. 希伯来书 4:5 《诗篇》95:11。
  6. 希伯来书 4:7 预先说过——有古抄本作“已经说过”。
  7. 希伯来书 4:7 《诗篇》95:7-8。
  8. 希伯来书 4:10 神——原文直译“他”。
  9. 希伯来书 4:12 神的话语——或译作“神的道”。
  10. 希伯来书 4:14 信仰——辅助词语。

信的人得享安息

因此,上帝既然仍舊應許讓人進入祂的安息,我們就該戰戰兢兢,免得有人失去這福分。 因為我們和他們一樣聽到了福音,只是他們聽了道後沒有憑信心領受,結果沒有得到益處。 正如上帝曾說:

「我在憤怒中起誓說,
『他們絕不可進入我的安息。』」

但我們這些已經信的人能夠進入祂的安息。其實造物之工自創世以來就已經完成了, 因為聖經論到第七日時說:「第七日,上帝歇了一切的工。」 又說:「他們絕不可進入我的安息。」 既然最終會有人進入安息,而那些從前聽過福音的人因為不信沒能進去, 上帝就另定了一個日子,稱之為「今日」。正如多年後,祂藉著大衛說:

「你們今日若聽見祂的聲音,
不可心裡頑固。」

如果當初約書亞已經讓他們得到了安息,上帝就不必另定一個日子了。 這樣說來,必定另有一個安息日為上帝的子民存留,使他們可以真正安歇。 10 因為人進入上帝的安息,就是歇了自己的工作,好像上帝歇了祂的工作一樣。 11 因此,我們要竭力進入那安息,免得重蹈他們的覆轍,因不順服而倒斃。

12 上帝的話有生命、有功效,鋒利無比,勝過一切兩刃的利劍,甚至能夠剌入並分開魂與靈、關節與骨髓,辨明人一切的思想和動機。 13 受造物在上帝面前都無法隱藏,因為萬物都是赤裸裸地暴露在上帝眼前,我們必須向祂交帳。

大祭司耶穌

14 我們既然有一位已經升上高天的尊貴大祭司——上帝的兒子耶穌,就應當持守我們所認定的信仰。 15 因為我們這位大祭司並非不能體恤我們的軟弱,祂與我們一樣曾經面對各樣的試探,卻從來沒有犯罪。 16 所以,讓我們坦然無懼地到祂賜恩的寶座前,好領受憐憫和恩典,作隨時的幫助。

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.

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