Hebrews 3-4

Christian Standard Bible

Our Apostle and High Priest

3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.^{(A) 2} He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was in all God’s household. ³ For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house. ⁴ Now every house is built by someone, but the one who built everything is God.^{(B) 5} Moses was faithful as a servant^(C) in all God’s household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. ⁶ But Christ was faithful as a Son over his household. And we are that household if we hold on to our confidence and the hope in which we boast.^[a](D)

Warning against Unbelief

⁷ Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

¹² Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away^(F) from the living God. ¹³ But encourage each other daily,^(G) while it is still called today, so that none of you is hardened^(H) by sin’s deception.^{(I) 14} For we have become participants in Christ if we hold firmly until the end the reality^[c] that we had at the start.^{(J) 15} As it is said:

¹⁶ For who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it all who came out of Egypt under Moses?^{(L) 17} With whom was God angry for forty years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?^{(M) 18} And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, if not to those who disobeyed? ¹⁹ So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

The Promised Rest

4 Therefore, since the promise to enter his rest remains, let us beware^[e] that none of you be found to have fallen short.^{[f] 2} For we also have received the good news just as they did. But the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith.^{[g](N) 3} For we who have believed enter the rest, in keeping with what^[h] he has said,

even though his works have been finished since the foundation of the world. ⁴ For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: And on the seventh day God rested from all his works.^{[j](P) 5} Again, in that passage he says, They will never enter my rest.^{[k] 6} Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience,^{(Q) 7} he again specifies a certain day—today. He specified this speaking through David after such a long time:

⁸ For if Joshua^(S) had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹ Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. ¹⁰ For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his.^{(T) 11} Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

¹² For the word of God is living and effective^(U) and sharper than any double-edged sword,^(V) penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.^{(W) 13} No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom^(X) we must give an account.

Our Great High Priest

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession.^{(Y) 15} For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are,^(Z) yet without sin.^{(AA) 16} Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.