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Por eso, mientras todavía contamos con la promesa de entrar en ese reposo de Dios, debemos tener cuidado, no sea que alguno de ustedes no lo logre. Porque nosotros recibimos el anuncio de la buena noticia, lo mismo que ellos; pero a ellos no les sirvió de nada el oírlo, porque no se unieron por la fe con los que habían obedecido al mensaje. Pero nosotros, que hemos creído, entraremos en ese reposo, del cual Dios ha dicho:

«Por eso juré en mi furor
que no entrarían en el lugar de mi reposo.»

Sin embargo, Dios había terminado su trabajo desde que creó el mundo; pues en alguna parte de las Escrituras se dice del séptimo día:

«Dios reposó de todo su trabajo el séptimo día.»

Y otra vez se dice en las Escrituras:

«No entrarán en mi reposo.»

Pero todavía falta que algunos entren en ese lugar de reposo, ya que, por haber desobedecido, no entraron los que primero recibieron el anuncio. Por eso, Dios ha vuelto a señalar un día, un nuevo «hoy», y lo ha hecho hablándonos por medio de lo que, mucho tiempo después, David dijo en la Escritura ya mencionada:

«Si hoy escuchan ustedes lo que Dios dice,
no endurezcan su corazón.»

Porque si Josué les hubiera dado reposo a los israelitas, Dios no habría hablado de otro día. De manera que todavía queda un reposo sagrado para el pueblo de Dios; 10 porque el que entra en ese reposo de Dios, reposa de su trabajo, así como Dios reposó del suyo. 11 Debemos, pues, esforzarnos por entrar en ese reposo, para que nadie siga el ejemplo de aquellos que no creyeron.

12 Porque la palabra de Dios tiene vida y poder. Es más cortante que cualquier espada de dos filos, y penetra hasta lo más profundo del alma y del espíritu, hasta lo más íntimo de la persona; y somete a juicio los pensamientos y las intenciones del corazón. 13 Nada de lo que Dios ha creado puede esconderse de él; todo está claramente expuesto ante aquel a quien tenemos que rendir cuentas.

Jesús, sacerdote compasivo

14 Jesús, el Hijo de Dios, es nuestro gran Sumo sacerdote que ha entrado en el cielo. Por eso debemos seguir firmes en la fe que profesamos. 15 Pues nuestro Sumo sacerdote puede compadecerse de nuestra debilidad, porque él también estuvo sometido a las mismas pruebas que nosotros; sólo que él jamás pecó. 16 Acerquémonos, pues, con confianza al trono de nuestro Dios amoroso, para que él tenga misericordia de nosotros y en su bondad nos ayude en la hora de necesidad.

Chapter 4

The Sabbath Rest of God’s People.[a] Therefore, since the promise of entering into his rest endures, we must take care that none of you be judged to have fallen short. For we too have received the good news just as they did, but the message they heard was of no benefit to them because those who listened did not combine it with faith. For we who have faith enter into that rest, just as God has said:

“Therefore, I swore in my anger,
    ‘They will never enter into my rest.’ ”

Yet God’s work had been finished at the beginning of the world. For somewhere he says in reference to the seventh day, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And in this passage it says, “They will never enter into my rest.”

Seeing, therefore, that some will enter into that rest, and since those who first had received the good news failed to enter because of their refusal to believe, God once more set a day—“today”—when long afterward he spoke through David, as already quoted:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
    harden not your hearts.”

Now if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken afterward of another day. Therefore, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God, 10 since those who enter into God’s rest also cease from their own labors as God did from his. 11 Let us then make every effort to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall by following that example of refusing to believe.

12 The Word of God Is Living.[b] Indeed, the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any two-edged sword, it pierces to the point where it divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. 13 Nothing in creation is hidden from his sight. Everything is uncovered and exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must all render an account.

14 A Compassionate High Priest.[c] 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 profession of faith. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tested in every respect as we are, but without sinning. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace when we are in need of help.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:1 The first “rest” in Scripture was the one that God took on the seventh day of creation (see Gen 2:3). The second “rest” was the one God promised to the Israelites in Canaan, but which they were not allowed to enter because of their lack of faith (see v. 2 and Ps 95:11). The third “rest” was the one Jesus took upon entering the eternal sphere after completing the work of Redemption (see Eph 1:20; 2:6; 4:8). These “rests” foreshadow the ultimate “rest” that awaits all Christians (v. 11), provided they have a living faith in the person and work of Jesus.
  2. Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is living and effective. It pierces into the most inner part of believers who open themselves completely to it. This dynamic word of God appears in both the Old and the New Testament (see Pss 107:20; 147:18; Isa 40:8; 55:11; Gal 3:8; Eph 5:26; Jas 1:18; 1 Pet 1:23).
  3. Hebrews 4:14 Trait by trait, the portrait of the high priest is developed. It is fully verified only in Christ; moreover, we are now beyond the priesthood of Aaron and the earthly liturgy. Christ has set free his own; the Risen One who now lives forever expresses that compassion for humans to which he bore witness in his Passion. This priest is more one with human beings than Aaron was. He is established by God to perform more than a passing service for them. As Son and according to the order of Melchizedek (who will be spoken about later), he is engaged with all his person in his supplication and his sacrifice. The Passion is the most solemn prayer of intercession, the greatest act of obedience at the heart of humanity.