Hebrews 4
New Matthew Bible
The Sabbath or rest of the Christian. The punishment of unbelievers. The nature of the word of God.
4 Let us fear, therefore, lest any of us, forsaking the promise of entering into his rest, should seem to come behind. 2 For to us it has been declared as well as to them. But it did not profit them to hear the word, because they who heard it did not couple it with faith. 3 But we who have believed do enter into his rest, while contrariwise he said to the others: I have sworn in my wrath, they shall not enter into my rest.
And he spoke this long after the works were made and the foundation of the world laid. 4 For he spoke in a certain place about the seventh day this way: And God did rest on the seventh day from all his works. 5 And then again in this place: They shall not come into my rest. 6 We see therefore that it follows that some will enter into his rest, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter in due to unbelief. 7 Again, speaking in David, he appointed a certain present day after so long a time, saying as mentioned above, this day, if you hear his voice, be not hard-hearted.
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then he would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore yet a rest for the people of God. 10 For the person who has entered into his rest does cease from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us exercise ourselves therefore to enter into that rest, lest anyone should fall into unbelief after the same example. 12 For the word of God is alive and mighty in operation, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and enters through even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and judges the thoughts and intents of the heart; 13 neither is there any creature invisible in the sight of him. For all things are naked and bare to the eyes of him of whom we speak.
Christ is our high priest and seat of grace, and surpasses the high priests of the old law.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest who has entered into heaven (I mean Jesus, the Son of God), let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot have compassion on our infirmities, but one who was in all points tempted like we are, but yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore go boldly to the seat of grace, so that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4
1599 Geneva Bible
4 1 He joineth exhortation with threatening, lest they, even as their fathers were be deprived of the rest offered unto them, 11 but that they endeavor to enter into it. 14 And so he beginneth to entreat of Christ’s Priesthood.
1 Let us fear therefore, lest at any time by forsaking the promise of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to be deprived.
2 [a]For unto us was the Gospel preached as also unto them: but the word that they heard, profited not them, because it was not [b]mixed with faith in those that heard it.
3 [c]For we which have believed, do enter into rest, as he said to the other, (A)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.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, (B)And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter thereinto, and they to whom it was first preached, entered not therein for unbelief’s sake:
7 Again he appointed in David a certain day, by Today, after so long a time, saying, as it is said, (C)This day, if ye hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if [d]Jesus had given them rest, then would he not after this have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 [e]For he that is entered into his rest, hath also ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 [f]Let us study therefore to enter into that rest, lest [g]any man fall after the same example of disobedience.
12 [h]For the [i]word of God is [j]lively, and mighty in operation, and sharper than any two edged sword, and entereth through, even unto the dividing asunder of the [k]soul and the [l]spirit, and of the joints, and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts, and the intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature, which is not manifest in [m]his sight: but all things are naked and open unto his eyes, with whom we have to do.
14 [n]Seeing then that we have a great high Priest, which is entered into heaven, even Jesus the Son of God, let us [o]hold fast our profession.
15 [p]For we have not an high Priest, which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all things tempted in like sort, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore go boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 4:2 By these words, His voice, he showeth that David meant the preaching of Christ, who was then also preached, for Moses and the Prophets respected none other.
- Hebrews 4:2 He compareth the preaching of the Gospel to drink, which being drunk, that is to say, heard, profiteth nothing, unless it be tempered with faith.
- Hebrews 4:3 Lest any man should object, that those words were meant of the Land of Canaan, and of Moses’ doctrine, and therefore cannot well be drawn to Christ, and to eternal life, the Apostle showeth that there are two manner of rests spoken of in the Scriptures: the one, of the seventh day, wherein God is said to have rested from all his works: the other is said to be that same, whereinto Joshua led the people: but this rest is not the last rest whereto we are called and that he proveth by two reasons. For seeing that David so long time after, speaking to the people which were then placed in the land of Canaan, useth these words, Today, and threateneth them still that they shall not enter into the rest of God, which refuseth then the voice of God that sounded in their ears, we must needs say that he meant another time than the time of Moses, and another rest than the rest of the land of Canaan: And that is, that everlasting rest, wherein we begin to live to God, after that the race of this life ceaseth: as God resteth the seventh day from those his works, that is to say, from making the world. Moreover, the Apostle therewithal signifieth that the way to this rest, which Moses and the land of Canaan and all that order of the Law did shadow, is opened in the Gospel only.
- Hebrews 4:8 He speaketh of Joshua the son of Nun: and as the land of Canaan was a figure of our true rest, so was Joshua a figure of Christ.
- Hebrews 4:10 As God rested the seventh day, so must we rest from our works, that is, from such as proceed from our corrupt nature.
- Hebrews 4:11 He returneth to an exhortation.
- Hebrews 4:11 Lest any man become a like example of infidelity.
- Hebrews 4:12 An amplification taken from the nature of the word of God, the power whereof is such, that it entereth even to the deepest and most inward and secret parts of the heart, wounding them deadly that are stubborn, and plainly quickening the believers.
- Hebrews 4:12 The doctrine of God which is preached both in the Law and in the Gospel.
- Hebrews 4:12 He calleth the word of God lively by reason of the effects it worketh in them, to whom it is preached.
- Hebrews 4:12 He calleth that the soul, which hath the affections resident in it.
- Hebrews 4:12 By the spirit he meaneth that nobelest part which is called the mind.
- Hebrews 4:13 In God’s sight.
- Hebrews 4:14 Now he entereth into the comparison of Christ’s Priesthood with Aaron’s, and declareth even in the very beginning the marvelous excellency of this Priesthood, calling him the Son of God and placing him in the seat of God in heaven, plainly and evidently setting him against Aaron’s Priests, and the transitory tabernacle: which comparisons he setteth forth afterward more at large.
- Hebrews 4:14 And let it not go out of your hands.
- Hebrews 4:15 Lest he might seem by this great glory of our high Priest, to stay and stop us from going unto him, he addeth straightways after, that he is notwithstanding our brother indeed, (as he proved it also before) and that he accounteth all our miseries, as his own, to call us boldly to him.
Hebrews 4
Authorized (King James) Version
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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7 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. 8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 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.
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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