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

The Promise of Rest

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, (A)let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, [a]not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

(B)“So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: (C)“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this place: (D)“They shall not enter My rest.”

Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

(E)“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”

For if [b]Joshua had (F)given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The Word Discovers Our Condition

11 (G)Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is (H)living and powerful, and (I)sharper than any (J)two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is (K)a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 (L)And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are (M)naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Our Compassionate High Priest

14 Seeing then that we have a great (N)High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, (O)let us hold fast our confession. 15 For (P)we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but (Q)was in all points tempted as we are, (R)yet without sin. 16 (S)Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:2 NU, M since they were not united by faith with those who heeded it
  2. Hebrews 4:8 Gr. Jesus, same as Heb. Joshua

Por eso, mientras siga en pie la promesa de descansar con Dios, debemos tener cuidado. Sería una lástima que alguno de ustedes no pudiera recibir de Dios ese descanso. Porque nosotros oímos la buena noticia, igual que aquellos israelitas que salieron de Egipto. Sólo que a ellos no les sirvió de nada oírla, porque no creyeron en el mensaje. Nosotros, en cambio, los que sí hemos creído en la buena noticia, disfrutaremos de la paz y de la tranquilidad que Dios nos ha prometido. Pero a los que no creyeron, Dios les dijo:

«Por eso, ya enojado decidí:
“No voy a permitirles
entrar en la tierra prometida,
donde los haré descansar.”»

Dios dijo esto, refiriéndose a su descanso cuando terminó de crear el mundo. Porque en alguna parte de la Biblia se habla así del día sábado:

«En el séptimo día
Dios descansó de todo su trabajo.»

Y en cuanto a este punto, vuelve a decir:

«Ustedes jamás entrarán
en mi lugar de reposo.»

Los primeros en oír la buena noticia desobedecieron a Dios, y por eso no pudieron recibir su descanso. Pero la promesa de Dios sigue en pie, porque él nos dio una nueva oportunidad, como lo dijo por medio de David en el pasaje de la Biblia, que ya mencionamos:

«Si hoy escuchan la voz de Dios,
no sean tan tercos.»

Si Josué hubiera podido hacer que los israelitas descansaran realmente en paz y tranquilidad, Dios no habría hablado de otra oportunidad. Pero todavía esperamos el día en que nosotros, el pueblo de Dios, recibiremos el descanso que Dios nos ha prometido. 10 En ese día, el pueblo de Dios descansará por fin de su trabajo, así como Dios descansó del suyo. 11 Por eso, hagamos todo lo posible por obedecer a Dios, para que en ese día recibamos su descanso. No sigamos el ejemplo de los que no creyeron la buena noticia.

12 Cada palabra que Dios pronuncia tiene poder y tiene vida. La palabra de Dios es más cortante que una espada de dos filos, y penetra hasta lo más profundo de nuestro ser. Allí examina nuestros pensamientos y deseos, y deja en claro si son buenos o malos. 13 Nada de lo que Dios ha creado puede esconderse de él, pues Dios puede verlo todo con claridad, y ante él seremos responsables de todo lo que hemos hecho.

Jesús es el Jefe de sacerdotes

14 Jesús es el Hijo de Dios, y es nuestro gran Jefe de sacerdotes, que ha subido al cielo. Por eso debemos seguir confiando en él.

15 El diablo le puso a Jesús las mismas trampas que nos pone a nosotros para hacernos pecar, sólo que Jesús nunca pecó. Por eso, él puede entender que nos resulta difícil obedecer a Dios. 16 Así que, cuando tengamos alguna necesidad, acerquémonos con confianza al trono de Dios. Él nos ayudará, porque es bueno y nos ama.

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem (A)to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because (B)they were not united by faith with those who listened.[a] For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

(C)“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: (D)“And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said,

(E)“They shall not enter my rest.”

Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news (F)failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

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

For if Joshua had given them rest, God[b] would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also (H)rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so (I)that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For (J)the word of God is living and (K)active, (L)sharper than any (M)two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and (N)discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And (O)no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are (P)naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since then we have (Q)a great high priest (R)who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, (S)let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest (T)who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been (U)tempted as we are, (V)yet without sin. 16 (W)Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 4:2 Some manuscripts it did not meet with faith in the hearers
  2. Hebrews 4:8 Greek he