Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

Jesus Is Greater Than Moses

3 Holy brothers and sisters, God chose you to be his people. So keep thinking about Jesus. We embrace him as our apostle and our high priest. ² Moses was faithful in everything he did in the house of God. In the same way, Jesus was faithful to the God who appointed him. ³ The person who builds a house has greater honor than the house itself. In the same way, Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses. ⁴ Every house is built by someone. But God is the builder of everything. ⁵ “Moses was faithful as one who serves in the house of God.” (Numbers 12:7) He was a witness to what God would say in days to come. ⁶ But Christ is faithful as the Son over the house of God. And we are his house if we hold tightly to what we are certain about. We must also hold tightly to the hope we boast in.

A Warning Against Unbelief

⁷ The Holy Spirit says,

¹² Brothers and sisters, make sure that none of you has a sinful heart. Do not let an unbelieving heart turn you away from the living God. ¹³ But build one another up every day. Do it as long as there is still time. Then none of you will become stubborn. You won’t be fooled by sin’s tricks. ¹⁴ We belong to Christ if we hold tightly to the faith we had at first. But we must hold it tightly until the end. ¹⁵ It has just been said,

¹⁶ Who were those who heard and refused to obey? Weren’t they all the people Moses led out of Egypt? ¹⁷ Who was God angry with for 40 years? Wasn’t it with those who sinned? They died in the desert. ¹⁸ God promised that those people would never enjoy the rest he planned for them. God gave his word when he made that promise. Didn’t he make that promise to those who didn’t obey? ¹⁹ So we see that they weren’t able to enter. That’s because they didn’t believe.

God’s People Enter His Sabbath Rest

4 God’s promise of enjoying his rest still stands. So be careful that none of you fails to receive it. ² The good news was announced to our people of long ago. It has also been preached to us. The message they heard didn’t have any value for them. That’s because they didn’t share the faith of those who obeyed. ³ Now we who have believed enjoy that rest. God said,

Ever since God created the world, his works have been finished. ⁴ Somewhere he spoke about the seventh day. He said, “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” (Genesis 2:2) ⁵ In the part of Scripture I talked about earlier God spoke. He said, “They will never enjoy the rest I planned for them.” (Psalm 95:11)

⁶ It is still true that some people will enjoy this rest. But those who had the good news announced to them earlier didn’t go in. That’s because they didn’t obey. ⁷ So God again chose a certain day. He named it Today. He did this when he spoke through David a long time later. Here is what was written in the Scripture already given.

⁸ Suppose Joshua had given them rest. If he had, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹ So there is still a Sabbath rest for God’s people. ¹⁰ God rested from his work. Those who enjoy God’s rest also rest from their works. ¹¹ So let us make every effort to enjoy that rest. Then no one will die by disobeying as they did.

¹² The word of God is alive and active. It is sharper than any sword that has two edges. It cuts deep enough to separate soul from spirit. It can separate bones from joints. It judges the thoughts and purposes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing God created is hidden from him. His eyes see everything. He will hold us responsible for everything we do.

Jesus Is the Great High Priest

¹⁴ We have a great high priest. He has gone up into heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us hold firmly to what we say we believe. ¹⁵ We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin. ¹⁶ So let us boldly approach God’s throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.

5 Every high priest is chosen from among the people. He is appointed to act for the people. He acts for them in whatever has to do with God. He offers gifts and sacrifices for their sins. ² Some people have gone astray without knowing it. He is able to deal gently with them. He can do that because he himself is weak. ³ That’s why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins. He must also do it for the sins of the people. ⁴ And no one can take this honor for himself. Instead, he receives it when he is appointed by God. That is just how it was for Aaron.

⁵ It was the same for Christ. He did not take for himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him,

⁶ In another place God said,

⁷ Jesus prayed while he lived on earth. He made his appeal with sincere cries and tears. He prayed to the God who could save him from death. God answered Jesus because he truly honored God. ⁸ Jesus was God’s Son. But by suffering he learned what it means to obey. ⁹ In this way he was made perfect. Eternal salvation comes from him. He saves all those who obey him. ¹⁰ God appointed him to be the high priest, just like Melchizedek.

A Warning Against Falling Away

¹¹ We have a lot to say about this. But it is hard to make it clear to you. That’s because you are no longer trying to understand. ¹² By this time you should be teachers. But in fact, you need someone to teach you all over again. You need even the simple truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food. ¹³ Anyone who lives on milk is still a baby. That person does not want to learn about living a godly life. ¹⁴ Solid food is for those who are grown up. They have trained themselves to tell the difference between good and evil. That shows they have grown up.