Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Fear Falling Short of Entering God’s Promised Rest

4 Therefore, let us fear that at any time while a promise to enter into His rest is left-remaining [open], any of you should seem to have come-short^[a]— ² for indeed, we have had-good-news-announced^[b], just as those^[c] also.

In Moses’ Day Only Those Who Believed Entered The Promised Physical Rest

But the word^[d] of hearing did not profit those ones, they^[e] not having been united in faith with the ones^[f] having heard. ³ For we, the ones having believed^[g], enter into the rest, just as He has said: “As I swore in My wrath, they shall never enter into My rest” [Ps 95:11].

And Yet God’s Rest Began On The Seventh Day, Not In Moses’ Day

And-yet, His works have been done since the foundation of the world. ⁴ For He has spoken somewhere about the seventh day as follows: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works” [Gen 2:2], ⁵ and in this [Ps 95:11] again: “They shall never enter into My rest”.

And David Still Calls Us To Enter God’s Rest “Today”

⁶ Since then it remains that some may enter into it, and the ones formerly having had-good-news-announced to them did not enter because of disobedience, ⁷ He again designates a certain day— “Today”— saying by^[h] David after so much time just as it has been said-before: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” [Ps 95:7-8]. ⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not be speaking after these things about another day^[i].

So God’s Spiritual Rest Remains Open For Us To Enter

⁹ Therefore a Sabbath-rest remains for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the one having entered into His rest also himself rested from his works, just as God did from His own.

Be Diligent To Enter His Rest, For God Knows Your Heart

¹¹ Therefore, let us be diligent to enter into that^[j] rest, in order that no one may fall in the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and effective^[k] and sharper than any double-edged sword, and piercing as-far-as the division of soul and spirit, and joints and marrows, and able-to-judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart^[l]. ¹³ And there is no creation^[m] hidden in His sight, but all things are naked and having been laid-open^[n] to His eyes to Whom the account will be given by us.