Hebrews 4

GOD’S WORD Translation

We Will Enter God’s Place of Rest

4 God’s promise that we may enter his place of rest still stands. We are afraid that some of you think you won’t enter his place of rest. ² We have heard the same Good News that your ancestors heard. But the message didn’t help those who heard it in the past because they didn’t believe.

³ We who believe are entering that place of rest. As God said, “So I angrily took a solemn oath that they would never enter my place of rest.” God said this even though he had finished his work when he created the world. ⁴ Somewhere in Scripture God has said this about the seventh day: “On the seventh day God rested from all his work.”

⁵ God also said in the same passage, “They will never enter my place of rest.” ⁶ However, some people enter that place of rest. Those who heard the Good News in the past did not enter God’s place of rest because they did not obey God. ⁷ So God set another day. That day is today. Many years after ⌞your ancestors failed to enter that place of rest⌟ God spoke about it through David in the passage already quoted: “If you hear God speak today, don’t be stubborn.” ⁸ If Joshua had given the people rest, God would not have spoken about another day. ⁹ Therefore, a time of eternal rest exists for God’s people. ¹⁰ Those who entered his place of rest also rest from their work as God did from his.

¹¹ So we must make every effort to enter that place of rest. Then no one will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey.

¹² God’s word is living and active. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts as deep as the place where soul and spirit meet, the place where joints and marrow meet. God’s word judges a person’s thoughts and intentions. ¹³ No creature can hide from God. Everything is uncovered and exposed for him to see. We must answer to him.

Christ Is Superior to Other Chief Priests

¹⁴ We need to hold on to our declaration of faith: We have a superior chief priest who has gone through the heavens. That person is Jesus, the Son of God. ¹⁵ We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn’t sin. ¹⁶ So we can go confidently to the throne of God’s kindness ^[a] to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time.