Hebrews 4
Revised Geneva Translation
4 Therefore, let us fear, lest at any time any of you should seem to have come short of the promise of entering into His rest.
2 For the Gospel was preached to us as well as them. But the word that they heard did not profit them, because it was not mixed with faith in those who heard it.
3 For we who have believed have entered into rest, as He said, “As I have sworn in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter into My rest,’” However, the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For He spoke in a certain place of the seventh day in this way, “And God rested the seventh day from all His works.”
5 And in this place again, “If they shall enter into My rest.”
6 Therefore, seeing it remains that some must enter into it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter therein for unbelief’s sake,
7 again (after so long a time) He appointed through David a certain day - “Today” - by saying, “This day, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then would He not later have spoken of another day?
9 There remains, therefore, a rest to the people of God.
10 For the one who has entered into His rest has also ceased from his own works (as God did from His).
11 Therefore, let us study to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
12 For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, passing through even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and able to discern the thoughts and the intentions of the heart.
13 Nor is there any creature unseen by Him. But all things are naked and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.
14 Seeing, then, that we have a great High Priest Who has entered into Heaven (Jesus, the Son of God), let us hold firmly to our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all things tempted in the same way, yet without sin.
16 Therefore, let us go boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4
The Message
When the Promises Are Mixed with Faith
4 1-3 For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God’s goal for us, we need to be careful that we’re not disqualified. We received the same promises as those people in the wilderness, but the promises didn’t do them a bit of good because they didn’t receive the promises with faith. If we believe, though, we’ll experience that state of resting. But not if we don’t have faith. Remember that God said,
Exasperated, I vowed,
“They’ll never get where they’re going,
never be able to sit down and rest.”
3-7 God made that vow, even though he’d finished his part before the foundation of the world. Somewhere it’s written, “God rested the seventh day, having completed his work,” but in this other text he says, “They’ll never be able to sit down and rest.” So this promise has not yet been fulfilled. Those earlier ones never did get to the place of rest because they were disobedient. God keeps renewing the promise and setting the date as today, just as he did in David’s psalm, centuries later than the original invitation:
Today, please listen,
don’t turn a deaf ear . . .
8-11 And so this is still a live promise. It wasn’t canceled at the time of Joshua; otherwise, God wouldn’t keep renewing the appointment for “today.” The promise of “arrival” and “rest” is still there for God’s people. God himself is at rest. And at the end of the journey we’ll surely rest with God. So let’s keep at it and eventually arrive at the place of rest, not drop out through some sort of disobedience.
12-13 God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one can resist God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.
The High Priest Who Cried Out in Pain
14-16 Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
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