Hebrews 4

Promised Rest for God’s People

4God's promise of entering his rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to experience it.G5399G3767G5399G3379G1860G2641G1525G1519G846G2663G5100G1537G5216G1380G53022For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn't share the faith of those who listened to God

.G2532G1063G2070G2097G2509G2548G235G3056G189G5623G3756G5623G1565G3361G4786G4102G1913For only we who believe can enter his rest. As for the others, God said, "In my anger I took an oath: 'They will never enter my place of rest,'"

even though this rest has been ready since he made the world.G1063G3588G4100G1525G1519G2663G2531G2046G5613G3660G1722G3450G3709G1487G1525G1519G3450G2663G2543G2041G1096G575G2602G28894We know it is ready because of the place in the Scriptures where it mentions the seventh day: "On the seventh day God rested from all his work."

G1063G2046G4225G4012G1442G3779G2532G2316G2664G1722G1442G2250G575G3956G846G20415But in the other passage God said, "They will never enter my place of rest."

G2532G1722G5129G3825G1487G1525G1519G3450G26636So God's rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God.G1893G3767G620G5100G1525G1519G846G2532G4386G2097G1525G3756G1525G1223G5437So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: "Today when you hear his voice, don't harden your hearts."

G3825G3724G5100G2250G3004G1722G1138G4594G3326G5118G5550G2531G2046G4594G1437G191G846G5456G4645G3361G5216G25888Now if Joshua had succeeded in giving them this rest, God would not have spoken about another day of rest still to come.G1063G1487G2424G2664G846G2664G302G3756G3326G5023G2980G4012G243G22509So there is a special rest

still waiting for the people of God.G620G686G4520G2992G231610For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.G1063G1525G1519G846G2663G846G2532G2664G575G846G2041G5618G2316G575G239811So let us do our best to enter that rest. But if we disobey God, as the people of Israel did, we will fall.G4704G3767G1525G1519G1565G2663G3363G5100G4098G1722G846G5262G54312For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.G1063G3056G2316G2198G2532G1756G2532G5114G5228G3956G1366G3162G1338G891G3311G5590G5037G2532G4151G5037G2532G719G2532G3452G2532G2924G1761G2532G1771G258813Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.G2532G3756G2076G2937G852G846G1799G1161G3956G1131G2532G5136G3788G846G4314G3739G2254G3056

Christ Is Our High Priest

14So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.G2192G3767G2192G3173G749G1330G3772G2424G5207G2316G2902G367115This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.G1063G2192G3756G749G3361G1410G4834G2257G769G1161G3985G2596G3956G3985G3987G2596G3665G5565G26616So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.G4334G3767G4334G3326G3954G2362G5485G2443G2983G1656G2532G2147G5485G996G1519G2121