Hebrews 4
A Sabbath rest remains for the people of God. The author urges diligence to enter that rest, not falling through the same pattern of unbelief as Israel. The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword. Since we have a great high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence.
Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be deemed to have fallen short of it.
For we also received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, since they did not share the faith of those who comprehended it.
Now we who have believed enter that rest. As for the others, it is just as God has said: “So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’” And yet His works have been finished since the foundation of the world.
They shall never enter my rest
So I swore on oath in My anger, “They shall never enter My rest.”
Read Psalms 95 ›For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”
On the seventh day God rested from all his works
And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work.
Read Genesis 2 ›And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.”
Since, then, it remains for some to enter His rest, and since those who formerly heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience,
God again designated a certain day as “Today,” when a long time later He spoke through David as was just stated: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
Joshua led Israel into the land — if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day
“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel.
Read Joshua 1 ›There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
God rested on the seventh day — a Sabbath rest remains for the people of God
And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work.
Read Genesis 2 ›Crossing the Jordan to the promised land — Sabbath rest remains for God's people
The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel crossed over the dry ground, until the entire nation had crossed the Jordan.
Read Joshua 3 ›For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Mercy seat where God meets his people — throne of grace in Christ
And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.
Read Exodus 25 ›Have a question about Hebrews 4?
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