The Sabbath Rest

¹ 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.^{* 2} 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.

³ 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. ⁴ For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”⁵ And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.”

⁶ 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, ⁷ 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.”

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. ⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. ¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

The Living Word

¹² 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. ¹³ 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.

¹⁴ 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. ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ 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.