The Believer’s Rest
1 Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still remainsandis freely offered today, let us fear, in case any one of you may seem to come short of reaching itorthink he has come too late.
2 For indeed we have had the good news [of salvation] preached to us, just as the Israelites also [when the good news of the promised land came to them]; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because it was not united with faith [in God] by those who heard.
3 For we who believe [that is, we who personally trust and confidently rely on God] enter that rest [so we have His inner peace now because we are confident in our salvation, and assured of His power], just as He has said,
“AsIswore[an oath]inMy wrath,
They shall not enterMy rest,”
[this He said] although His works werecompleted from the foundation of the world [waiting for all who would believe].
4 For somewhere [in Scripture] He has said this about the seventh day: “AndGodrested on the seventh day from allHis works”;
5 and again in this, “They shall not enterMy rest.”
6 Therefore, since the promise remains for some to enter His rest, and those who formerly had the good news preached to them failed to [grasp it and did not] enter because of [their unbelief evidenced by] disobedience,
7 He again sets a definite day, [a new] “Today,” [providing another opportunity to enter that rest by] saying through David after so long a time, just as has been said before [in the words already quoted],
“Today if you hearHis voice,
Do not harden your hearts.”
8 [This mention of a rest was not a reference to their entering into Canaan.] For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak about another day [of opportunity] after that.
9 So there remains a [full and complete] Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10 For the one who has once entered His rest has also rested from [the weariness and pain of] his [human] labors, just as God rested from [those labors uniquely] His own.
11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall byfollowingthe same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness].
12 For the word of God is living and activeandfull of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edgedsword, penetrating as far as the division of thesoul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposingandjudging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are openandexposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.
14 Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior].
15 For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathizeandunderstand our weaknessesandtemptations, but One who has been tempted [knowing exactly how it feels to be human] in every respect aswe are, yetwithout [committing any] sin.
16 Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidenceandwithout fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].