A Sabbath-Rest for God's People

(Genesis 2:1-3; Exodus 16:22-36)

1We may fear, then, lest a promise being left of entering into His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short, 2for we also are having good news proclaimed, even as they, but the word heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard,

3for we do enter into the rest — we who did believe, as He said, ‘So I sware in My anger, If they shall enter into My rest — ;’ and yet the works were done from the foundation of the world,

4for He spake in a certain place concerning the seventh [day] thus: ‘And God did rest in the seventh day from all His works;’ 5and in this [place] again, ‘If they shall enter into My rest — ;’ 6since then, it remaineth for certain to enter into it, and those who did first hear good news entered not in because of unbelief —

7again He doth limit a certain day, ‘To-day,’ (in David saying, after so long a time,) as it hath been said, ‘To-day, if His voice ye may hear, ye may not harden your hearts,’

8for if Joshua had given them rest, He would not concerning another day have spoken after these things; 9there doth remain, then, a sabbatic rest to the people of God, 10for he who did enter into his rest, he also rested from his works, as God from His own. 11May we be diligent, then, to enter into that rest, that no one in the same example of the unbelief may fall,

God's Word is Living and Active

12for the reckoning of God is living, and working, and sharp above every two-edged sword, and piercing unto the dividing asunder both of soul and spirit, of joints also and marrow, and a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart; 13and there is not a created thing not manifest before Him, but all things [are] naked and open to His eyes — with whom is our reckoning.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14Having, then, a great chief priest passed through the heavens — Jesus the Son of God — may we hold fast the profession, 15for we have not a chief priest unable to sympathise with our infirmities, but [one] tempted in all things in like manner — apart from sin; 16we may come near, then, with freedom, to the throne of the grace, that we may receive kindness, and find grace — for seasonable help.