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1Now the promise of entering into God’s rest is still for us today. So we must be extremely careful to ensure that we all embrace the fullness of that promise and not fail to experience it.
2For we have heard the good news of deliverance just as they did, yet they didn’t join their faith with the Word. Instead, what they heard didn’t affect them deeply, for they doubted.[#4:2 Or “because they did not join in with those who heard the message with faith” (Joshua and Caleb).]
3For those of us who believe, faith activates the promise and we experience the realm of confident rest! For he has said,[#4:3 See Ps. 95:11; Heb. 3:11.]
“I was grieved with them and made a solemn oath,
‘They will not enter into my rest.’ ”
God’s works have all been completed from the foundation of the world,
4for it says in the Scriptures,[#4:4 See Gen. 2:2.]
5And again, as stated before,
6Those who first heard the good news of deliverance failed to enter into that realm of faith’s rest because of their unbelieving hearts. Yet the fact remains that we still have the opportunity to enter into the faith-rest life and experience the fulfillment of the promise!
7For God still has ordained a day for us to enter into called “Today.” For it was long afterwards that God repeated it in David’s words,
“If only today you would listen to his voice
and do not harden your hearts!”
8Now if this promise of “rest” was fulfilled when Joshua brought the people into the land, God wouldn’t have spoken later of another “rest” yet to come.[#4:8 See Josh. 21:44; 22:4.]
9So we conclude that there is still a full and complete Sabbath-rest waiting for believers to experience.[#4:9 The Aramaic can be translated “He arose to be the Sabbath for the people of God.”; #4:9 Or “the people of God.”]
10As we enter into God’s faith-rest life we cease from our own works, just as God celebrates his finished works and rests in them.[#4:10 The word used for “Sabbath” in v. 9 is not the usual word, it is the celebratory aspects of the Sabbath that are emphasized in the Greek word sabbatismos .]
11So then we must be eager to experience this faith-rest life, so that no one falls short by following the same pattern of doubt and unbelief.
12For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, like a two-mouthed sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.[#4:12 The Aramaic can be translated “all effective.” There is a hint here of the spinning sword of fire, held by the angel guarding the way to the Tree of Life. To come eat its fruit, you must pass through the mighty sword of fire. The context implies we pass through this “fire-sword” on our way into the holy of holies. When the veil was split in two, the cherubim embroidered on the veil parted, as it were, to allow every worshiper to enter into the unveiled presence of God. See Gen. 3:24; Matt. 27:51.; #4:12 God speaks his word, then we, in agreement, also speak his word and it becomes a “two-mouthed sword.”; #4:12 As translated from the Aramaic, the Greek is “joint.”; #4:12 Soul and spirit are the immaterial parts of every person that make us who we are, joint and bone marrow are the physical aspects of our existence. All of this combined forms our humanity. God’s Word has the ability to uncover our hidden aspects and make them known.]
13There is not one person who can hide their thoughts from God, for nothing that we do remains a secret, and nothing created is concealed, but everything is exposed and defenseless before his eyes, to whom we must render an account.[#4:13 The word used here is logos . The Greek could also be translated “in his view the Word is our responsibility.”]
14So then, we must cling in faith to all we know to be true. For we have a magnificent King-Priest, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who rose into the heavenly realm for us, and now sympathizes with us in our frailty.[#4:14 As translated from the Aramaic, which uses a word for a priest not of the Levitical order. The Aramaic word here for priest is not cohen but kumrea .; #4:14 The Aramaic can be translated “who has sorrow with us in our affliction.”]
15He understands humanity, for as a man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin.[#4:15 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “He was without sin” (sinless).]
16So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.[#4:16 Or “the throne of grace.”; #4:16 The Greek word boetheia means “urgent help,” and is often used as “reinforcing” (a ship in a storm). See Acts 27:17.; #4:16 The Aramaic can be translated “tribulation.”]