The Rest That Still Stands
4 1 Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we have had the good news preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they did not combine it with faith the way those who listened did. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, 'They will never enter my rest.'" And yet his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in this way: "And our Father rested on the seventh day from all his works." 5 And again in the same passage he says, "They will never enter my rest."
6 Since therefore it still remains for some to enter it, and those who first heard the good news did not enter because of their disobedience, 7 he again appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, our Father would not have spoken later about another day. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of our Father. 10 For whoever has entered our Father's rest has also rested from his own works, just as our Father 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.
12 For the word of our Father is alive and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. a a v12 'Word of our Father' replaces 'word of God' — Scripture is the living voice of the Father who knows every thought of his children. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of our Father, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Jesus, Our Great High Priest
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every way has been tempted as 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.