1 ARST So,{ we can tell that} God still promises that his people will participate in how he rests. Because of that, we need to make sure that every one of you really receives{ what God has promised}. BSB BSB: 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 ARST { We need to make sure of this,} because we heard the good news just like they did. However, because they were not among those people who believed in what they heard, what they heard did not help them. BSB BSB: 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 ARST { That is} because{ only} we who believe{ in the good news} participate in how God rests,{ but those who do not believe do not participate in it}. As the Holy Spirit says,“So then, because he was angry with them, he solemnly declared,‘They will never participate in how I rest!’”{ God said this} even though he stopped working{ and rested} after he created the world. BSB BSB: 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 ARST { You know that God rested} because of what the Holy Spirit says elsewhere about the seventh{ day of the week}.{ He says,}“Then, when{ it was} the seventh day{ of the week}, God finished working{ to create everything}, and he rested.” BSB BSB: For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: “And on the seventh day God rested from all His works.”
5 ARST But{ note} again{ what God says about the Israelite ancestors} in the words that I already quoted:“They will never participate in how I rest!” BSB BSB: And again, as He says in the passage above: “They shall never enter My rest.”
6 ARST So then, the Israelite ancestors who heard the good news in the past did not obey God, and so they did not participate in how God rests. However, God still wants some people to participate in how he rests. BSB BSB: 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 ARST { Because of that,} the Holy Spirit once more picked a time{ when we can participate in how God rests}.{ That time is} what we call“this day.”{ He did this} when he spoke through David a long time after{ the Israelite ancestors disobeyed}. He said, as I have already quoted,“This day, when you hear God speak{ to you}, do not stubbornly disobey him.” BSB BSB: 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 ARST So, the Holy Spirit refers to a different day{ when God’ s people can participate in how God rests} that comes after the day{ when Joshua led the Israelite ancestors into the land that God had promised them}. This means that{ when Joshua did that,} he did not help them participate in how God rests. BSB BSB: For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.
9 ARST So, as you can see, God’ s people can still participate in how God rests,{ just as people rest on} the Jewish day of rest. BSB BSB: There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10 ARST In fact, the people who participate in how God rests also finish what they are doing and rest.{ They do this} just like God finished{ creating everything} and rested. BSB BSB: For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.
11 ARST Because of all that, we should focus on participating in how God rests. That way, none{ of us} disobeys{ God} like the Israelite ancestors did. BSB BSB: Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
12 ARST { You need to pay attention to these things,} because what God speaks{ is like a person who} lives and does things, including discerning what people think and plan.{ It does that as if it were} a sword with two very sharp edges that could cut apart people’ s bones from their tendons and that could divide up people’ s inner lives. BSB BSB: 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 ARST God knows everything about every person and thing. Nothing that he created can stay secret when he wishes to examine it. He is the one about whom we are talking. BSB BSB: 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 ARST So, a powerful ruling priest works for us, one who ascended through the heavens. He is Jesus, God’ s Son. Because of that, we need to persist in believing what we say we believe. BSB BSB: 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.
16 ARST So then, we should boldly go closer to God, who rules graciously. That way, he will act mercifully and kindly toward us when we need him to help us. BSB BSB: 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.