Hebrews 4:1–5:14

The Promise of Rest

4 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, alet us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, 1not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

b“So I swore in My wrath,

‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: c“And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: d“They shall not enter My rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

e“Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if 2Joshua had fgiven them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

The Word Discovers Our Condition

11 gLet us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is hliving and powerful, and isharper than any jtwo-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is ka discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 lAnd there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are mnaked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Our Compassionate High Priest

14 Seeing then that we have a great nHigh Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, olet us hold fast our confession. 15 For pwe do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but qwas in all points tempted as we are, ryet without sin. 16 sLet us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Qualifications for High Priesthood

5 For every high priest taken from among men ais appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can 1have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to bweakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for chimself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as dAaron was.

A Priest Forever

5 eSo also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

f“You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.”

6 As He also says in another place:

g“You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek”;

7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had hoffered up prayers and supplications, iwith vehement cries and tears to Him jwho was able to save Him from death, and was heard kbecause of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned lobedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And mhaving been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest n“according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom owe have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become pdull of hearing.

Spiritual Immaturity

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the 2oracles of God; and you have come to need qmilk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is ra babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are 3of full age, that is, those who by reason of 4use have their senses exercised sto discern both good and evil.