Hebrews 4
1 We may fear, then, lest a promise being left of entering into His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short,
[The Israelites did not enter the place where they would rest]. But [God] has still promised us that we can enter the place of resting [in heaven eternally]. So we must beware [of the possibility] that [God] may consider that some of you have failed to enter the [place of] resting [eternally as the Israelites did not enter the place where they would rest].
2 for 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,
We have heard the message [about Christ], just like [the Israelites] heard [what God promised]. But [just like] the message did not benefit [most of] those who heard it because they did not believe it as [Joshua and Caleb did, it] will not [benefit us eternally if we do not keep believing it].
3 for 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,
We who have believed [in Christ] are able to enter the place of resting [eternally. We know there is a place where we will rest eternally] because God said, Because I was angry with them, I solemnly declared, “They will not enter [the land where] I would let them rest.” [God said that] even though he ceased his work [of creating things] after he created the world.
4 for He spake in a certain place concerning the seventh [day] thus: 'And God did rest in the seventh day from all His works;'
What someone wrote somewhere [in the Scriptures] about the seventh day [after he had spent six days creating the world], supports that: Then, on the seventh day, God rested from his work [of creating everything].
5 and in this [place] again, 'If they shall enter into My rest —;'
But note again what God said about the Israelites [in the] passage that I quoted previously: They will not enter [the land where] I would let them rest.
6 since then, it remaineth for certain to enter into it, and those who did first hear good news entered not in because of unbelief —
Some people experience entering that [place of resting eternally. But] those [Israelites] who first had the good message preached to them {first heard the good message} [about what God promised them] did not enter [that place of resting], because they refused to believe [God].
7 again 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,'
[But God] appointed another time [when we may enter that place of resting]. That time is now! [We know that is true because] much later than when [the Israelites rebelled against God in the desert], he caused [King] David to write what I have already quoted, Now, when you understand what God is saying [to you], do not stubbornly disobey him.
8 for if Joshua had given them rest, He would not concerning another day have spoken after these things;
If Joshua had led the Israelites to enter the place of resting, God would not have spoken later about another [time when we could rest] [MET]. [So we know God was speaking about another time when some people would enter that place of resting eternally].
9 there doth remain, then, a sabbatic rest to the people of God,
So, just like [God rested on] the seventh day [after he finished making everything], there remains a time when God’s people will rest eternally.
10 for he who did enter into his rest, he also rested from his works, as God from His own.
Specifically, whoever enters God’s place of resting has ceased doing things [to gain God’s favor], just like God ceased doing his work [of creating everything].
11 May we be diligent, then, to enter into that rest, that no one in the same example of the unbelief may fall,
God severely punished the [Israelites because they disbelieved his message]. So we must strive to experience entering that [place of] resting [eternally], in order that he will not severely punish any of us for not believing [his message].
12 for 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;
[Beware of being insincere about doing this], because the message God [has given us] very powerfully penetrates our thinking more than a two-edged sword [penetrates flesh] [MET]. It penetrates [deeply] into our souls and spirits, as [a sharp sword can penetrate] into our joints and marrow. That [is, by his message God] [PRS] discerns all that we think about, and he discerns all that we desire [to do] [MTY] (OR, [His message] exposes [to us] all our thoughts and all our desires).
13 and 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.
God knows everything about everyone. Everything is completely exposed [DOU] to him, [and he is] the one [SYN] who will say whether he approves of what we have done.
14 Having, then, a great chief priest passed through the heavens — Jesus the Son of God — may we hold fast the profession,
We have a great Supreme Priest who ascended through the heavens [when he returned to God’s presence]. He is Jesus, (God’s Son/the man who is also God). So let us firmly profess [what we believe about him].
15 for we have not a chief priest unable to sympathise with our infirmities, but [one] tempted in all things in like manner — apart from sin;
Our Supreme Priest can indeed [LIT] compassionately deal with us who tend to sin easily, because he also was tempted [to sin] in every way that we are [tempted to sin], and yet he did not sin.
16 we may come near, then, with freedom, to the throne of the grace, that we may receive kindness, and find grace — for seasonable help.
So, let us come boldly to [Christ] [MTY], who rules [MET] [from heaven] and does for us what we do not deserve, in order that we might experience [his acting] mercifully [toward us], and in order that we might experience his helping us in a kind way whenever we need [help].
