1 LET us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
7 Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

1Let vs therefore feare, lest a promise being left vs, of entring into his rest, any of you should seeme to come short of it.

2For vnto vs was the Gospel preached, as well as vnto thē: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

3For we which haue beleeued do enter into rest, as hee said, As I haue sworne in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest, although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

4For he spake in a certaine place of the seuenth day on this wise: And God did rest the seuenth day from all his works.

5And in this place againe: If they shall enter into my rest.

6Seeing therfore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached, entred not in because of vnbeleefe:

7Againe, hee limiteth a certaine day, saying in Dauid, To day, after so long a time; as it is saide, To day if ye will heare his voyce, harden not your hearts.

8For if Iesus had giuen them rest, then would he not afterward haue spoken of another day.

9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

10For he that is entred into his rest, hee also hath ceased from his owne works, as God did from his.

11Let vs labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of vnbeleefe.

12For the word of God is quicke and powerfull, and sharper then any two edged sword, pearcing euen to the diuiding asunder of soule and spirit, and of the ioynts and marrowe, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked, and opened vnto the eyes of him with whome wee haue to doe.

14Seeing then that wee haue a great high Priest, that is passed into the heauens, Iesus the Sonne of God, let vs hold fast our profession.

15For wee haue not an high Priest which cannot bee touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sinne.

16Let vs therefore come boldly vnto the throne of grace, that wee may obtaine mercy, and finde grace to helpe in time of need.

 

1 Therefore, let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed. 2 For in fact we have received the good news just as they did. But the word that they heard did not profit them, for they were not united in faith with those who listened. 3 For we who believed enter into (that) rest, just as he has said: "As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter into my rest,'" and yet his works were accomplished at the foundation of the world. 4 For he has spoken somewhere about the seventh day in this manner, "And God rested on the seventh day from all his works"; 5 and again, in the previously mentioned place, "They shall not enter into my rest." 6 Therefore, since it remains that some will enter into it, and those who formerly received the good news did not enter because of disobedience, 7 he once more set a day, "today," when long afterwards he spoke through David, as already quoted: "Oh, that today you would hear his voice: 'Harden not your hearts.'" 8 Now if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterwards of another day. 9 Therefore, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God. 10 And whoever enters into God's rest, rests from his own works as God did from his. 11 Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience. 12 Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account. 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Ilustration of rest: The Muskegon river winds sharply between hills. At one spot if you trust the current, you can float across fast waters to the other side and be deposited back gently on your own side further down stream. But you must rest and let the river carry you, and it is a pleasing experience. Few ever enjoy it. Weak swimmers don’t trust the water to do it, and strong swimmers try to do it themselves, and are in a constant struggle.
The nature of God’s rest:
A. Valid for believers of every age, 4:1-3a, 5-9.
B. Fully established at creation, 4:3b,4. Enter by believing, not by doing.
C. Precludes self effort, 4:10. Complete surrender and let God’s will work through our lives.
D. Precludes deception, 4:11-13. We can’t deceive God.
v 1-3. Since they had failed to enter their rest in the promised land because of unbelief, we need to be sure we don’t allow unbelief to rob us of spiritual rest. Their rest included rest in the land, rest from slavery, rest from enemies, and eventually under Joshua, rest from travel and warfare. But the main thrust was spiritual rest, and even Joshua could not give them that because their hearts were in rebellion against God. So believers today can have spiritual rest if they fully believe and trust the Lord.
v 4. God prepared every thing that was necessary for us to have rest before he Himself rested on the seventh day, Gen. 2:2.
v 5-9. Ps. 95:7-11 refers to Israel not entering because of unbelief. But David speaks of “Today” as if it is a Today of any generation, not just the day of Joshua. Clearly this isn’t salvation, but a heart and will at peace and good fellowship with God. Mt 11:28 Christ offers rest and Jn. 14:27 He offers peace.
v 10. As God’s works were finished from the foundation of the world, verse 3, so our works are finished when we enter His rest. We could not work for salvation and we cannot work for rest. This does not mean we go into monastic meditations. We simply by faith turn our lives over to God’s control. Instead of the struggle of being up one day and down another, we allow Christ to work in us mightily in our tasks, Col. 1:29.
v 11. Labor here is diligence, be eager to enter His rest. Eagerly take the step of surrendering our self-effort over to God, because doubt soon leads to disobedience. Example of mother who told her son to wait where he was for her if they got separated. She couldn’t get on the elevator, and he panicked about her finding him there and got off at another floor while she waited for the elevator to come back to her floor with him.
v 12, 13. Man devises styles, customs and even morality, but the Word of God gives living principles, It not only shows what is right but is powerful to convict. By our actions we may deceive others that we are resting in the Lord, but the Word may show us what our thoughts and true motives really are. They are already exposed to God. 
v 14,15. In 3:6 we were to hold fast because of Christ’s faithfulness, in 3:12-14 because of the danger of apostasy, here because we have a sympathetic high priest. We draw strength from another human who has been through the same thing we are going through.How much more strength from the power of Christ in us when He has experienced every thing we have and more, yet is sinless.
v 16. Because Christ has experienced our needs, we can have confidence that He will understand when we come to Him with our problems, whether great or small.