1 The promise to enter the place of rest is still good, and we must take care that none of you miss out. 2 We have heard the message, just as they did. But they failed to believe what they heard, and the message did not do them any good. 3 Only people who have faith will enter the place of rest. It is just as the Scriptures say,
“God became angry
and told the people,
‘You will never enter
my place of rest!’ ”
God said this, even though everything has been ready from the time of creation. 4 In fact, somewhere the Scriptures say that by the seventh day, God had finished his work, and so he rested. 5 We also read that he later said, “You people will never enter my place of rest!” 6 This means that the promise to enter is still good, because those who first heard about it disobeyed and did not enter. 7 Much later God told David to make the promise again, just as I have already said,
“If you hear his voice today,
don't be stubborn!”
8 If Joshua had really given the people rest, there would not be any need for God to talk about another day of rest. 9 But God has promised us a Sabbath when we will rest, even though it has not yet come. 10 On that day God's people will rest from their work, just as God rested from his work.
11 We should do our best to enter the place of rest, so none of us will disobey and miss going there, as they did. 12 God's word is alive and powerful! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts. 13 Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything, and we will have to tell him the truth.
Jesus Is the Great High Priest
14 We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. This is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. 15 Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.
Dieva apsolītais miers
1 Kamēr vien apsolījums ieiet viņa mierā paliek, bīsimies, lai neviens no jums neizrādītos nokavējis. 2 Mums apsolījums ir dots tāpat kā viņiem, bet vārds, ko tie dzirdēja, viņiem nelīdzēja, jo tas klausītājos nebija savienots ar ticību. 3 Mēs, kas ticam, ieejam tajā mierā. Ir rakstīts:
kā es esmu zvērējis savās dusmās:
tie neieies manā mierā! –
lai gan pasaules radīšanas darbi jau bija pabeigti.
4 Bet par septīto dienu viņš ir tā teicis:
un septītajā dienā Dievs atpūtās no visiem saviem darbiem,
5 un atkal: tie neieies manā mierā!
6 Tie, kam sludināts vispirms, savas nepaklausības dēļ nav iegājuši, bet ir vēl citi, kuriem tajā vēl jāieiet, 7 tādēļ viņš no jauna nozīmē kādu dienu, pēc tik ilga laika caur Dāvidu sacīdams: šodien. Kā iepriekš jau sacīts:
kad jūs dzirdat viņa balsi šodien,
neapcietiniet savas sirdis!
8 Ja jau Jozua viņus būtu ievedis mierā, tad Dievs nebūtu runājis pēc tam par citu dienu. 9 Tā sabata miers ir saglabāts Dieva tautai, lai tajā ieietu; 10 jo tas, kas iegājis Dieva mierā, atpūšas no saviem darbiem tāpat kā Dievs no savējiem. 11 Pūlēsimies, lai varētu ieiet šajā mierā! Lai neviens neiekrīt nepaklausībā, kā tie tuksnesī. 12 Tiešām, Dieva vārds ir dzīvs un darbīgs un asāks par jebkuru abpusgriezīgu zobenu, tas duras cauri, līdz sadala dvēseli un garu, locekļus un kaulu smadzenes, un iztiesā sirds domas un nolūkus. 13 Nav tāda radījuma, kas Dieva priekšā būtu apslēpts, viss ir kails un atsegts viņa priekšā, viņam mēs dosim norēķinu.
Jēzus – lielais augstais priesteris
14 Mums ir varens augstais priesteris, kas nācis caur debesīm, Jēzus, Dieva Dēls, turēsimies pie ticības apliecinājuma. 15 Mums augstais priesteris nav tāds, kas nevar just līdzi mūsu nespēkam, viņš, tāpat kā mēs, ir visādi kārdināts, bet viņš ir bez grēka. 16 Tad nu ar drošu prātu tuvosimies žēlastības tronim, lai tiktu apžēloti un saņemtu žēlastību, kas nāk kā palīdzība īstā brīdī.
