Study Desk

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God.

And with whom was God angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?

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.

For somewhere He has spoken about the seventh day in this manner: "And on the seventh day God rested from all His works."

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."

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day.

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

For whoever enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His.

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.

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.

Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

And in another passage God says: "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."

and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,

And this we will do, if God permits.

who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age-

and then have fallen away-to be restored again to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.

For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.

For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.