OrthJBC - Hebrews - 4

4:1  Therefore, let us walk in yirat Shomayim, for fear that, while the havtachah (promise) of entering the menukhah of Hashem is still open, anyone of you should seem to have fallen short of it.

4:2  For indeed we have had Besuras HaGeulah preached to us, just as they also did; but the dvar preached did not bring nehneh (benefit) to that generation, because hearing did not form an agudah with emunah.

4:3  For we ma'aminim enter into that menukhah, just as Hashem has said, "ASHER NISHBA'TI VEAPI IM YEVO'UN EL MENUCHATI" ("As I vowed in my fury, they shall never enter into my rest" Tehillim 95:11), although the ma'asim (works) of Hashem were finished from the hivvased tevel (foundation of the world).

4:4  For concerning Shabbos, the Yom HaShevi'i, Hashem has said somewhere, "VAYISHBOT ELOHIM BAYOM HASHEVI'I MIKOL MELAKHTO" ("And He rested on the seventh day from all His work." [Bereshis 2:2]

4:5  And again in this mekor (passage, citation), "IM YEVO'UN EL MENUCHATI" ("Never shall they enter into my rest" Tehillim 95:11). THE CHOCHMAH HASHOMAYIM, THE CHOCHMAH-BEN HAELOHIM REBBE, MELECH HAMOSHIACH (MISHLE 8:30; 30:4) IS SUPERIOR TO YEHOSHUA BEN NUN; THOUGH THERE IS NO DOCTRINE HERE AGAINST MA'ASIM MITZOT, WHICH WERE EXPECTED OF A PRACTICING MESSIANIC JEW IN THE FIRST CENTURY--SEE ACTS 21:20-21), AN EXHORTATION IS GIVEN HERE ABOUT THE NEED TO REST FROM STRIVING FOR ZCHUS (MERIT) BY BEING YITZDAK IM HASHEM (JUSTIFIED WITH G-D) ON THE BASIS OF MA'ASIM MITZVOT

4:6  Therefore, als (since) it remains for some to enter it, and the ones, who formerly had the Besuras HaGeulah preached to them, did not enter, because they were koferim (unbelievers),

4:7  so then again Hashem sets a certain day, "HAYOM" ("Today," Tehillim 95:7) in one of the Tehillim of Dovid, much later, in that quoted above, "HAYOM IM BEKOLO TISHMAU AL TAKSHU LEVAVCHEM" ("Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart" --Tehillim 95:7f).

4:8  For if Yehoshua [ben Nun] had brought them to a place of menukhah, Hashem would not have spoken of another "Yom" after that [Tehillim 95:7].

4:9  Therefore, there remains a Shabbos menukhah for the Am Hashem.

4:10  For whoever has entered into the menukhah of Hashem has also rested from his ma'asim, just as Hashem rested from his. WARNING AGAINST THE APOSTASY OF THE SHMAD DEFECTORS WHO FALL AWAY FROM REBBE, MELECH HAMOSHIACH

4:11  Therefore, let us have zerizut (diligence) to enter into that menukhah, for fear that anyone fall through following be'ikvot (in the footsteps) of their same lack of mishma'at [cf 3:17-18; 4:6].

4:12  For the Dvar Hashem is chai (living) and chazak (strong), sharper than every doubled-edged cherev and penetrating as far as the division of nefesh and ruach, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the makhshavot and deliberations of the kavanat halev (the inner-directedness of the heart). THE HAVTACHAH OF HASHEM AND THE DAY OF RECKONING

4:13  And there is not a yetzur (creature) hidden from his sight, but all things are laid bare and exposed to the eynayim (eyes) of him to whom we must render an account.

4:14  Therefore, als (since) we have a great Kohen Gadol who has passed through Shomayim, Yehoshua HaBen HaElohim, let us hold firmly to the hoda'ah (confession) of the hachrazah (proclamation) of our [orthodox Jewish] emunah. OUR REBBE, MELECH HAMOSHIACH KOHEN GADOL AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHI-TZEDEK DOES NOT HAVE THE INBORN AND IMMEMORIAL YETZER HARA (EVIL INCLINATION) OF THE HUMAN CONDITION: LO CHAMAS ASAH V'LO MIRMAH BEFIV ("NO VIOLENCE HE DID NOR DECEIT WAS IN HIS MOUTH" YESHAYAH 53:9); THEREFORE HE IS QUALIFIED TO BE NOT ONLY OUR KOHEN GADOL BUT OUR SHELIACH TZIBUR, OUR EMISSARY TO PLEAD BEFORE G-D ON OUR BEHALF, HAVING INSCRIBED OUR NAMES IN THE SEFER HACHAYYIM

4:15  For we do not have a Kohen Gadol who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without [inborn and immemorial yetzer hara evil inclination] and chet.

4:16  Therefore, let us approach with bittachon the Kisse of Chesed, that we may receive rachamim and may find chesed for timely ezrah (aid).