Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.
The cross references for Hebrews 4:1 all relate to the idea of entering into God's rest. They emphasize the importance of fearing the Lord and of being faithful to Him, as well as the need to strive to enter into His rest. The cross references also emphasize the need to remember and imitate the faith of our spiritual leaders. All of these themes are seen in Hebrews 4:1, which warns us to fear lest any of us should fail to reach the promise of entering His rest.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Proverbs 28:14: Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity. | Both passages urge readers to fear the Lord. Hebrews 4:1 encourages readers to fear lest any of them should fail to enter into God's rest. Proverbs 28:14 explains that those who fear the Lord will be blessed, but those who harden their hearts will fall into calamity. |
| 2 Timothy 2:13: if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. | Both passages emphasize the faithfulness of God. Hebrews 4:1 encourages us to fear that we may not reach the promise of entering God's rest, but 2 Timothy 2:13 assures us that God remains faithful even if we are faithless. Even if we fail, God will not deny himself and will remain faithful to his promises. |
| Hebrews 4:3-5: For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” | Both passages in Hebrews 4 are discussing the concept of rest. The first passage warns against failing to reach the promised rest, while the second passage talks about how those who have believed can enter into this rest. The second passage also references the seventh day of creation, when God rested from all his works. |
| Hebrews 4:9: So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, | Both passages from Hebrews 4 are discussing the idea of entering into a Sabbath rest. The first passage warns readers to not miss out on the promise of entering this rest, suggesting that it is something to be taken seriously. The second passage states that the Sabbath rest remains for the people of God, implying that it is something that is available to all believers. |
| Hebrews 4:11: Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. | Both passages in Hebrews 4 discuss entering into God's rest. Hebrews 4:1 warns that we should be careful not to miss out on the promise of entering God's rest. Hebrews 4:11 encourages us to strive to enter God's rest, so that we don't fall into disobedience like the Israelites did in the wilderness. |
| Hebrews 12:15: See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; | Both passages call on the reader to be mindful of the grace of God. Hebrews 4:1 warns against letting any of us fail to reach the promise of entering God's rest, and Hebrews 12:15 urges us to ensure that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, so that no bitterness can cause trouble. Both passages emphasize the importance of actively engaging with God's grace in order to avoid the consequences of letting it go unappreciated. |
| Hebrews 13:7: Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. | Both passages emphasize the importance of heeding the Word of God. Hebrews 4:1 encourages us to take the promise of entering into God's rest seriously, and to not let ourselves miss out on it. Hebrews 13:7 focuses on the importance of following the examples of those who have spoken to us the word of God, and encourages us to consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. |
Heavenly Father,
We come before You today humbly asking for Your grace and mercy. Help us to remember the promise that You have made to us, that if we remain faithful we will enter into Your rest. Help us to fear You and not harden our hearts, for in doing so we will fall into calamity.
We also thank You for the example of our leaders, who have spoken Your word and shown us Your faithfulness. Help us to imitate their faith, and to never forget the grace and mercy You have shown us.
We ask for Your protection against the root of bitterness that can cause trouble and defile many. Help us to strive for the rest that You have promised us, that we may not fall by the same disobedience.
We thank You for Your goodness and mercy, and for Your promise of rest.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.