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¹ THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWSa The Coming of God’s Son-Who is far above the Angels Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors many times, and in many ways, through the prophets.

² In these ‘last days,’b God has spoken to us through a Son. God has appointed the Son to inherit everything;c and through him, God created the universe.d

³ He’s the brightness of God’s glory, and the exact imagee of God’s nature. He holds everything in existence by his powerful word.f When he’d done a cleansing of people’s sins,g he sat down at the right side of the Majestic One in the heavens.

⁴ He has become much greater than the angels, just as the name that he has inherited is much greater than theirs.

⁵ After all, which of the angels did God ever say this to:h. You’re my Son- I’ve become your Father today!i And this:j. I’m going to be his Father, And he’s going to be my Son.k

⁶ And when God sends the Firstborn into the world, God says, And let all God’s angels worship him!l

⁷ And God says this about the angels: God makes God’s angels winds, And God’s messengers flames of fire!m

⁸ But God says this about the Son: God, your throne is forever and ever, And justice is your royal scepter.n. You’ve loved justice and hated lawlessness;

⁹ Soo God, your God, has anointedp you with the oil of great joy, Blessing you more than your companions.q

¹⁰ And this: You laid the foundations of the earth in the beginning, Lord. And the heavens are your creation.r

¹¹ They’ll pass away, but you live on. They’re all going to get old like a piece of clothing,

¹² And you’re going to roll them up like a blanket. They’ll get changed just like clothes. But you are the same, And your years are not going to come to an end.s

¹³ And which of the angels did God ever say this to:t. Sit on my right, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.u

¹⁴ Aren’t the angels all spirits, on assignment for service? Aren’t they sent for the sake of peoplev who are going to inherit salvation?

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¹ The Son of God Became a Human Being in Order to Save us Because of this, we have to pay all the more attention to what we’ve heard, so we don’t drift away from it.

² Because even what was said through angelsa turned out to be reliable-and every violation and act of disobedience got a fair punishment.

³ If that’s true, how are we going to get away with neglecting a salvation as great as this? It got its start being taughtb by the Lord;c then it was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

⁴ God testified alongside them-with miracles,d wonders, various sorts of displays of power, and outpouringse of the Holy Spirit by God’s will.

⁵ After all, we’re talking about the world to come.f God didn’t put that world under the authority of angels.

⁶ But somebody testifies somewhere in scripture, What is humanity, That makes you notice us?g. Or what is a human being,h. That makes you take care of us?

⁷ You’ve placed humanity a littlei lower than the angels; You’ve crowned us with glory and honor.

⁸ You’ve placed everything under our feet.j. Now, since God has placed everythingk under humanity, God hasn’t left anything that’s not subject to humanity. Yet we don’t now see everything subject to usl yet.

⁹ But in the words, “placed a littlem lower than the angels,” we see Jesus. Because he went through death, he was “crowned with glory and honor”. He died so that, by God’s grace, he could taste death for everyone.

¹⁰ After all, it’s because of God and through God that everything exists. So, in leading many children to glory, it was appropriate for God to perfect the championn of their salvation through sufferings.

¹¹ After all, the Oneo who makes people holy and the people being made holy are all from one God. Which is why Jesus isn’t embarrassed to call them brothers and sisters.

¹² He says, I’m going to tell your name to my brothers and sisters! I’m going to sing about you when I’m worshiping with my community!p

¹³ And again, I’m going to put my trust in God.q. And again, Look at me, withr the children God has given me!s

¹⁴ So since the children are all flesh and blood human beings, he shared the very same form of existence.t That way, through his death, he could overthrow the one who has the power of death-in other words, the devil.

¹⁵ And he could set free those condemned to lifelong slavery by their fear of death.

¹⁶ After all, it’s obvious that he doesn’t help angels. No, “he helps Abraham’s descendants”.u

¹⁷ Because of that, he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every way. That way he could be merciful to them, and be their faithful High Priestv in front of God. And he could accomplish the forgiveness ofw the people’s sins.

¹⁸ After all, because he’s suffered temptation himself, he’s able to help people who are being tempted.

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¹ Jesus the Son of God is Far Greater than Moses Holy brothers and sisters, we share a calling from God. In view of what we’ve been saying, think about Jesus, the Messenger and High Priesta that we profess.b

² He’s faithful to the One who appointed him, just as “Moses was faithful in allc matters of God’s household”.d

³ And Jesus has been found worthy of greater glory than Moses-just as much as a person who built a house has greater honor than the house.

⁴ (After all, every house is built by someone, and the One who has built everything is God.)

⁵ Also, “Moses was faithful as a servant in all matters of God’s household,”e to testify tof the things that were said by God.

⁶ But Jesus, on the other hand, is faithful as a Son who’s in charge ofg God’s household. We are God’s household, if we hold onto our boldness, and to the public profession of our hope.h

⁷ A Warning against Unbelief So, just like the Holy Spirit says, Today, if you hear God’s voice,

⁸ Don’t hardeni your hearts, like they did in the rebellion, On that day of testing in the desert.

⁹ That was where your ancestors really tested me,j. And they saw what I did for forty years.

¹⁰ So I was very angry with that generation, and I said, “They’re always going off in the wrong directionk in their hearts, And they don’t understand my ways”.

¹¹ This is what I swore in my anger: “They’re never going to come into my rest”.l

¹² Be careful, brothers and sisters, so that there’s not an evil and faithless heart in any of you-a heart that turns away from the Living God.

¹³ But encourage each other every day, as long as it’s still called “Today”.m That way, none of you will be hardened by the seductiveness of sin.

¹⁴ Because we’ve become Christ’s companions,n as long as we hold onto our original confidence, right to the end.

¹⁵ It says,o. Today, if you hear God’s voice, Don’t hardenp your hearts, like they did in the rebellion.q

¹⁶ Now, who heard and rebelled? Wasn’t it everyone that came out of Egypt, led by Moses?

¹⁷ And who were those God “was very angry with for forty years”? Wasn’t it the people who sinned-and “their bodiesr fell down dead in the desert”?s

¹⁸ And who was it that God swore to, that they were never going to come into God’s rest?t Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed?

¹⁹ And we see that they couldn’t come in because of their faithlessness.

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¹ Entering the Rest That God Has Promised So let’s be extremely careful. Because the promise of coming into God’s rest is still open, and none of you should appear to miss out on it.a

² After all, we’ve had the good news preached to us just like them. But the message they heard didn’t benefit them-because they weren’t unitedb in faith with those who truly listened to it.c

³ Because it’s those of us who have become believersd who come into God’s rest. Just as God says, This is what I sworee in my anger: “They’re never going to come into my rest”.f. Yet God’s work has been finishedg since the creationh of the world.

⁴ Because this is what it says somewhere about the seventh day:i And God rested on the seventh day, from all God’s work.j

⁵ And it says again in this place, They’re never going to come into my rest.k

⁶ So some people still have to come into God’s rest-because the first people who heard the good news didn’t come in, because of their disobedience.

⁷ So God sets another day, “today,” speaking through David after all that time. That’s what was said before: Today, if you hear God’s voice, Don’t hardenl your hearts.m

⁸ After all, if Joshua had given them rest, David wouldn’t have been talking about another day after that time.n

⁹ So there’s still a Sabbatho rest for God’s people.

¹⁰ Because whoever comes into God’s rest has rested from their own work, just as God rested.p

¹¹ So let’s do our best to come into that rest. That way, nobody will fall down by following their exampleq of disobedience.

¹² Because God’s word is alive and active, and it’s sharperr than any two-edged sword. And it penetrates right to the boundary between soul and spirit, to the boundary between joint and marrow.s And it’s able to judge the inner ideas and thoughts of the heart.

¹³ And there’s no created thing that’s invisible to the One we’re dealing with-everything stands naked and exposed before God’s eyes.

¹⁴ Jesus is our Great High Priest So, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus, God’s Son, let’s hold firm to what we proclaim.t

¹⁵ After all, we don’t have a high priest that can’t sympathize with our weaknesses: he’s been tested in all the same ways as we have, without sin.

¹⁶ So let’s come boldlyu up to the throne of grace. That way we can receive mercy, and find grace for help when we need it.v

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¹ Now, every high priest is selected from among the people. He’s appointed to deal with God on their behalf,a and to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

² He’s able to be gentle with people who are ignorant and off base, because he’s wrapped up in weakness himself.

³ And because of that, he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins just as he does for the people’s sins.

⁴ And nobody takes this honor on for himself-far from it. They’re called by God, just like Aaron was.

⁵ In the same way, Christ didn’t try to glorify himself by becoming high priest. No, it was God who said to him, You’re my Son- I’ve become your Father today!b

⁶ Just like God also says in another place: You’re a priest forever, in the priestly line of Melchizedek.c

⁷ When he lived physically on earth, Jesus came to God praying and pleading for help, with loud cries and tears. He knew God was able to save him from death, and his prayers were answered because of his reverence.d

⁸ Even though he was a son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

⁹ And he’s been perfected, and has become the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

¹⁰ He’s been welcomed by God as high priest, “in the priestly line of Melchizedek”.

¹¹ We have a lot to say about this Melchizedek-and it’s hard to explain, because you’ve gotten hard of hearing.

¹² After all, you should even be teachers by now. But you need somebody to teach you certain basic first principlese of God’s revelationsf again. You’ve become dependent ong milk, and not solid food.

¹³ And everybody that lives on milk is ignorant when it comes to righth teaching, because they’re still an infant.

¹⁴ But solid food is for people who are mature. Mature people’s senses have been trained, through practice, to distinguish what’s good and what’s bad.

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¹ The Danger of Falling Away So-let’s leave behind the first lessonsa about Christ, and move on to maturity. Let’s not lay down the foundation over again, by talking about * a change of heartb from deathly behaviors, * faith in God,

² teaching on baptisms, * laying on of hands, and * resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.

³ And we will move on, with God’s permission.c

⁴ Now, suppose people have already been enlightened: they’ve tasted the heavenly gift; they’ve shared in the Holy Spirit;

⁵ and they’ve tasted God’s good word, and the powers of the coming age.

⁶ If they fall away after that, it’s impossible to bring them back to a change of heart again.d Because they’re hanging the Son of God on a cross all over again for themselves, and they’re publicly disgracing him.

⁷ After all, when the ground drinks up the rain that often falls on it, and it grows plants acceptable to the people it’s farmed for, then it gets a blessinge from God.

⁸ But if it produces thorns and thistles, then it’s worthless, and it’s close to being cursed.f It’s destined to be burned.g

⁹ Now, dear friends, even though we’re talking like this, we’re convinced of better things in your case. We believe you’re holding on to your salvation.h

¹⁰ After all, God isn’t so unfair as to forget the things you’ve done, and the love you’ve shown for God’s name. You’ve served the holy ones, and you’re serving them now.

¹¹ We just really want each of you to show the same commitment to the fulfillment of your hope, right to the end.

¹² That way you won’t get lazy, but you’ll imitatei those who inherit the promises through their faith and patience.

¹³ God’s Promise is Certain to be Fulfilled Now, God made a promise to Abraham.j Having nobody greater to swear by, God swore by God’s very own self:

¹⁴ I swear I’m really going to bless you, and I’m really going to multiply your descendents.k

¹⁵ And so, when Abraham waited patiently, he got the promise.

¹⁶ Of course, people swear by somebody greater than themselves. And for them, when an oath is sworn to confirm something, it puts an end to all argument.

¹⁷ So when God wanted to demonstrate very clearlyl (to those who inherit the promise) the unchangeableness of God’s intention, God guaranteed it with an oath.

¹⁸ So we, who have runm to take hold of the hope that lies ahead of us, can have strong assurance. We take our assurance from two unchangeable things: the promise and the oath. With each of them, it’s impossible for God to lie.n

¹⁹ Our hope is like an anchor for our life.o It’s steady and secure, and it goes right in to the innermost place, behind the curtain.p

²⁰ That’s where Jesus has gone in firstq on our behalf. He’s become a high priest forever, in the priestly line of Melchizedek.r

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¹ The Ancient Priest-King Melchizedek Points Forward to Christ Now, as for this Melchizedek,a “Melchizedek was the king of Salem,b and a priest of God Most High. He met Abraham as he was returning from the defeat of the kings. He blessed him,” and

² Abraham gave him a tenth portion of all the spoils.c. “Melchizedek,” in the first place, means “King of Justice”. Secondly, he’s also called “king of Salem”. That means, “King of Peace”.

³ He has no father, no mother, no genealogy.d And no beginning or end of his life is mentioned.e And like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.f

⁴ Just think how great this person was. Abraham, our famous ancestor,g gave him a tenth of the spoils.

⁵ Now, some of Levi’s descendants are given the office of priest. According to the Law, they’re commanded to take a tenth from the people-that is, from their fellow Israelites.h That’s even though they’re Abraham’s descendants.i

⁶ Yet Melchizedek, who’s not in their family line, has taken a tenth from Abraham! And he has blessed the one who has the promise!

⁷ And it’s beyond all dispute that the person with less status is blessed by the person with more status.

⁸ And in the one case mortal human beings collect a tenth. But in the other case, Melchizedek has the testimony of scripture that he’s still alive.j

⁹ You could even say that Levi himself, the one who collects the tenth, has given a tenth through Abraham.

¹⁰ Because Levi was still unborn in his great-grandfather’s bodyk when Melchizedek met Abraham.

¹¹ Now, then: the Law was given through the Levitical priesthood. So let’s sayl perfectionm was possible to achieve through that. Then what need would there be for somebody else to come along “in the priestly line of Melchizedek,” not fromn Aaron’s line?

¹² Because when the priesthood is changed, it’s necessary for there to be a change in law too.

¹³ After all, the words, “You are a priest forever,”o are said to a person who comes from a different tribe-and nobody has ever served at the altar from that tribe.

¹⁴ Because it’s clear that our Lord comes from the tribe of Judah. Moses never said anything top the tribe of Judah about being priests.

¹⁵ And it’s all the more obvious when a different priest, who’s just like Melchizedek, comes along.

¹⁶ That person’s identity is not based on a law with a command about who physically qualifies as a priest.q No, it’s based on the power of a life that can’t be destroyed.

¹⁷ Because the scripture says,r. You’re a priest forever, in the priestly line of Melchizedek.s

¹⁸ Sot on the one hand, the previous commandment is being set aside, due to its own weakness and lack of effectiveness.

¹⁹ Because the Law hasn’t perfected anything. And on the other hand, there’s the introduction of a greater hope. And through that hope we are coming close to God.

²⁰ And it’s significant that there was an oath sworn.u Because on the one hand, these folks, the descendants of Levi, have become priests without any oath being sworn.

²¹ Yet on the other hand, this other personv becomes a priest with the swearing of an oath by God, who said to him,w. The Sovereign One has sworn, And it will not be taken back: You are a priest forever.x

²² So Jesus has become the guarantee of a covenant that’s that much greater than theirs.

²³ And there have been very many of those priests-because death prevents them from continuing.

²⁴ But because he stays alive forever, he holds the priesthood permanently.

²⁵ So he can also save, forever, those who come to God through him. Because he always lives to pray for them.

²⁶ After all, it’s only right that we should have a high priest like Jesus:y he’s holy, innocent, and pure.z He can’t be corrupted by sinners,aa and is nowbb higher than the heavens.

²⁷ He’s not like the Levitical high priests, who need to offer a sacrifice for their own sins day after day, and then offer a sacrifice for the people.cc He doesn’t need to do that. Because he sacrificed for the peopledd once and for all, when he offered himself.

²⁸ Because the Law appoints people as high priests who have weaknesses. But the oath, that’s sworn after the giving of the Law, appoints a Son who is perfect forever.

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¹ Jesus is our High Priest and the Mediator of a New Covenant Now, to sum up what’s been said: that’s what kind of high priest we have. He sits at the right of the throne of the Majestic One in the heavens.

² He serves ina the Holy Place that’s the true Tent of Witness.b The Sovereign One set that one up, not human beings.

³ Now, every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. So it’s necessary for him to have something to offer.

⁴ So if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest. After all, there are already people offering the gifts prescribed byc the Law.

⁵ They’re serving a symbol and a shadow of the heavenly things. It’s just like Moses was divinely instructed, when he was about to put together the Tent.d Because God says, Make sure that you make everything according to the pattern that was revealed to you on the mountain.e

⁶ But now, Jesus has received a much greater ministry, sincef he’s the mediator of a greater covenant. It’s a covenant that’s based on greater promises.

⁷ After all, if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, then there would have been no point in trying to make room for a second one.g

⁸ Yet God does indeed find fault. God says to them,h. Look! Days are coming, says the Sovereign One, When I will make a new covenant with the familyi of Israel, And with the people of Judah.

⁹ It won’t be like the covenant I made with their ancestors, On the day when I took them by the hand And led them out of the land of Egypt. Because they didn’t abide by my covenant, And I stopped caring about them too, says the Sovereign One.

¹⁰ Now, this is the covenant that I’m going to make with the familyj of Israel after that time,k says the Sovereign One. I’m going to give them my laws in their minds, And I’m going to write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, And they will be my people.

¹¹ And not one of them will ever teach their fellow citizen, or their brother or their sister, by saying to them, “Know the Sovereign One,” Because they’re all going to know me, From the weakest to the most powerfulthem.

¹² Because I’m going to be merciful about their wrongdoings, And I’m never going to remember their sins anymore.m

¹³ By saying, “new,” it has made the first covenant “old”. And what’s aging, and getting old, is close to disappearing.

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¹ The Earthly and the Heavenly Holy Place Now, the first covenant used to have rules for worshipa and an earthly Holy Place.

² For example, it was set up so that the first part of the Tent had the lampstand,b and the table withc the offering of the loaves.d That’s called “the Holy Place”.

³ But behind the second curtain is an inner tent called “the Holiest Place”.e

⁴ It has a golden incense altar and the “ark of the covenant,”f which is covered with gold all over. In it there’s a gold jar that has the manna,g Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.h

⁵ Over the ark, the “cherubsi of glory” overshadow the “mercy seat”.j We can’t talk in detail right now about these things.

⁶ Now, with things set up this way, the priests go into the first tent all the time as they carry out their worship duties.

⁷ But somebody goes into the second tent just once a year-only the high priest. And he always brings blood, on behalf of his and the people’s unnoticed sins.

⁸ The Holy Spirit is showing us something here: as long as the first tent is still in place, the way into the Holy Place hasn’t been revealed yet.

⁹ This is a symbol of the present time. During this time, gifts and offerings are being presented to God, but they’re not able to cleark the conscience of the worshipers.

¹⁰ They’re only about food and drink, and various washings. They’re rules about physical things,l rules put in place until a time of restoration comes.

¹¹ Christ Offers Himself in the Heavenly Holy Place But Christ has arrived as the high priest of the good things that have come.m He has gone through the greater and more perfect tent-the one that’s not made by human hands. In other words, it’s not of this creation.

¹² And he hasn’t gone into the Holy Place with the blood of goats and calves, but with his own blood, once for all. He has succeeded in purchasing people out of captivity for all time.n

¹³ After all, when people have become ceremonially unclean, the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkled ashes of a heifer, make them holy, so their flesh is clean.

¹⁴ Isn’t Christ’s blood much greater than that? He offered himself spotless to God, through the eternal Spirit. Won’t his blood cleanse ouro consciences from dead behaviors, so we can serve the Living God?p

¹⁵ And that’s why he’s the mediator of a new covenant. This is how it works: Jesus experienced death for people’s release from their offenses against the first covenant. That way, those who are called could receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

¹⁶ Because in the case of a will,q the death of the person who made it is necessary in order to bring it into force.

¹⁷ After all, a will is valid in the case of the dead-since it never has force while the person who made it is alive.

¹⁸ That’s why even the first covenant is established with blood.r

¹⁹ Because when Moses had read aloud every commandment in the whole Law,s he took the blood of calves,t together with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop.u And he sprinkled both the scroll and all the people.

²⁰ He was saying, This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.v

²¹ And he also sprinkled the Tent, and all the worship equipment in it, with blood.

²² And nearly everything is cleansed with blood according to the Law. And without blood being shed, there’s no forgiveness.

²³ So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be cleansed by these rituals. But the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed with better sacrifices than these.

²⁴ Because Christ didn’t go into the Holy Place made by human hands-into a copy of the real thing. No, he went into heaven itself, to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

²⁵ And it’s not so he can offer himself lots of times-like the high priest, who goes into the Holy Place every year with blood that’s not his own.

²⁶ (In that case, Christ would have had to suffer lots of times since the creationw of the world.) But now he has appeared once, at the wrapping up of the ages. He has appeared for the purpose of abolishing sin through his sacrifice of himself.

²⁷ It’s the destiny of human beings to die once, and after that comes judgment.

²⁸ And it’s the same with Christ. He has offered himself once for all, to bear the sin of many people; the second time around, he’s not going to appear to deal with sin. He’s going to appear for the salvation of those who are looking forward to his coming.

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¹ Christ’s Self-Offering Takes Away our Sins Once and for All Now, the Law has a shadow of the good things that are coming. But it isn’t the form of those things itself. Year by year, with the same sacrifices all the time, ita can never perfect the people who offer them.

² After all, wouldn’t sacrifices have stopped being offered in that case? Because the worshipers wouldn’t be conscious of sins anymore. They’d have been cleansed once for all.

³ But it’s just the opposite-there’s a yearly reminder of sins in the sacrifices!

⁴ Because the blood of bulls and goats can’t take away sins!

⁵ So when Christ comes into the world, he says, You haven’t wanted a sacrifice or an offering, But you crafted a body for me.

⁶ You don’t value whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.

⁷ Then I said, See, I’m coming! It’s written about me in the scroll.b. I’m coming, God, to do your will.c

⁸ Now, he says above, You don’t value sacrifice or offering or whole burnt offerings or sin offerings, and you don’t want them.d. (Yet those things are offered in line with the Law!)

⁹ But then he says,e See, I’m coming to do your will.f. He takes away the first so he can set up the second.

¹⁰ It’s by this will that we’ve been made holy, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

¹¹ Now, every priest stands there every day serving in the Temple, and offering the same sacrifices time after time. Those sacrifices can never take away sins.

¹² But Jesus offered one sacrifice for all time, and “sat down at God’s right side”.g

¹³ From that point on, he’s been waiting “until his enemies are madeh a footstool for his feet”.i

¹⁴ Because through one offering, he’s perfected those who are being made holy, for all time.

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit testifies to us about this too. Because firstj the Spirit says,

¹⁶ “This is the covenant I’m going to make with them after that time,” says your Sovereign. “I’m going to give them my laws on their hearts, and I’m going to write them on their minds.”k

¹⁷ And then the Spirit says, I’m never going to remember their sins and their rebellions again.l

¹⁸ Som where there’s forgiveness of these things, there isn’t any offering for sins anymore.

¹⁹ Stay Strong Together in the Face of Persecution So, brothers and sisters, we have confidencen to go into the Holy Place, thanks to the bloodo of Jesus.

²⁰ He has opened this new and living way for us through the curtain-in other words, his flesh.p

²¹ And since there’s a great priest over God’s house,

²² let’s come to Godq with true hearts, in the full confidence of our faith. Our hearts should be sprinkled clean from a bad conscience, and our bodies washed in clean water.

²³ We should hold fast to the public profession of our hope-because the One who has promised us is faithful.

²⁴ And let’s be thinking about how we can stir each other up into love and into doing good things.r

²⁵ Let’s not stop meeting with each other, as some have.s Just the opposite-let’s encourage each other all the more as you see the Dayt getting near.

²⁶ Because if we sin deliberately after we’ve received the knowledge of the truth, there’s no sacrifice for sins left anymore.

²⁷ There’s only the terrible expectation of judgment, and a furious fire that’s going to burn up the enemies.u

²⁸ If somebody defies the Law of Moses, they die without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

²⁹ But suppose there’s somebody who tramples on the Son of God. Suppose they treat as unclean the blood of the covenant-the blood that made them holy. Suppose they insult the Spirit of grace. How much worse punishment do you think such a person will deserve?

³⁰ After all, we know the One who said, Revenge is for me alone. I will pay people back.v. And again: The Sovereign God is going to judge God’s people.w

³¹ It’s a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.

³² But remember the early days.x In those days, when you’d just been enlightened, you held out throughy a hard struggle with sufferings.

³³ Sometimes you were publicly humiliated with insults and persecutions; at other times, you stoodz with people who were being treated in those ways.

³⁴ Because you suffered along with those who were in prison. And when your possessions wereaa taken away by force, you faced it with joy. You knew that you have possessions that are better and more lasting.

³⁵ So don’t throw away your boldness-there’s a great reward for it.

³⁶ What you really need is endurance, so you can do God’s will and then get what’s been promised.

³⁷ After all, in just a very short while, The One who’s coming will come, and will not wait.

³⁸ And my innocent ones will live by their faith. Butbb if they back off, I won’t be pleased with them.cc. But we’re not about shrinking back towards destruction-no! We’re about faith, that leads to our lives being saved.dd

³⁹

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¹ The Meaning of Faith Faith is the assurancea of our hopes. It’s the proofb of things we can’t see.c

² Faith is what the ancients were commended for.d

³ By faith we know that the universe wase crafted by the word of God, so that what we seef hasn’t come from things that are visible.

⁴ Heroes of Faith By faith Abelg brought God a better offering than Cain did.h Through faith Abel received God’s testimony that he was in the right:i God testified about his offerings. Through faith, though he’s dead, he still speaks.

⁵ By faith Enochj was taken up, so that he wouldn’t face death.k And “he was nowhere to be found,l because God had taken him up”.m Andn before he was taken up,o it was testified that “he was pleasing to God”.

⁶ And without faith, it’s impossible to please God. Because the person that comes to God has to believe that God exists, and rewardsp those who seek God out.

⁷ By faith Noah was prophetically warned about things that weren’t visible yet.q He respected God and built an ark,r which would save his family.s Through faith he condemned the world, and he became an heir to the integrityt that comes from faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called, and set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance.u And he set out without knowing where he was going.

⁹ By faith he moved to the promised land, even though it was a foreign place.v He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were co-heirs of the same promise.

¹⁰ He did it because he was looking forward to the city with real foundations. That city’s architect and designer is God.

¹¹ By faith, Sarah too, although she was infertile,w received the power to give birth-and beyond what was possible for her age!x She could do it because she regarded the One who had promised it to be faithful.

¹² So from just one man-and practically a dead one at that-were born descendants As numerous as the stars of heaven, And as countless as the sands of the seashore.y

¹³ All of these people died in faith, without getting the promises. However, they saw them from far away, and welcomed them. And they admitted that they were strangers and visitors on the earth.

¹⁴ After all, people who talk like that are obviously searching for a home country.

¹⁵ And if they were remembering the place they had come from as their home country, they had timez to go back.

¹⁶ But now they were yearning for something better-in other words, what’s in heaven. That’s why God isn’t ashamed of them, and is willing to be called their God. Because God has builtaa them a city.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham offered up Isaac when he was tested. This man, who had accepted the promise, offered up his only child.

¹⁸ It was to Abraham that it was said, “Your descendants are going to be counted through Isaac”.bb

¹⁹ He figured that God could even raise the dead! And so he did symbolically get Isaac back from death.

²⁰ By faith, Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esaucc as to their future.dd

²¹ By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons. And “he prayedee as he leaned on the top of his walking staff”.ff

²² By faith Joseph, when he was dying, spoke about the time when the Israelites would leave Egypt.gg And he gave them instructions about what to do with his bones.hh

²³ By faith, when Moses was born, he was hidden by his parents for three months. They’d seen his beauty, and they weren’t afraid of the king’s order.ii

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’sjj daughter.kk

²⁵ He chose to be treated badly along with God’s people, rather than to have the temporary pleasure of sin.

²⁶ He regarded disgrace with Christll as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. Because he was looking forward to his reward.

²⁷ By faith he left Egypt without being afraid of the king’s anger, because he stayed focused on the One who can’t be seen.mm

²⁸ By faith he celebratednn the Passover.oo And he had people spread blood on their doorposts so that the destroyer of the firstborn wouldn’t touch them.pp

²⁹ By faith they walked across the Red Sea as if on dry land. And when the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned.qq

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jerichorr fell down, when the Israelites had walked aroundss them for seven days.

³¹ By faith Rahabtt the prostitute welcomed the Israelite spies with friendship, and she didn’t dieuu along with those who were disobedient.

³² And what else should I say?vv My time will run out if I tell about Gideon,ww Barak,xx Samson, Jephthahyy and David-not to mentionzz Samuel and all the prophets.

³³ Through faith they conquered kingdoms; they did justice-making; they got things that were promised. They shut the mouths of lions;

³⁴ they couldn’t be burned by fire;aaa they escaped the edge of the sword. They were empowered from a position of weakness; they became strong in battle; they toppledbbb foreign armies.

³⁵ Women got their dead back by resurrection. Others were tortured, and refused to be set free, so they would gain a better resurrection.

³⁶ And others faced ridicule, faced beatings with whips, and even faced chains and imprisonment.

³⁷ They were stoned, tortured,ccc sawn in two. They died at the edge of the sword.ddd They wandered around in sheepskins and goatskins-destitute, persecuted, mistreated.

³⁸ Here were people the world wasn’t worthy of, wandering around deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

³⁹ And these people all received God’s commendation through their faith, yet they didn’t get what was promised.

⁴⁰ Because God foresaw something better about us. They were not going to be brought to perfection apart from us.

12

¹ Run the Race with Endurance And as for us, we have this large cloud of witnesses around us. So let’s get rid of everything that slows us down,a and the sin that so easily tangles us up. And let’s run the race in front of us with endurance.

² Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, who’s the championb and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay ahead of him, he endured the cross. He gave no notice to the shame of it, and has sat down on the right side of God’s throne.

³ Just think about him-how he has endured such hostility from sinners against himself.c That way, you won’t get tired and give up in your spirits.d

⁴ So far, you haven’t resisted sin to the point of shedding your blood.

⁵ And you’ve forgotten the encouragement that’s spoken to you as sons and daughters: My child,e don’t despise the discipline of the Sovereign One, And don’t give up when you’re corrected by God.f

⁶ Because the Sovereign One disciplines those who are loved,g. And punishes all those who are accepted as children.h

⁷ Endure what you’re going through as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons and daughters. And what child doesn’t get disciplined by their father?

⁸ And if you’re above the discipline that everybody takes part in, then you’re illegitimate children, and not sons and daughters.

⁹ And we had physical fathers to discipline us, and we respected them. So shouldn’t we submit ourselves all the more to the Father of our spirits, and live?

¹⁰ After all, they disciplined us for a while,i however it seemed right to them. But God disciplines us for our own good, so that we’ll sharej in God’s holiness.

¹¹ Now, for the moment all discipline seems painful, not joyful. But later, for people who’ve been trained by it, it bears the peaceful fruit of integrity.k

¹² So Straighten up your droopy arms and weak knees,

¹³ And make straight paths for your feet.l That way, what’s lame won’t get injured,m but will get healed instead.

¹⁴ A Warning Not to Turn Away from God Really go for peace with everybody. And go for holiness. Without holiness, nobody is going to see the Lord.

¹⁵ See to it that nobody comes short of the grace of God-that no poisonousn root grows up and causes trouble, so lots of people get corrupted by it.o

¹⁶ Nobody should be sexually immoral, or godless like Esau.p He sold his birthright for a single meal.q

¹⁷ And you know that afterwards he wanted to inherit the blessing, but was rejected: he didn’t find any way to reverse his decision,r even though he looked for one in tears.

¹⁸ After all, you haven’t come to a place that can be physically touched, to a mountain burning with fire, to gloom and darkness and storm,

¹⁹ and to the sound of a trumpet and a voice speaking. When people heard that voice, they begged not to hear another word.s

²⁰ Because they couldn’t bear the commandment, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it has to be stoned”.t

²¹ And the spectacle was so frightening that Moses said, “I’m terrified and shaking”.u

²² No, you’ve come to Mount Zion, to the City of the Living God, to the heavenly Jerusalem. And you’ve come to tens of thousands of angels gathered for the festival.v

²³ You’ve come to the assembly of the firstborn,w whose names are recorded in heaven. You’ve come to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of people of integrityx who’ve been made perfect.

²⁴ And you’ve come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more powerfullyy than the blood of Abel.

²⁵ Make sure you don’t ignorez the One who is speaking.aa After all, those othersbb didn’t get away with it when they ignoredcc the One who warned them on earth. So how much less will we get away with it, if we’re turning away from the One who is warning us from heaven?

²⁶ That time, God’s voice shook the earth, but now God has given this promise: I’m going to shake things one more time, and it won’t just be the earth, but heaven too.dd

²⁷ And when it says, “one more time,” it’s clearly about the removal of the things that are shaken-which are created things.ee That way, what remains will be what can’t be shaken.

²⁸ So since we’re receiving a royal realm that can’t be shaken, let’s be grateful. Let’s serve God with appropriate gratitude, reverence and awe.

²⁹ Because “our God is a consuming fire”.ff

13

¹ Final Challenges and Encouragements Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.

² Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers. After all, some people have taken in angels as guests without knowing it.a

³ Remember people who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them. And remember people who are being badly treated as though you were physically being treated the same way.b

⁴ Marriage should be honored by everyone, and sexc should be pure. Because God is going to judge people who are sexually immoral and people who are unfaithful to their spouses.d

⁵ Your lifestyle should be free from love of money. Be content with what you have. Because God has said, I’m never going to desert you; I’m never going to leave you.e

⁶ So we can be confident and say, The Sovereign One is my helper, and I’m not going to be afraid. What can human beings do to me?f

⁷ Remember your leaders, who have spoken God’s word to you. Look closely at the outcome of their lifestyle, and imitate their faith.

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.

⁹ Don’t get carried away with all kinds of strange teachings. Because it’s good to strengthen your heart with grace-not special religious diets.g They’ve been no use to people who’ve followed them.

¹⁰ Those who serve in the Tenth don’t have the authority to eat from the altar that we have.

¹¹ After all, the high priest brings the blood for the sin offerings into the Holy Place, and the bodies of the animals whose blood it is are burned outside the camp.i

¹² And that’s why Jesus suffered outside the city gate: so that he could make the people holy by his own blood.

¹³ So let’s go to him outside the camp! Let’s bear the scorn that he was subjected to.j

¹⁴ After all, we don’t have a lasting city here-we’re looking for the one that’s coming.

¹⁵ So let’s continuously offer sacrifices of praise to God through Christ. That is, let’s offer up lipsk that publicly profess God’s name.l

¹⁶ And let’s not neglect doing good and sharing: God is pleased with those kinds of sacrifices.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and listen to them: they’re watching over your souls, as people who are accountable to God. That way, they’ll be able to do this ministry with joy, and not exasperation-which wouldn’t do you any good.

¹⁸ Pray for us. We’re confident that we have a good conscience, and in every situation, we want to conduct ourselves well.m

¹⁹ And I’m asking you to prayn all the more, so that I will be given back to you as soon as possible.o

²⁰ Final Blessing and Greetings

²¹ Now may the God of peace outfit you with all goodness to do God’s will. God is the One who brought back the Great Shepherd of the sheep from among the dead by the blood of the eternal covenant: our Lord Jesus. May God do in us what is pleasing in God’s eyes, through Jesus Christ. May God get the glory forever and ever.p Amen.q

²² Brothers and sisters, please accept this wordr of encouragement, because I’ve written you just a few things.s

²³ You know that our brother Timothy has been set free-if he comes soon, I’ll come see you with him.

²⁴ Say hello to all your leaders and all the holy ones. The people from Italy say hello to you.

²⁵ May grace be with you all.