This fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet: "I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has been hidden from the foundation of the world."

These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.

For

Now Hagar represents Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

Then he took bread, and after giving thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me."

and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they were all drinking from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.

The two

Brothers and sisters, I offer an example from everyday life: When a covenant has been ratified, even though it is only a human contract, no one can set it aside or add anything to it.

accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

But now Jesus has obtained a superior ministry, since the covenant that he mediates is also better and is enacted on better promises.

And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.

And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying,

and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel's does.

Now may the God of peace who by the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ,

Which

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba, Father."

General references

The Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai: