Be carefully on your guard lest there be any one who falls back from the grace of God; lest any root bearing bitter fruit spring up and cause trouble among you, and through it the whole brotherhood be defiled;

Remember your former leaders--it was they who brought you God's Message. Bear in mind how they ended their lives, and imitate their faith.

This is true; yet it was their unbelief that cut them off, and you only stand through your faith.

So then let him who thinks he is standing securely beware of falling.

A promise

It follows that there still remains a sabbath rest for the people of God.

For what if some Jews have proved unfaithful? Shall their faithlessness render God's faithfulness worthless?

"And even if *our* faith fails, He remains true--He cannot prove false to Himself."

His

We who have believed are soon to be admitted to the true rest; as He has said, "As I swore in My anger, they shall not be admitted to My rest," although God's works had been going on ever since the creation of the world.

As I swore in My anger, they shall not be admitted to My rest" --

Any

"Not every one who says to me, 'Master, Master,' will enter the Kingdom of the Heavens, but only those who are obedient to my Father who is in Heaven.

But if the man, being a bad servant, should say in his heart, 'My master is a long time in coming,'

"Then will the Kingdom of the Heavens be found to be like ten bridesmaids who took their torches and went out to meet the bridegroom.

But if that servant should say in his heart, 'My Master is a long time in coming,' and should begin to beat the menservants and the maids, and to eat and drink, drinking even to excess;

As soon as the Master of the house shall have risen and shut the door, and you have begun to stand outside and knock at the door and say, "'Sir, open the door for us' --"'I do not know you,' He answers; 'you are no friends of mine.'

for all alike have sinned, and all consciously come short of the glory of God,

That is how I run, not being in any doubt as to my goal. I am a boxer who does not inflict blows on the air,

General references

"But many who are now first will be last, and many who are now last will be first.

This incident struck terror into the whole Church, and into the hearts of all who heard of it.