Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty,

Instead someone testified somewhere: "What is man that you think of him or the son of man that you care for him?

but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God's grace he would experience death on behalf of everyone.

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the one who holds the power of death (that is, the devil),

Therefore he had to be made like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he could become a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people.

Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken.

Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks!

"Therefore, I became provoked at that generation and said, 'Their hearts are always wandering and they have not known my ways.'

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God.

But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called "Today," that none of you may become hardened by sin's deception.

As it says, "Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.

Therefore we must be wary that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem to have come short of it.

For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, "As I swore in my anger, 'They will never enter my rest!'" And yet God's works were accomplished from the foundation of the world.

So God again ordains a certain day, "Today," speaking through David after so long a time, as in the words quoted before, "O, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts."

Thus we must make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.

For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God.

so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath,

so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie.

To him also Abraham apportioned a tithe of everything. His name first means king of righteousness, then king of Salem, that is, king of peace.

And those of the sons of Levi who receive the priestly office have authorization according to the law to collect a tithe from the people, that is, from their fellow countrymen, although they too are descendants of Abraham.

And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.

So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood -- for on that basis the people received the law -- what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron's order?

Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to a different tribe, and no one from that tribe has ever officiated at the altar.

For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe.

For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness, but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.

a minister in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up.

The place where they serve is a sketch and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, "See that you make everything according to the design shown to you on the mountain."

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

For if that first covenant had been faultless, no one would have looked for a second one.

"It will not be like the covenant that I made with their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not continue in my covenant and I had no regard for them, says the Lord.

"For this is the covenant that I will establish with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and I will inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they will be my people.

It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this ark were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent, and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernacle was standing.

This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.

But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,

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 said, "This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep."

And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own,

And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again -- sacrifices that can never take away sins.

"This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,"

by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.

but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God's enemies.

How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace?

At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way.

For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison, and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainly had a better and lasting possession.

By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God's command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God.

Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth.

For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there.

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,

Think of him who endured such opposition against himself by sinners, so that you may not grow weary in your souls and give up.

Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

For they disciplined us for a little while as seemed good to them, but he does so for our benefit, that we may share his holiness.

and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but be healed.

See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through him many become defiled.

And see to it that no one becomes an immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.

For you know that later when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no opportunity for repentance, although he sought the blessing with tears.

For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind

and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more.

In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, "I shudder with fear."

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

Now this phrase "once more" indicates the removal of what is shaken, that is, of created things, so that what is unshaken may remain.

We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from.

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.

Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.

I especially ask you to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.

You should know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon, he will be with me when I see you.