For God's message is alive and full of power in action, sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the depths of soul and spirit, to the dividing of joints and marrow, and passing judgment on the thoughts and purposes of the heart.

But in your case, my dearly loved friends, even though we speak in such a tone, we are sure of better things, yea, things that point to salvation.

Now see how great this man must have been that even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of his spoils.

Now if perfection had been reached through the Levitical priesthood -- for on it as a basis even the law was enacted for the people-- what further need would there have been of appointing a different priest, with the rank of Melchizedek, instead of designating one with the rank of Aaron?

So not even the first covenant was ratified without the use of blood.

Still others stood the test of taunts and tortures, and even chains and prisons.

for they did not try to bear the order, "Even if a wild animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death,"

But you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless hosts of angels,

to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks a better message than even Abel's did.