Letters to the Churches

to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken.

For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”

The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”

Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels

in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven?

At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”

The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.

Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

“For our God is a consuming fire.”

Continue in brotherly love.

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them, and those who are mistreated as if you were suffering with them.

Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace and not by foods of no value to those devoted to them.

We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Although the high priest brings the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, the bodies are burned outside the camp.

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.

Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore.

For here we do not have a permanent city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.