The Call to Endurance

1Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnessesa surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with enduranceb the race that lies before us, 2keeping our eyes on Jesus,A the pioneer and perfecterB of our faith. For the joy that lay before him,C he endured the cross, despising the shame,a and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Fatherly Discipline

3For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won’t grow weary and give up.a 4In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons:

My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly

or lose heart when you are reproved by him,

6for the Lord disciplines the one he loves

and punishes every son he receives.a b

7Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline — which all receiveA — then you are illegitimate children and not sons.a 9Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live?a 10For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness.a 11No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruita of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.b

12Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees,a 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocatedA but healed instead.a

Warning against Rejecting God’s Grace

14Pursue peace with everyone, and holinessa — without it no one will see the Lord.b 15Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.a 16And make sure that there isn’t any immoralA or irreverenta person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.b 17For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn’t find any opportunity for repentance.a

18For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, 19to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, 20for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.a b 21The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear.a b 22Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering,a 23to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been writtenA in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect,a 24and to Jesus, the mediatora of a new covenant,b and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.c

25See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.a 26His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.a b 27This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shakena — that is, created things — so that what is not shaken might remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,a 29for our God is a consuming fire.a