2 ARST We need to focus on Jesus, the one who enables us to trust God at first and then to do so until we die. He himself persevered when he died on the cross, and he did not care that he died shamefully.{ He acted in those ways} because he knew that God would make him joyful afterward. Now, he is with God{ the Father}, where he sits on the throne and rules. BSB BSB: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 ARST You need to think about Jesus, who persevered when sinners quarreled with him,{ although} they{ only} hurt themselves. That way, you can be strong on the inside and persevere. BSB BSB: Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
4 ARST So far, you have not died while you oppose{ what is evil} and work hard not to sin. BSB BSB: In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5 ARST Further, you have failed to remember what{ Solomon} encouraged his children to do, which also applies to you.{ Here is what Solomon wrote}:“My child, learn carefully when the Lord trains you. Indeed, persevere when he corrects you. BSB BSB: And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you.
6 ARST { You should do that,} because the Lord{ God} trains everyone he loves. Indeed, he severely corrects every child he calls his own.” BSB BSB: For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.”
7 ARST You need to persevere so that God can train you. God acts in these ways toward you because you are his children.{ You can tell that this is true,} because parents always train their own children. BSB BSB: Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
8 ARST Suppose God did not train you, even though he trained everybody else. In that case, you would not actually be{ God’ s} children. BSB BSB: If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
9 ARST Moreover, our human parents trained us when we were children, and we respected them. So, we should accept it even more when our spiritual Father{, God, trains us}. That way, we will live{ forever}. BSB BSB: Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
10 ARST Further, our human parents trained us for a short time in the ways that they thought were right. However, God our Father{ trains us} in the ways that are best{ for us}. That way, we become those whom he has set apart, just as he sets himself apart. BSB BSB: Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness.
11 ARST Whenever God trains us, we hurt rather than rejoice while it is happening. However, once we learn from how God is training us, we are able peacefully to do what is right. BSB BSB: No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
12 ARST Because of all that, you need to prepare yourselves to persevere in trusting God, just like runners prepare their tired bodies to continue running. BSB BSB: Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
13 ARST You need to focus on trusting and obeying God, just like a runner focuses on running the straightest path. That way, anyone who is spiritually weak will not stop trusting God but will instead trust him more. BSB BSB: Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
14 ARST You should seek to live peacefully with everybody. Also,{ you should seek} to set yourselves apart for God. Only if you do that will you eventually be with the Lord. BSB BSB: Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
15 ARST Make sure that your fellow believers fully receive what God has given you.{ Be alert for} anyone who begins to behave resentfully and disturbs{ fellow believers}. That may lead many{ other believers} to behave that way as well. BSB BSB: See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
16 ARST { Be alert for} people who have improper sex or do not set themselves apart for God.{ These people are} like Esau, who allowed{ his younger brother Jacob} to act as the firstborn child in order to get some food{ from him}. BSB BSB: See to it that no one is sexually immoral, or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his birthright.
17 ARST { You should avoid being like Esau,} because you realize what happened to him later. He wanted his father to bless him, but his father refused to do so. As you can see, Esau could not change what he had done, even when he cried while he tried{ to change it}. BSB BSB: For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.
18 ARST We have not gone closer to{ what the Israelites went closer to when they arrived at Mount Sinai}.{ They went closer to a mountain} that they could feel{ with their hands}. They saw flames burning, dark clouds, shadows, and a thunderstorm. BSB BSB: For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom, and storm;
19 ARST They heard someone playing a trumpet and God speaking a message. When they heard God speaking, they pleaded for him not to say any more to them. BSB BSB: to a trumpet blast or to a voice that made its hearers beg that no further word be spoken.
20 ARST { They did that,} because they were afraid when God commanded them,“You must kill all people and animals that touch this mountain.{ You must kill them} by throwing rocks at them.” BSB BSB: For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.”
21 ARST Further, when Moses saw how frightening everything was, he said,“I am shaking because I am afraid!” BSB BSB: The sight was so terrifying that even Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”
22 ARST In contrast to that, you have gone closer to a heavenly place, Mount Zion.{ On this mountain is} the city Jerusalem in heaven that belongs to the only real God.{ In the city are} very many spiritual beings who celebrate together. BSB BSB: Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels
23 ARST Also{ in the city are} those whose{ names} God has recorded in heaven.{ They are} God’ s people, his special children.{ There} also{ is} God, the one who decides whether all{ people} are guilty or innocent.{ There} too{ are} those who obeyed God. They died, but God has now made them what he wants them to be. BSB BSB: 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,
24 ARST Also{ in the city is} Jesus, through whom God has made a new agreement.{ There} also{ is} Jesus’ blood, which purifies us. His blood is more effective than Abel’ s blood. BSB BSB: to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 ARST Make sure that you obey God, who is speaking to you. Consider how some of the Israelites did not obey what God revealed to them from Mount Sinai. God certainly punished them. Now consider how much more{ God will punish any of} us who do not obey what he{ reveals to us} from Mount Zion. BSB BSB: 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?
26 ARST When God spoke from Mount Sinai, it made the earth quake. However, at this time he promises,“One more time, I will make the earth and also heaven quake.” BSB BSB: 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.”
27 ARST The words“one more time” mean that God will transform everything that he shakes.{ He will do that} just as he created all those things. That way, everything that he does not shake will last forever. BSB BSB: The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain.
28 ARST So, we will live in a kingdom that God will not quake.{ Because of that,} we should thank God. By doing that, we respectfully worship God in a way that pleases him. BSB BSB: Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
29 ARST { We should do so respectfully,} because the God we{ worship} is{ as powerful and dangerous as} a raging fire. BSB BSB: “For our God is a consuming fire.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.