WARNING AGAINST REJECTING GOD’S GRACE

14 Pursue peace with everyone, and holinessr—without it no one will see the Lord.s 15 Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.t 16 And make sure that there isn’t any immoralH or irreverentu person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal.v 17 For 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.w

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

25 See 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.ae 26 His 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,a 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what can be shakenb—that is, created things—so that what is not shaken might remain. 28 Therefore, 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,c 29 for our God is a consuming fire.d