So then we must not sleep as the rest, but must stay alert and sober.

Therefore if you regard me as a partner, accept him as you would me.

They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment,

who is faithful to the one who appointed him, as Moses was also in God’s house.

“As I swore in my anger, ‘They will never enter my rest!’”

And it could be said that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid a tithe through Abraham.

But the rich person’s pride should be in his humiliation, because he will pass away like a wildflower in the meadow.

But if you show prejudice, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as violators.

Speak and act as those who will be judged by a law that gives freedom.

Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,

Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king as supreme

or to governors as those he commissions to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do good.

And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.

It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more will they defame the members of his household!

Going a little farther, he threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

Now the passage of scripture the man was reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to slaughter, and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law.

Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his descendant. Scripture does not say, “and to the descendants,” referring to many, but “and to your descendant,” referring to one, who is Christ.

not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.