<t /><p class="bodytext">Therefore, brothers and sisters,<n id="1" /> since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,

And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works,<n id="1" />

So do not throw away your confidence, because it<n id="1" /> has great reward.

For <b><i>just a little longeri>b><n id="1" /> and <b><i>he who is coming will arrive and not delayi>b>.<n id="2" />

By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh&#8217;s daughter,

choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin&#8217;s fleeting pleasure.

By faith the walls of Jericho<n id="1" /> fell after the people marched around them<n id="2" /> for seven days.

And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

And these all were commended<n id="1" /> for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.<n id="2" />

For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us.<n id="1" />p>

<p class="otpoetry">&#8220;<i><b>For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son he acceptsb>.i>&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

but we see Jesus, who was made <b><i>lower than the angels for a little whilei>b>,<n id="1" /> now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death,<n id="2" /> so that by God&#8217;s grace he would experience<n id="3" /> death on behalf of everyone.

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.

<t /><p class="bodytext">So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood &#8211; for on that basis<n id="1" /> the people received the law &#8211; what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron&#8217;s order?

The place where they serve is<n id="1" /> a sketch<n id="2" /> and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary, just as Moses was warned by God as he was about to complete the tabernacle. For he says, &#8220;<b><i>See that you make everything according to the designi>b><n id="3" /> <b><i>shown to you on the mountaini>b>.&#8221;<n id="4" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship.<n id="1" />

How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for<n id="1" /> the Son of God, and profanes<n id="2" /> the blood of the covenant that made him holy,<n id="3" /> and insults the Spirit of grace?

By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith<n id="1" /> he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith<n id="2" /> he still speaks, though he is dead.

So in fact children<n id="1" /> were fathered by one man &#8211; and this one as good as dead &#8211; <i>like the number of stars in the sky and like the innumerable grains of sandi><n id="2" /> <i>on the seashorei>.<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,<n id="1" /> we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,