Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law,^(A) are you not aware of what the law says? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman^(B) and the other by the free woman.^{(C) 23} His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,^(D) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.^(E)

²⁴ These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above^(F) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^{(H) 29} At that time the son born according to the flesh^(I) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.^(J) It is the same now. ³⁰ But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”^{[b](K) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,^(L) but of the free woman.^(M)

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;^{(A) 19} to a trumpet blast^(B) or to such a voice speaking words^(C) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{(D) 20} because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{[a](E) 21} The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[b](F)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(G) to the city^(H) of the living God,^(I) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(J) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn,^(K) whose names are written in heaven.^(L) You have come to God, the Judge of all,^(M) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(N) 24} to Jesus the mediator^(O) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^(P) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(Q)

²⁵ See to it that you do not refuse^(R) him who speaks.^(S) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned^(T) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?^{(U) 26} At that time his voice shook the earth,^(V) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”^{[c](W) 27} The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken^(X)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,^(Y) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,^{(Z) 29} for our “God is a consuming fire.”^[d](AA)