Contrast of Sinai and Zion

^18 (A)For you have not come to ^(B)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, ¹⁹ and to the ^(C)blast of a trumpet and the ^(D)sound of words, which sound was such that those who heard ^(E)begged that no further word be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not ^[a]cope with the command, “^(F)If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” ²¹ And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “^(G)I am terrified and trembling.” ²² But ^(H)you have come to Mount Zion and to ^(I)the city of ^(J)the living God, ^(K)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(L)myriads of ^[b]angels, ²³ to the general assembly and ^(M)church of the firstborn who ^(N)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, ^(O)the Judge of all, and to the ^(P)spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, the ^(Q)mediator of a new covenant, and to the ^(R)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than ^(S)the blood of Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

^25 (T)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is ^(U)speaking. For ^(V)if those did not escape when they ^(W)refused him who ^(X)warned them on earth, ^[c]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who ^(Y)warns us from heaven. ²⁶ And ^(Z)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “^(AA)Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” ²⁷ This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes ^(AB)the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we receive a ^(AC)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s ^[d]show gratitude, by which we may ^(AD)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; ²⁹ for ^(AE)our God is a consuming fire.