Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

⁷ Remember your leaders. They have told you the word of God. Think about the way they lived and died, and keep on believing as they did.

⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.

⁹ Do not listen to all kinds of different teaching and strange things. It is better to have a heart that is strong because of God's blessing than a heart that is thinking about different kinds of food. Different kinds of food do not help people who put their trust in them.

¹⁰ We have a sacrifice. But priests who serve God on earth have no right to eat from this sacrifice.

¹¹ The high priest takes into the Most Holy Place the blood of animals that are sacrificed. He gives it to God to pay for the wrong things people have done. The bodies of these animals are burned outside the town.

¹² So also Jesus was put to death outside the town. Then he could make the people holy by his own blood.

¹³ So let us go to him outside the town and take the shame as he did.

¹⁴ Here we do not have a city that will last for ever, but we are looking for the city that will come.

¹⁵ Let us always give a sacrifice of praise to God through Jesus. We do it by thanking him for all that he has done and also by talking about him. That is the sacrifice we make with our lips to his name.

¹⁶ But do not forget to do good things for people, and to give what you have to those who need it. These are sacrifices that please God.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and do what they tell you. They are watching over your souls. They must give a report. Obey them so they will be glad, and not sad, to give a report. If you make them sad, it is no help to you.

¹⁸ Talk to God about us. We know that what we do is right. We want to do what is right in every way.

¹⁹ Here is why I want very much that you talk to God about me. If you do, I will be free to come to you sooner.

²⁰ God gives peace. He brought back our Lord Jesus from death. Our Lord Jesus cares for God's people and he gave his blood for the agreement that stands for ever.

²¹ May God give you everything good so that you will do what he wants you to do. He will do in us, through Jesus Christ, what pleases him. Praise him for ever. May it be so!