⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble,^(A) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell,^(B) where the fire never goes out.^{(C) [44] [a] 45} And if your foot causes you to stumble,^(D) cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell.^{(E) [46] [b] 47} And if your eye causes you to stumble,^(F) pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,^{(G) 48} where

⁵ Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires;^(A) but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.^{(B) 6} The mind governed by the flesh is death,^(C) but the mind governed by the Spirit is life^(D) and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;^(E) it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh^(F) cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh^(G) but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.^(H) And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ,^(I) they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you,^(J) then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[a] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead^(K) is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies^(L) because of^[b] his Spirit who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.^{(M) 13} For if you live according to the flesh, you will die;^(N) but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body,^(O) you will live.^(P)

¹⁴ For those who are led by the Spirit of God^(Q) are the children of God.^{(R) 15} The Spirit^(S) you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;^(T) rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.^[c] And by him we cry, “Abba,^[d] Father.”^{(U) 16} The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit^(V) that we are God’s children.^(W)

Warning and Encouragement

¹⁴ Make every effort to live in peace with everyone^(A) and to be holy;^(B) without holiness no one will see the Lord.^{(C) 15} See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God^(D) and that no bitter root^(E) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. ¹⁶ See that no one is sexually immoral,^(F) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.^{(G) 17} Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,^(H) he could not change what he had done.

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;^{(I) 19} to a trumpet blast^(J) or to such a voice speaking words^(K) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,^{(L) 20} because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”^{[a](M) 21} The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”^[b](N)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion,^(O) to the city^(P) of the living God,^(Q) the heavenly Jerusalem.^(R) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn,^(S) whose names are written in heaven.^(T) You have come to God, the Judge of all,^(U) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,^{(V) 24} to Jesus the mediator^(W) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood^(X) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.^(Y)

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

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