For there is one God(A) and one mediator(B) between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,(C) who gave himself as a ransom(D) for all people. This has now been witnessed to(E) at the proper time.(F)

Read full chapter

13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing(A) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,(B) 14 who gave himself for us(C) to redeem us from all wickedness(D) and to purify(E) for himself a people that are his very own,(F) eager to do what is good.(G)

Read full chapter

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory(A) and the exact representation of his being,(B) sustaining all things(C) by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins,(D) he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.(E)

Read full chapter

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor(A) because he suffered death,(B) so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.(C)

10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists,(D) should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.(E)

Read full chapter

14 Since the children have flesh and blood,(A) he too shared in their humanity(B) so that by his death he might break the power(C) of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil(D) 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear(E) of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants.(F) 17 For this reason he had to be made like them,[a](G) fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful(H) and faithful high priest(I) in service to God,(J) and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.(K)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 2:17 Or like his brothers

Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,(A) to offer gifts and sacrifices(B) for sins.(C)

Read full chapter

During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions(A) with fervent cries and tears(B) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard(C) because of his reverent submission.(D) Son(E) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered(F) and, once made perfect,(G) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

Read full chapter

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened,(A) who have tasted the heavenly gift,(B) who have shared in the Holy Spirit,(C) who have tasted the goodness(D) of the word of God(E) and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen[a] away, to be brought back to repentance.(F) To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God(G) all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 6:6 Or age, if they fall

20 And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, 21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

“The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind:(A)
    ‘You are a priest forever.’”[a](B)

22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.(C)

23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.(D) 25 Therefore he is able to save(E) completely[b] those who come to God(F) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.(G)

26 Such a high priest(H) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,(I) exalted above the heavens.(J) 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices(K) day after day, first for his own sins,(L) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all(M) when he offered himself.(N)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 7:21 Psalm 110:4
  2. Hebrews 7:25 Or forever

The Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ came as high priest(A) of the good things that are now already here,[a](B) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle(C) that is not made with human hands,(D) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;(E) but he entered the Most Holy Place(F) once for all(G) by his own blood,(H) thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls(I) and the ashes of a heifer(J) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit(K) offered himself(L) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences(M) from acts that lead to death,[c](N) so that we may serve the living God!(O)

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator(P) of a new covenant,(Q) that those who are called(R) may receive the promised(S) eternal inheritance(T)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.(U)

16 In the case of a will,[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.(V) 19 When Moses had proclaimed(W) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,(X) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.(Y) 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[e](Z) 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,(AA) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.(AB)

23 It was necessary, then, for the copies(AC) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;(AD) he entered heaven itself,(AE) now to appear for us in God’s presence.(AF) 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place(AG) every year with blood that is not his own.(AH) 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.(AI) But he has appeared(AJ) once for all(AK) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.(AL) 27 Just as people are destined to die once,(AM) and after that to face judgment,(AN) 28 so Christ was sacrificed once(AO) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,(AP) not to bear sin,(AQ) but to bring salvation(AR) to those who are waiting for him.(AS)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
  2. Hebrews 9:12 Or blood, having obtained
  3. Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
  4. Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
  5. Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8

First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”(A)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”(B) He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy(C) through the sacrifice of the body(D) of Jesus Christ once for all.(E)

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,(F) which can never take away sins.(G) 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,(H) he sat down at the right hand of God,(I) 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.(J) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect(K) forever those who are being made holy.(L)

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies(M) to us about this. First he says:

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”[a](N)

17 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”[b](O)

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(P) to enter the Most Holy Place(Q) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(R) opened for us through the curtain,(S) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(T) over the house of God,(U) 22 let us draw near to God(V) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(W) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(X) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(Y)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
  2. Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(A) with perseverance(B) the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,(C) the pioneer(D) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(E) scorning its shame,(F) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(G)

Read full chapter

24 to Jesus the mediator(A) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood(B) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(C)

Read full chapter

12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate(A) to make the people holy(B) through his own blood.(C)

Read full chapter

Benediction and Final Greetings

20 Now may the God of peace,(A) who through the blood of the eternal covenant(B) brought back from the dead(C) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,(D) 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,(E) and may he work in us(F) what is pleasing to him,(G) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(H)

Read full chapter

17 Since you call on a Father(A) who judges each person’s work(B) impartially,(C) live out your time as foreigners(D) here in reverent fear.(E) 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed(F) from the empty way of life(G) handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood(H) of Christ, a lamb(I) without blemish or defect.(J)

Read full chapter

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(A) not only to those who are good and considerate,(B) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(C) 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.(D) 21 To this(E) you were called,(F) because Christ suffered for you,(G) leaving you an example,(H) that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,(I)
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[a](J)

23 When they hurled their insults at him,(K) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(L) Instead, he entrusted himself(M) to him who judges justly.(N) 24 “He himself bore our sins”(O) in his body on the cross,(P) so that we might die to sins(Q) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”(R) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[b](S) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(T) and Overseer of your souls.(U)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
  2. 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)

18 For Christ also suffered once(A) for sins,(B) the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.(C) He was put to death in the body(D) but made alive in the Spirit.(E) 19 After being made alive,[a] he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits(F) 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently(G) in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.(H) In it only a few people, eight in all,(I) were saved(J) through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you(K) also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience(L) toward God.[b] It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(M) 22 who has gone into heaven(N) and is at God’s right hand(O)—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.(P)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 3:19 Or but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also
  2. 1 Peter 3:21 Or but an appeal to God for a clear conscience

My dear children,(A) I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate(B) with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,(C) and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.(D)

Read full chapter

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.(A) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.(B)

Read full chapter

10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us(A) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.(B)

Read full chapter

Bible Gateway Recommends