Hebrews 10-13

New American Standard Bible

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

10 For the Law, since it has only ^(A)a shadow of ^(B)the good things to come and not the ^[a]form of those things itself, ^[b]can ^(C)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, ^(D)make those who approach perfect. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had ^(E)consciousness of sins? ³ But ^(F)in ^[c]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is ^(G)impossible for the ^(H)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ⁵ Therefore, ^(I)when He comes into the world, He says,

⁸ After saying above, “^(O)Sacrifices and offerings and ^(P)whole burnt offerings and offerings ^(Q)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), ⁹ then He ^[d]said, “^(R)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ By ^[e]this will, we have been ^(S)sanctified through ^(T)the offering of ^(U)the body of Jesus Christ ^(V)once for all time.

¹¹ Every priest stands daily ministering and ^(W)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which ^(X)can never take away sins; ¹² but He, having offered one sacrifice ^(Y)for ^[f]sins ^(Z)for all time, ^(AA)sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time onward ^(AB)until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. ¹⁴ For by one offering He has ^(AC)perfected ^(AD)for all time those who are ^[g]sanctified. ¹⁵ And ^(AE)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

He then says,

¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.

A New and Living Way

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we ^(AH)have confidence to ^(AI)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(AJ)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through ^(AK)the veil, that is, through His flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(AL)a great priest ^(AM)over the house of God, ²² let’s ^(AN)approach God with a ^[h]sincere heart in ^(AO)full assurance of faith, having our hearts ^(AP)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(AQ)washed with pure water. ²³ Let’s hold firmly to the ^(AR)confession of our ^(AS)hope without wavering, for ^(AT)He who promised is faithful; ²⁴ and let’s consider how ^(AU)to ^[i]encourage one another in love and ^(AV)good deeds, ²⁵ not abandoning our own ^(AW)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but ^(AX)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see ^(AY)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

²⁶ For if we go on ^(AZ)sinning willfully after receiving ^(BA)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of ^(BB)judgment and ^(BC)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. ^28 (BD)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ^29 (BE)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve ^(BF)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean ^(BG)the blood of the covenant ^(BH)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(BI)insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “^(BJ)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “^(BK)The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a ^(BL)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the ^(BM)living God.

³² But remember ^(BN)the former days, ^[j]when, after being ^(BO)enlightened, you endured a great ^(BP)conflict of sufferings, ³³ partly by being ^(BQ)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming ^[k](BR)companions with those who were so treated. ³⁴ For you ^(BS)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted ^(BT)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves ^(BU)a better and lasting possession. ³⁵ Therefore, do not throw away your ^(BV)confidence, which has a great ^(BW)reward. ³⁶ For you have need of ^(BX)endurance, so that when you have ^(BY)done the will of God, you may ^(BZ)receive ^[l]what was promised.

³⁹ But ^[m]we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.

The Triumphs of Faith

11 Now faith is the ^(CD)certainty of things ^[n](CE)hoped for, a ^[o]proof of ^(CF)things not seen. ² For by it the ^(CG)people of old ^[p](CH)gained approval.

³ By faith we understand that the ^[q](CI)world has been created ^(CJ)by the word of God so that what is seen ^(CK)has not been made out of things that are visible. ⁴ By faith ^(CL)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was ^(CM)attested to be righteous, God testifying ^[r]about his ^(CN)gifts, and through ^[s]faith, though ^(CO)he is dead, he still speaks. ⁵ By faith ^(CP)Enoch was taken up so that he would not ^(CQ)see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who ^(CR)comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. ⁷ By faith ^(CS)Noah, being ^(CT)warned by God about ^(CU)things not yet seen, ^[t](CV)in reverence ^(CW)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ^(CX)the righteousness which is according to faith.

⁸ By faith ^(CY)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed ^[u]by going out to a place which he was to ^(CZ)receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived as a stranger in ^(DA)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^(DB)living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(DC)fellow heirs of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he was looking for ^(DD)the city which has ^(DE)foundations, ^(DF)whose architect and builder is God. ¹¹ By faith even ^(DG)Sarah herself received ^[v]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him ^(DH)faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore even from one man, and ^(DI)one who was as good as dead ^[w]at that, there were born descendants who were ^(DJ)just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

^13 (DK)All these died in faith, ^(DL)without receiving the promises, but ^(DM)having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and ^(DN)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. ¹⁵ And indeed if they had been ^[x]thinking of that country which they left, ^(DO)they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a ^(DP)heavenly one. Therefore ^(DQ)God is not ^[y]ashamed to be ^(DR)called their God; for ^(DS)He has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith ^(DT)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had ^(DU)received the promises was offering up his ^[z]only son; ¹⁸ it was he to whom it was said, “^(DV)Through Isaac your ^[aa]descendants shall be named.” ^19 [ab]He considered that ^(DW)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back ^[ac]as a ^[ad](DX)type. ²⁰ By faith ^(DY)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. ²¹ By faith ^(DZ)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(EA)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. ²² By faith ^(EB)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

²³ By faith ^(EC)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the ^(ED)king’s edict. ²⁴ By faith Moses, ^(EE)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to ^(EF)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, ^26 (EG)considering the ^[ae]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ^(EH)reward. ²⁷ By faith he ^(EI)left Egypt, not ^(EJ)fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though ^(EK)seeing Him who is unseen. ²⁸ By faith he ^[af](EL)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ^(EM)the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. ²⁹ By faith they ^(EN)passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were ^[ag]drowned.

³⁰ By faith ^(EO)the walls of Jericho fell down ^[ah](EP)after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. ³¹ By faith the prostitute ^(EQ)Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies ^[ai]in peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^(ER)Gideon, ^(ES)Barak, ^(ET)Samson, ^(EU)Jephthah, of ^(EV)David and ^(EW)Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who by faith ^(EX)conquered kingdoms, ^(EY)performed acts of righteousness, ^(EZ)obtained promises, ^(FA)shut the mouths of lions, ^34 (FB)quenched the power of fire, ^(FC)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ^(FD)became mighty in war, ^(FE)put foreign armies to flight. ^35 (FF)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their ^[aj]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; ³⁶ and others ^[ak]experienced mocking and flogging, and further, ^(FG)chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were ^(FH)stoned, they were sawn in two, ^[al]they were tempted, they were ^(FI)put to death with the sword; they went about ^(FJ)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(FK)tormented ³⁸ (people of whom the world was not worthy), ^(FL)wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes ^[am]in the ground.

³⁹ And all these, having ^(FM)gained approval through their faith, ^(FN)did not receive ^[an]what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had ^[ao]provided ^(FO)something better for us, so that ^(FP)apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Jesus, the Example

12 Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s ^(FQ)rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s ^(FR)run with ^(FS)endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking only at Jesus, the ^[ap](FT)originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him ^(FU)endured the cross, ^(FV)despising the shame, and has ^(FW)sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ For ^(FX)consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary ^[aq](FY)and lose heart.

A Father’s Discipline

^4 (FZ)You have not yet resisted ^[ar](GA)to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; ⁵ and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

⁷ It is for discipline that you endure; ^(GF)God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, ^(GG)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we had ^[as]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we ^(GH)respected them; shall we not much more be subject to ^(GI)the Father of ^[at]spirits, and ^(GJ)live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, ^(GK)so that we may share His holiness. ^11 (GL)For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the ^(GM)peaceful fruit of righteousness.

¹² Therefore, ^[au](GN)strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, ¹³ and ^(GO)make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is impaired may not be dislocated, but rather ^(GP)be healed.

^14 (GQ)Pursue peace with all people, and the ^(GR)holiness without which no one will ^(GS)see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one ^(GT)comes short of the grace of God; that no ^(GU)root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become ^(GV)defiled; ¹⁶ that there be no ^(GW)sexually immoral or ^(GX)godless person like Esau, ^(GY)who sold his own birthright for a single meal. ¹⁷ For you know that even afterward, ^(GZ)when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.

Contrast of Sinai and Zion

^18 (HA)For you have not come to ^(HB)a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, ¹⁹ and to the ^(HC)blast of a trumpet and the ^(HD)sound of words, which sound was such that those who heard ^(HE)begged that no further word be spoken to them. ²⁰ For they could not ^[av]cope with the command, “^(HF)If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” ²¹ And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “^(HG)I am terrified and trembling.” ²² But ^(HH)you have come to Mount Zion and to ^(HI)the city of ^(HJ)the living God, ^(HK)the heavenly Jerusalem, and to ^(HL)myriads of ^[aw]angels, ²³ to the general assembly and ^(HM)church of the firstborn who ^(HN)are enrolled in heaven, and to God, ^(HO)the Judge of all, and to the ^(HP)spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, the ^(HQ)mediator of a new covenant, and to the ^(HR)sprinkled blood, which speaks better than ^(HS)the blood of Abel.

The Unshaken Kingdom

^25 (HT)See to it that you do not refuse Him who is ^(HU)speaking. For ^(HV)if those did not escape when they ^(HW)refused him who ^(HX)warned them on earth, ^[ax]much less will we escape who turn away from Him who ^(HY)warns us from heaven. ²⁶ And ^(HZ)His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “^(IA)Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” ²⁷ This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes ^(IB)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 ^(IC)kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s ^[ay]show gratitude, by which we may ^(ID)offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; ²⁹ for ^(IE)our God is a consuming fire.

The Changeless Christ

13 Let ^(IF)love of the brothers and sisters continue. ² Do not neglect ^(IG)hospitality to strangers, for by this some have ^(IH)entertained angels without knowing it. ^3 (II)Remember ^(IJ)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. ^4 (IK)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; ^(IL)for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. ⁵ Make sure that your character is ^(IM)free from the love of money, ^(IN)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “^(IO)I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” ⁶ so that we confidently say,

⁷ Remember ^(IQ)those who led you, who spoke ^(IR)the word of God to you; and considering the ^[az]result of their way of life, ^(IS)imitate their faith. ^8 (IT)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. ^9 (IU)Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to ^(IV)be strengthened by grace, not by ^(IW)foods, ^(IX)through which those who ^[ba]were so occupied were not benefited. ¹⁰ We have an altar ^(IY)from which those ^(IZ)who serve the ^[bb]tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For ^(JA)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also suffered ^(JB)outside the gate, ^(JC)that He might sanctify the people ^(JD)through His own blood. ¹³ So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, ^(JE)bearing His reproach. ¹⁴ For here ^(JF)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking ^(JG)the city which is to come.

God-pleasing Sacrifices

^15 (JH)Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a ^(JI)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(JJ)the fruit of lips praising His name. ¹⁶ And do not neglect doing good and ^(JK)sharing, for ^(JL)with such sacrifices God is pleased.

^17 (JM)Obey your leaders and submit to them—for ^(JN)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not ^[bc]groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.

^18 (JO)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a ^(JP)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. ¹⁹ And I urge you all the more to do this, ^(JQ)so that I may be restored to you more quickly.

Benediction

²⁰ Now may ^(JR)the God of peace, who ^(JS)brought up from the dead the ^(JT)great Shepherd of the sheep ^[bd]through ^(JU)the blood of the ^(JV)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, ^21 (JW)equip you in every good thing to do His will, ^(JX)working in us that ^(JY)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, ^(JZ)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

²² But ^(KA)I urge you, ^(KB)brothers and sisters, ^[be]listen patiently to ^[bf]this ^(KC)word of exhortation, for ^(KD)I have written to you briefly. ²³ Know that ^(KE)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. ²⁴ Greet ^(KF)all of your leaders and all the ^[bg](KG)saints. Those from ^(KH)Italy greet you.

^25 (KI)Grace be with you all.