A Better Ministry

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a (A)high priest, who has taken His seat at (B)the right hand of the throne of the (C)Majesty in the heavens, a (D)minister [a]in the sanctuary and [b]in the (E)true [c]tabernacle, which the Lord (F)set up, not man. For every (G)high priest is appointed (H)to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are [d]those who (I)offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve (J)a copy and (K)shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses [e]was (L)warned by God when he was about to erect the [f]tabernacle; for, “(M)See,” He says, “that you make all things by the pattern which was shown to you on the mountain.” But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the (N)mediator of (O)a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

A New Covenant

For (P)if that first covenant had been free of fault, no [g]circumstances would have been sought for a second. For in finding fault with [h]the people, He says,

(Q)Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,
[i]When I will bring about (R)a new covenant
With the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
(S)Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers
On the day I took them by the hand
To bring them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care about them, says the Lord.
10 (T)For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, declares the Lord:
[j]I will put My laws into their minds,
And write them (U)on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
11 (V)And they will not teach, each one his fellow citizen,
And each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
For (W)they will all know Me,
From [k]the least to the greatest of them.
12 (X)For I will be merciful toward their wrongdoings,
(Y)And their sins I will no longer remember.”

13 [l]When He said, “(Z)A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. (AA)But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is [m]about to disappear.

The Old and the New

Now even the first covenant had (AB)regulations for divine worship and (AC)the earthly sanctuary. For (AD)a [n]tabernacle was equipped, the [o]outer sanctuary, in which were (AE)the lampstand, (AF)the table, and (AG)the [p]sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. Behind (AH)the second veil there was a [q]tabernacle which is called the (AI)Most Holy Place, having a golden [r](AJ)altar of incense and (AK)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was (AL)a golden jar holding the manna, (AM)Aaron’s staff which budded, and (AN)the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the (AO)cherubim of glory (AP)overshadowing the [s]atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests (AQ)are continually entering the [t]outer [u]tabernacle, performing the divine worship, but into (AR)the second, only (AS)the high priest enters (AT)once a year, (AU)not without taking blood which he (AV)offers for himself and for the [v](AW)sins of the people committed in ignorance. (AX)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, (AY)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the [w]outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly (AZ)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which (BA)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to (BB)food, (BC)drink, and various (BD)washings, (BE)regulations for the [x]body imposed until (BF)a time of reformation.

11 But when Christ appeared as a (BG)high priest of the (BH)good things [y]having come, He entered through (BI)the greater and more perfect [z]tabernacle, (BJ)not made by hands, that is, (BK)not of this creation; 12 and not through (BL)the blood of goats and calves, but (BM)through His own blood, He (BN)entered the holy place (BO)once for all time, [aa]having obtained (BP)eternal redemption. 13 For if (BQ)the blood of goats and bulls, and (BR)the [ab]ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the [ac]cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will (BS)the blood of Christ, who through [ad](BT)the eternal Spirit (BU)offered Himself without blemish to God, (BV)cleanse your conscience from (BW)dead works to serve (BX)the living God?

15 For this reason (BY)He is the (BZ)mediator of a (CA)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been (CB)called may (CC)receive the promise of (CD)the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a [ae]covenant, there must of necessity [af]be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a [ag]covenant is valid only when people are dead, [ah]for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been (CE)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, (CF)he took the (CG)blood of the calves and the goats, with (CH)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both (CI)the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “(CJ)This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” 21 And in the same way he (CK)sprinkled both the [ai]tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And (CL)almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and (CM)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the (CN)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but (CO)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ (CP)did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of (CQ)the true one, but into (CR)heaven itself, now (CS)to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as (CT)the high priest enters (CU)the Holy Place (CV)year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since (CW)the foundation of the world; but now (CX)once at (CY)the consummation of the ages He has been (CZ)revealed to put away sin [aj](DA)by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as (DB)it is destined for people to die once, and after this (DC)comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been (DD)offered once to (DE)bear the sins of many, will appear (DF)a second time for (DG)salvation (DH)without reference to sin, to those who (DI)eagerly await Him.

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

10 For the Law, since it has only (DJ)a shadow of (DK)the good things to come and not the [ak]form of those things itself, [al]can (DL)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, (DM)make those who approach perfect. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had (DN)consciousness of sins? But (DO)in [am]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is (DP)impossible for the (DQ)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, (DR)when He comes into the world, He says,

(DS)You have not desired sacrifice and offering,
But (DT)You have prepared a body for Me;
(DU)You have not taken pleasure in whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin.
(DV)Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(It is written of Me in (DW)the scroll of the book)
To do Your will, O God.’”

After saying above, “(DX)Sacrifices and offerings and (DY)whole burnt offerings and offerings (DZ)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He [an]said, “(EA)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By [ao]this will, we have been (EB)sanctified through (EC)the offering of (ED)the body of Jesus Christ (EE)once for all time.

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and (EF)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which (EG)can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice (EH)for [ap]sins (EI)for all time, (EJ)sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward (EK)until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has (EL)perfected (EM)for all time those who are [aq]sanctified. 15 And (EN)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

16 (EO)This is the covenant which I will make with them
After those days, declares the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their hearts,
And write them on their mind,”

He then says,

17 (EP)And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will no longer remember.”

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 (EQ)have confidence to (ER)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by (ES)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through (ET)the veil, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have (EU)a great priest (EV)over the house of God, 22 let’s (EW)approach God with a [ar]sincere heart in (EX)full assurance of faith, having our hearts (EY)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies (EZ)washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the (FA)confession of our (FB)hope without wavering, for (FC)He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how (FD)to [as]encourage one another in love and (FE)good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own (FF)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but (FG)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see (FH)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

26 For if we go on (FI)sinning willfully after receiving (FJ)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of (FK)judgment and (FL)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 (FM)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 (FN)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve (FO)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean (FP)the blood of the covenant (FQ)by which he was sanctified, and has (FR)insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “(FS)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “(FT)The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a (FU)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the (FV)living God.

32 But remember (FW)the former days, [at]when, after being (FX)enlightened, you endured a great (FY)conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being (FZ)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming [au](GA)companions with those who were so treated. 34 For you (GB)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted (GC)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves (GD)a better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your (GE)confidence, which has a great (GF)reward. 36 For you have need of (GG)endurance, so that when you have (GH)done the will of God, you may (GI)receive [av]what was promised.

37 (GJ)For yet in a very little while,
(GK)He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 (GL)But My righteous one will live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

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

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:2 Or of
  2. Hebrews 8:2 Or of
  3. Hebrews 8:2 Or sacred tent
  4. Hebrews 8:4 I.e., temple priests
  5. Hebrews 8:5 Lit has been
  6. Hebrews 8:5 Or sacred tent
  7. Hebrews 8:7 Lit place
  8. Hebrews 8:8 Lit them
  9. Hebrews 8:8 Lit And
  10. Hebrews 8:10 Lit Putting my laws into...
  11. Hebrews 8:11 Lit small to great of them
  12. Hebrews 8:13 Or In His saying
  13. Hebrews 8:13 Or near destruction
  14. Hebrews 9:2 Or sacred tent
  15. Hebrews 9:2 Lit first
  16. Hebrews 9:2 Lit loaves of presentation
  17. Hebrews 9:3 Or sacred tent
  18. Hebrews 9:4 Or censer
  19. Hebrews 9:5 Also called mercy seat; i.e., where blood was sprinkled on the Day of Atonement
  20. Hebrews 9:6 Lit first
  21. Hebrews 9:6 Or sacred tent
  22. Hebrews 9:7 Lit ignorance of the people
  23. Hebrews 9:8 Lit first
  24. Hebrews 9:10 Lit flesh
  25. Hebrews 9:11 One early ms to come
  26. Hebrews 9:11 Or sacred tent
  27. Hebrews 9:12 Or obtaining
  28. Hebrews 9:13 I.e., ashes mixed in water
  29. Hebrews 9:13 Lit purity
  30. Hebrews 9:14 Or His eternal spirit
  31. Hebrews 9:16 Or testament
  32. Hebrews 9:16 Lit be brought
  33. Hebrews 9:17 Or testament
  34. Hebrews 9:17 One early ms for is it then...lives?
  35. Hebrews 9:21 Or sacred tent
  36. Hebrews 9:26 Or by His sacrifice
  37. Hebrews 10:1 Lit image
  38. Hebrews 10:1 One early ms they can
  39. Hebrews 10:3 Lit them there is
  40. Hebrews 10:9 Lit has said
  41. Hebrews 10:10 Lit which
  42. Hebrews 10:12 Or sins, forever sat down
  43. Hebrews 10:14 Or being sanctified
  44. Hebrews 10:22 Lit true
  45. Hebrews 10:24 Or stir up
  46. Hebrews 10:32 Lit in which
  47. Hebrews 10:33 Or partners
  48. Hebrews 10:36 Lit the promise
  49. Hebrews 10:39 Lit we are not of shrinking back...but of faith

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