¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(A) and the ashes of a heifer^(B) 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^(A) offered himself^(B) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(C) from acts that lead to death,^[a](D) so that we may serve the living God!^(E)

¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^{(A) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(B) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(C) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(D) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[a](E) 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,^(F) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(G)

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(H) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.