The New Priestly Service

Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, (A)who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of (B)the [a]sanctuary and of (C)the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

For (D)every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore (E)it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; who serve (F)the copy and (G)shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, (H)“See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” But now (I)He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a (J)better covenant, which was established on better promises.

A New Covenant(K)

For if that (L)first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: (M)“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the (N)Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and (O)I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 (P)None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the (Q)Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, (R)and their sins [b]and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

13 (S)In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Earthly Sanctuary(T)

Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and (U)the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the [c]sanctuary; (V)and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the (W)golden censer and (X)the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were (Y)the golden pot that had the manna, (Z)Aaron’s rod that budded, and (AA)the tablets of the covenant; and (AB)above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Limitations of the Earthly Service

Now when these things had been thus prepared, (AC)the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. But into the second part the high priest went alone (AD)once a year, not without blood, which he offered for (AE)himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that (AF)the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered (AG)which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with (AH)foods and drinks, (AI)various [d]washings, (AJ)and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

11 But Christ came as High Priest of (AK)the good things [e]to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not (AL)with the blood of goats and calves, but (AM)with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place (AN)once for all, (AO)having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if (AP)the blood of bulls and goats and (AQ)the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, [f]sanctifies for the [g]purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without [h]spot to God, (AR)cleanse your conscience from (AS)dead works (AT)to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason (AU)He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that (AV)those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

The Mediator’s Death Necessary

16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For (AW)a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 (AX)Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every [i]precept to all the people according to the law, (AY)he took the blood of calves and goats, (AZ)with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, (BA)“This is the (BB)blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise (BC)he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are [j]purified with blood, and (BD)without shedding of blood there is no [k]remission.

Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

23 Therefore it was necessary that (BE)the copies of the things in the heavens should be [l]purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For (BF)Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are [m]copies of (BG)the true, but into heaven itself, now (BH)to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as (BI)the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 (BJ)And as it is appointed for men to die once, (BK)but after this the judgment, 28 so (BL)Christ was (BM)offered once to bear the sins (BN)of many. To those who (BO)eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a (BP)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, (BQ)can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once [n]purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For (BR)it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will(BS)

Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

(BT)“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”

Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, [o]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 (BU)By that will we have been [p]sanctified (BV)through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

11 And every priest stands (BW)ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 (BX)But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down (BY)at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting (BZ)till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being [q]sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 (CA)“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, (CB)“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is [r]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast Your Confession

19 Therefore, brethren, having (CC)boldness[s] to enter (CD)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and (CE)living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us (CF)draw near with a true heart (CG)in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for (CH)He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 (CI)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and (CJ)so much the more as you see (CK)the Day approaching.

The Just Live by Faith

26 For (CL)if we sin willfully (CM)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there (CN)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and (CO)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three (CP)witnesses. 29 (CQ)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, (CR)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, (CS)and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, (CT)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [t]says the Lord. And again, (CU)“The Lord will judge His people.” 31 (CV)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But (CW)recall the former days in which, after you were [u]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made (CX)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while (CY)you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on [v]me (CZ)in my chains, and (DA)joyfully accepted the plundering of your [w]goods, knowing that (DB)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves [x]in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, (DC)which has great reward. 36 (DD)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, (DE)you may receive the promise:

37 “For (DF)yet a little while,
And (DG)He[y] who is coming will come and will not [z]tarry.
38 Now (DH)the[aa] just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those (DI)who draw back to [ab]perdition, but of those who (DJ)believe to the saving of the soul.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:2 Lit. holies
  2. Hebrews 8:12 NU omits and their lawless deeds
  3. Hebrews 9:2 holy place, lit. holies
  4. Hebrews 9:10 Lit. baptisms
  5. Hebrews 9:11 NU that have come
  6. Hebrews 9:13 sets apart
  7. Hebrews 9:13 cleansing
  8. Hebrews 9:14 blemish
  9. Hebrews 9:19 command
  10. Hebrews 9:22 cleansed
  11. Hebrews 9:22 forgiveness
  12. Hebrews 9:23 cleansed
  13. Hebrews 9:24 representations
  14. Hebrews 10:2 cleansed
  15. Hebrews 10:9 NU, M omit O God
  16. Hebrews 10:10 set apart
  17. Hebrews 10:14 set apart
  18. Hebrews 10:18 forgiveness
  19. Hebrews 10:19 confidence
  20. Hebrews 10:30 NU omits says the Lord
  21. Hebrews 10:32 enlightened
  22. Hebrews 10:34 NU the prisoners instead of me in my chains
  23. Hebrews 10:34 possessions
  24. Hebrews 10:34 NU omits in heaven
  25. Hebrews 10:37 Or that which
  26. Hebrews 10:37 delay
  27. Hebrews 10:38 NU My just one
  28. Hebrews 10:39 destruction

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