The New Agreement

¹¹ But when Christ came as the high priest of the good things ·we now have^[a] [^Lthat have come], he entered the greater and more perfect ·tent [^Ttabernacle]. It is not made ·by humans [^Lwith hands] and does not belong to this ·world [creation; created order]. ¹² Christ entered the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary; ^Lholy things; ^THoly of Holies] ·only once—and for all time [^Lonce for all; 7:27; 10:10]. ·He did not take with him [^L…not by means of] the blood of goats and calves. ·His sacrifice was [^L…but by means of] his own blood, and by it he ·set us free from sin forever [^Lobtained/secured eternal redemption/liberation]. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls [Lev. 16:14–16] and the ashes of a ·cow [young cow; heifer; Num. 19:2, 17–18] are sprinkled on the people who are [^Critually] unclean, and this ·makes their bodies clean again [restores their body to ritual purity]. ¹⁴ How much more is done by the blood of Christ. He offered himself through the eternal ·Spirit [or spirit; ^Cmost likely the Holy Spirit, though possibly Christ’s own eternal spirit, or as a “spiritual” and eternal sacrifice] as a ·perfect [unblemished] sacrifice to God. His blood [^Csignifying his sacrificial death] will make our consciences ·pure [cleansed] from ·useless acts [or acts that lead to death; ^Ldead works; 6:1] so we may ·serve [worship; offer priestly service for] the living God.

¹⁵ For this reason Christ ·brings a new agreement from God to his people [^Lis the mediator of a new covenant/contract]. Those who are called by God can now receive the eternal ·blessings [inheritance] he has promised. They can have those things because Christ died to ·set them free [redeem them] from the ·sins [transgressions; violations] committed under the first agreement [covenant; contract].

¹⁰ We have a ·sacrifice [^Laltar], but the priests who serve in the ·Holy Tent [^TTabernacle] ·cannot [^Lhave no authority/right to] eat from it. ¹¹ The high priest carries the blood of animals into the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary; ^Lholy things; ^THoly of Holies] where he offers this blood for sins. But the bodies of the animals are burned outside the camp [Lev. 6:11]. ¹² So Jesus also suffered outside the ·city [^Lgate] to ·make his people holy [sanctify the people] ·with [through] his own blood. ¹³ So let us go to Jesus outside the camp, ·holding on as he did when we are abused [^Lbearing the abuse/humiliation he bore].

¹⁴ [^LFor] Here on earth we do not have a city that ·lasts forever [endures], but we are ·looking for [seeking] the city that ·we will have in the future [is to come]. ¹⁵ So through Jesus let us ·always [continuously] offer to God our sacrifice of praise, ·coming from [^Lwhich is the fruit of] lips that ·speak [profess; acknowledge] his name. ¹⁶ Do not ·forget [neglect] to do good to others, and share with them, because such sacrifices please God.

¹⁷ ·Obey [or Have confidence in] your leaders and ·act under [or submit to] their authority. [^LFor; Because] They are watching over you, because they ·are responsible [will give an account (to God)] for ·your souls [or you]. ·Obey them [Do this; Act this way] so that they will do this work with joy, not ·sadness [or complaint; groaning], for that would be of no ·benefit [advantage; help] to you.