1 To prove more certainly that the ceremonies of the Law are abrogated, 5 he showeth that they were appointed to serve the heavenly pattern. 8 He bringeth in the place of Jeremiah, 13 to prove the amendment of the old covenant.

Now [a]of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum, that we have such an high Priest, that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heavens,

[b]And is a minister of the [c]Sanctuary, [d]and of that [e]true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not man.

[f]For every high Priest is ordained to offer both gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it was of necessity, that this man should have somewhat also to offer.

[g]For he were not a Priest, if he were on the earth, seeing there are Priests that according to the Law offer gifts,

Who serve unto the pattern and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was warned by God when he was about to finish the Tabernacle. (A)See, said he, that thou make all things according to the pattern, showed to thee in the mount.

[h]But now our high Priest hath obtained a more excellent office, inasmuch as he is the Mediator of a better Testament, which is established upon better promises.

[i]For if that first Testament had been unblameable, no place should have been sought for the second.

For in rebuking them he saith, (B)Behold, the days will come, saith the Lord, when I shall make with the [j]house of Israel, and with the house of Judah a new Testament:

Not like the Testament that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand, to lead them out of the land of Egypt: for they continued not in my Testament, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

10 For this is the Testament that I will make with the house of Israel, After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my Laws in their mind, and in their heart I will write them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the 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, and I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.

13 [k]In that he saith a new Testament, he hath abrogated the old: now that which is disannulled and waxed old, is ready to vanish away.

2 Comparing the form of the Tabernacle, 10 and the ceremonies of the Law, 11 unto the truth set out in Christ, 15 he concludeth that now there is no more need of another Priest, 24 because Christ himself had fulfilled these duties under the new covenant.

Then [l]the first Testament had also ordinances of religion, and a [m]worldly Sanctuary,

For the first Tabernacle was made, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread, which Tabernacle is called the Holy places.

And after the [n]second veil was the Tabernacle, which is called the [o]Holiest of all,

Which had the golden censer, and the Ark of the Testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein the golden pot, which had Manna, was, and (C)Aaron’s rod that had budded, and the (D)tables of the Testament.

(E)And over the Ark were the glorious Cherubims, shadowing the [p]mercy seat: of which things we will not now speak particularly.

[q]Now when these things were thus ordained, the Priest went always into the first Tabernacle, and accomplished the service.

But into the second went the (F)high Priest alone, once every year, not without blood which he offered for himself, and for the [r]ignorances of the people.

[s]Whereby the holy Ghost this signified, that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet opened, while as yet the first tabernacle was standing,

[t]Which was a figure [u]for that present time, wherein were offered gifts and sacrifices that could not make holy, concerning the conscience, him that did the service,

10 [v]Which only stood in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal rites, [w]which were enjoined, until the time of reformation.

11 [x]But Christ being come an high Priest of good things to come, [y]by a [z]greater and a more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this building,

12 [aa]Neither by the blood of [ab]goats and calves: but by his own blood entered he in once unto the holy place, and obtained eternal redemption for us.

13 (G)[ac]For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling them that are unclean, sanctifieth as touching the [ad]purifying of the flesh,

14 How much more shall the (H)blood of Christ which through the eternal Spirit offered himself without fault to God, (I)purge your conscience from [ae]dead works, to serve the living God?

15 [af]And for this cause is he the Mediator of the new Testament, that through (J)death which was for the redemption of the transgressions that were in the former Testament, they which were called, might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 [ag]For where a Testament is, there must be the death of him that made the Testament.

17 (K)For the Testament is confirmed when men are dead: for it is yet of no force as long as he that made it, is alive.

18 [ah]Wherefore, neither was the first ordained without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to the people, [ai]according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and purple wool and hyssop, and [aj]sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 (L)Saying, This is the blood of the Testament, which God hath appointed unto you.

21 Moreover, he sprinkled likewise the Tabernacle with blood also, and all the ministering vessels,

22 And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 It was then necessary, that the [ak]similitudes of heavenly things should be purified with such things: but the heavenly things themselves are purified with better sacrifices than are these.

24 [al]For Christ is not entered into the holy places that are made with hands, which are similitudes of the true Sanctuary: but is entered into very heaven, to appear now in the sight of God for us,

25 [am]Not that he should offer himself often, as the high Priest entered into the Holy place every year with others’ blood,

26 [an](For then must he have often suffered since the foundation of the world) but now in the [ao]end of the world hath he been made manifest, once to put away [ap]sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men that they shall [aq]once die, and after that cometh the judgment:

28 So (M)Christ was once offered to take away the sins of [ar]many, [as]and unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

10 1 He proveth that the sacrifices of the Law were imperfect, 2 because they were yearly renewed. 5 But that the sacrifice of Christ is one, and perpetual, 6 he proveth by David’s testimony: 19 Then he addeth an exhortation, 29 and severely threateneth them that reject the grace of Christ. 36 In the end he praiseth patience, 38 that cometh of faith.

For [at]the law having the shadow of good things to [au]come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, sanctify the comers thereunto.

For would they not then have ceased to have been offered, because that the offerers once purged, should have had no more conscience of sins?

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again of sins every year.

For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

[av]Wherefore when he [aw]cometh into the world, he saith, (N)Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not: but a [ax]body hast thou ordained me.

In burnt offerings, and sin offerings thou hast had no pleasure.

Then I said, Lo, I come (in the beginning of the book it is written of me) that I should do thy will, O God.

Above, when he said, Sacrifice and offering, and burnt offerings, and sin offerings, thou wouldest not have, neither hadst pleasure therein (which are offered by the Law.)

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God, he taketh away the [ay]first, that he may stablish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified, even by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once made.

11 [az]And every Priest [ba]standeth daily ministering, and ofttimes offereth one manner of offering, which can never take away sins:

12 But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, (O)sitteth forever at the right hand of God,

13 [bb]And from henceforth tarrieth, (P)till his enemies be made his footstool.

14 For with one offering hath he consecrated forever them that are sanctified.

15 [bc]For the holy Ghost also beareth us record: for after that he had said before,

16 (Q)This is the Testament that I will make unto them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my Laws in their heart, and in their minds I will write them.

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember [bd]no more.

18 Now where remission of these things is, there is no more offering for [be]sin.

19 [bf]Seeing therefore, brethren, that by the blood of Jesus we may be bold to enter into the Holy place,

20 By the new and living way, which he hath prepared for us, through the veil, that is, his [bg]flesh:

21 And seeing we have an high Priest, which is over the house of God,

22 [bh]Let us draw near with a [bi]true heart in assurance of faith, our [bj]hearts being pure from an evil conscience,

23 And washed in our bodies with [bk]pure water, let us keep the profession of our hope, without wavering, (for he is faithful that promised.)

24 And let us consider one another, to provoke unto love, and to good works,

25 Not forsaking the fellowship that we have among ourselves, as the manner of some is: but let us exhort one another, [bl]and that so much the more, because ye see that the day draweth near.

26 (R)For if we sin [bm]willingly after that we have received and acknowledged that truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a fearful looking for of judgment, and violent fire, which shall devour the [bn]adversaries.

28 [bo]He that despiseth Moses’ Law, dieth without mercy (S)under two, or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be worthy, which treadeth under foot the Son of God, and counteth the blood of the Testament as an unholy thing, wherewith he was sanctified, and doeth despite the Spirit of grace?

30 [bp]For we know him that hath said, (T)Vengeance belongeth unto me: I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall [bq]judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:1 He briefly repeateth that, whereunto all these things are to be referred, to wit, we have a far other high Priest than those Levitical high Priests are, even such an one as sitteth at the right hand of the most high God in heaven.
  2. Hebrews 8:2 They of Levi were high Priests in an earthly sanctuary, but Christ is in the heavenly.
  3. Hebrews 8:2 Of heaven.
  4. Hebrews 8:2 They of Levi exercised their Priesthood in a frail tabernacle, but Christ beareth about with him a far other tabernacle, to wit, his body which God himself made to be everlasting, as it shall afterward be declared, Heb. 9:11.
  5. Hebrews 8:2 Of his body.
  6. Hebrews 8:3 He bringeth a reason why it must needs be that Christ should have a body (which he calleth a tabernacle which the Lord pight and not man) to wit, that he might have what to offer: for otherwise he could not be an high Priest. And the selfsame body is both the tabernacle and the sacrifice.
  7. Hebrews 8:4 He giveth a reason why he said that our high Priest is in the heavenly sanctuary and not in the earthly: because, saith he, if he were now on the earth, he could not minister in the earthly sanctuary, seeing there are yet Levitical Priests, which are appointed for him, that is to say, to be patterns of that perfect example. And to what purpose should the patterns serve when the true and original example is present.
  8. Hebrews 8:6 He entereth into the comparison of the old and transitory Testament or covenant being but for a time, whereof the Levitical Priests were mediators with the new the everlasting Mediator whereof is Christ, to show that this is not only better than that in all respects, but also that that was abrogated by this.
  9. Hebrews 8:7 He proveth by the testimony of Jeremiah, that there is a second Testament or covenant, and therefore that the first was not perfect.
  10. Hebrews 8:8 He calleth it an house, as it were one family of the whole kingdom: for whereas the kingdom of David was divided into two factions, the Prophet giveth us to understand that through the new Testament they shall be joined together again in one.
  11. Hebrews 8:13 The conclusion: Therefore by the latter and the new, the first and old is taken away, for it could not be called new if it differed not from the old. And again that same is at length taken away: which is subject to corruption, and therefore imperfect.
  12. Hebrews 9:1 A division of the first Tabernacle which he calleth worldly, that is to say, transitory and earthly into two parts, to wit, into the holy places and the Holiest of all.
  13. Hebrews 9:1 An earthy and a flitting.
  14. Hebrews 9:3 He calleth it the second veil, not because there were two veils, but because it was behind the Sanctuary or the first Tabernacle.
  15. Hebrews 9:3 The holiest Sanctuary.
  16. Hebrews 9:5 The Hebrews call the cover of the Ark of the covenant, the mercy seat, whom both the Greeks and we follow.
  17. Hebrews 9:6 Now he cometh to the sacrifices which he divideth into those daily sacrifices, and that yearly and solemn sacrifice, with the which the high Priest only, but once every year entering into the Holiest of all with blood, offered for himself and the people.
  18. Hebrews 9:7 For the sins. See Heb. 5:2.
  19. Hebrews 9:8 Of that yearly rite and ceremony he gathereth that the way was not by such sacrifices opened into heaven, which was shadowed by the Holiest of all. For why did the high Priest alone enter in thither, shutting out all other, and that to offer sacrifices there both for himself and for others, and after did shut the Holiest of all again?
  20. Hebrews 9:9 An objection: If the way were not opened into heaven by those sacrifices (that is to say, If the worshippers were not purged by them) why then were those ceremonies used? to wit, that men might be called back to that spiritual example, that is to say, to Christ, who should correct all those things at his coming.
  21. Hebrews 9:9 For that time that that figure had to last.
  22. Hebrews 9:10 Another reason why they could not make clean the conscience of the worshipper, to wit, because they were outward and carnal or corporal things.
  23. Hebrews 9:10 For they were as you would say a burden, from which Christ delivered us.
  24. Hebrews 9:11 Now he entereth into the declaration of the figures, and first of all comparing the Levitical high Priest with Christ, (that is to say, the figure with the thing itself) he attributeth to Christ the administration of good things to come, that is, everlasting, which those carnal things had respect unto.
  25. Hebrews 9:11 Another comparison of the first corruptible Tabernacle with the latter (that is to say, with the human nature of Christ) which is the true incorruptible Temple of God, whereinto which the Son of GOD entered, as the Levitical high Priests into the other which was frail and transitory.
  26. Hebrews 9:11 By a more excellent and better.
  27. Hebrews 9:12 Another comparison of the blood of sacrifices with Christ. The Levitical high Priests entering by their holy places into the Sanctuary, offered corruptible blood for one year only: but Christ entering into that holy body of his, entered by it into heaven itself, offering his own most pure blood for an everlasting redemption: For one selfsame Christ answereth both to the high Priest, and the Tabernacle, and the sacrifices, and offering themselves, as the truth to the figures, so that Christ is both the high Priest, and Tabernacle, and Sacrifice, yea, all these both truly, and forever.
  28. Hebrews 9:12 For in this yearly sacrifice of reconciliation, there were two kinds of sacrifices, the one a goat, the other a heifer, or calf.
  29. Hebrews 9:13 If the outward sprinkling of blood and ashes of beasts, was a true and effectual sign of purifying and cleansing, how much more shall the thing itself and the truth being present, which in times past was shadowed by those external Sacraments, that is to say, his blood which is in such sort man’s blood, that is also the blood of the Son of God, and therefore hath an everlasting virtue of purifying and cleansing, does it?
  30. Hebrews 9:13 He considereth the signs apart, being separate from the thing itself.
  31. Hebrews 9:14 From sins which proceed from death, and bring forth nothing but death.
  32. Hebrews 9:15 The conclusion of the former argument: therefore seeing the blood of beasts did not purge sins, the new Testament which was before time promised, whereunto those outward things had respect, is now indeed established, by the virtue whereof all transgressions might be taken away, and heaven indeed opened unto us: whereof it followeth that Christ shed his blood also for the Fathers: For he was shadowed by those old ceremonies, otherwise, unless they had served to represent him, they had been nothing at all profitable. Therefore this Testament is called the latter, not concerning the virtue of it, (that is to say, remission of sins) but in respect of that time, wherein the thing itself was finished, that is to say, wherein Christ was indeed exhibited to the world, and fulfilled all things which were necessary to our salvation.
  33. Hebrews 9:16 A reason why the Testament must be established by the death of the Mediator, because this Testament hath the condition of a Testament or gift, which is made effectual by death, and therefore that it might be effectual, it must needs be that he that made the Testament, should die.
  34. Hebrews 9:18 There must be a proportion between those things which purify, and those which are purified: Under the Law all those figures were earthly, the Tabernacle, the book, the vessels, the sacrifices, although they were the figures of heavenly things. Therefore it was requisite that all those should be purified with some matter and ceremony of the same nature, to wit, with the blood of beasts, with water, wool, hyssop. But under Christ all things are heavenly, an heavenly tabernacle, an heavenly sacrifice, an heavenly people, an heavenly doctrine, and heaven itself is set open before us for an eternal habitation. Therefore all these things are sanctified in like sort, to wit, with the everlasting offering of the quickening blood of Christ.
  35. Hebrews 9:19 As the Lord had commanded.
  36. Hebrews 9:19 He useth to sprinkle.
  37. Hebrews 9:23 The similitudes of heavenly things were earthly, and therefore they were to be set forth with earthly things, as with the blood of beasts, and wool, and hyssop. But under Christ all things are heavenly, and therefore they could not but be sanctified with the offering of his lively blood.
  38. Hebrews 9:24 Another double comparison: the Levitical high Priest entered into the Sanctuary, which was made indeed by the commandment of God, but yet with men’s hands, that it might be a pattern of another more excellent, to wit, of the heavenly place. But Christ entered even into heaven itself. Again, he appeared before the Ark, but Christ before God the Father himself.
  39. Hebrews 9:25 Another double comparison: the Levitical high Priest offered other blood, but Christ offered his own: he every year once iterated his offering: Christ offering himself but once, abolished sin altogether, both of the former ages and of the ages to come.
  40. Hebrews 9:26 An argument to prove that Christ’s offering ought not to be repeated: Seeing that sins were to be purged from the beginning of the world, and it is proved that sins cannot be purged, but by the only blood of Christ: he must needs have died oftentimes since the beginning of the world. But a man can die but once: therefore Christ’s oblation which was once done in the latter days, neither could nor can be repeated. Seeing then it is so, surely the virtue of it extendeth both to sins that were before, and to sins that are after his coming.
  41. Hebrews 9:26 In the latter days.
  42. Hebrews 9:26 That whole root of sin.
  43. Hebrews 9:27 He speaketh of the natural state and condition of man: For as for Lazarus and certain others that died twice, that was no usual thing but extraordinary, and for them that shall be changed, their changing is a kind of death, 1 Cor. 15:51.
  44. Hebrews 9:28 Thus the general promise is restrained to the elect only: and we have to seek the testimony of our election: not in the secret counsel of God, but in the effects that our faith worketh, and so we must climb up from the lowest step to the highest, there to find such comfort as is most certain, and shall never be moved.
  45. Hebrews 9:28 Shortly by the way he setteth out Christ as Judge, partly to terrify them, which do not rest themselves in the only oblation of Christ once made, and partly to keep the faithful in their duty, that they will go not back.
  46. Hebrews 10:1 He preventeth a privy objection. Why then were those sacrifices offered? The Apostle answereth first touching that yearly sacrifice which was the solemnest of all, wherein (saith he) there was made every year a remembrance again of all former sins. Therefore that sacrifice had no power to sanctify: for to what purpose should those sins which are purged be repeated again, and wherefore should new sins come to be repeated every year, if those sacrifices did abolish sin?
  47. Hebrews 10:1 Of things which are everlasting, which were promised to the Fathers, and exhibited in Christ.
  48. Hebrews 10:5 A conclusion following of those things that went before, and comprehending also the other sacrifices. Seeing that the sacrifices of the Law could not do it, therefore Christ speaking of himself as of our high Priest manifested in the flesh, witnesseseth evidently that God resteth not in the sacrifices, but in the obedience of his Son our high Priest, in which obedience he offered up himself once to his Father for us.
  49. Hebrews 10:5 The Son of God is said to come into the world, when he was made man.
  50. Hebrews 10:5 It is word for word in the Hebrew text, Thou hast pierced mine ears through, that is, thou hast made me obedient, and willing to hear.
  51. Hebrews 10:9 That is the sacrifices, to establish the second, that is, the will of God.
  52. Hebrews 10:11 A conclusion, with the other part of the comparison. The Levitical high Priest repeateth the same sacrifices daily in his sanctuary: whereupon which it followeth that neither those sacrifices, neither those offerings, neither those high Priests could take away sins. But Christ, having offered one sacrifice once for the sins of all men, and having sanctified his own forever, sitteth at the right hand of the Father, having all power in his hands.
  53. Hebrews 10:11 At the altar.
  54. Hebrews 10:13 He preventeth a privy objection, to wit, that yet notwithstanding we are subject to sin and death, whereunto the Apostle answereth, that the full efficacy of Christ’s virtue hath not yet showed itself, but shall at length appear when he will at once put to flight all his enemies, with whom as yet we strive.
  55. Hebrews 10:15 Although there do yet remain in us relics of sin, yet the work of our sanctification which is to be perfected, hangeth upon the selfsame sacrifice which never shall be repeated: and that the Apostle proveth by alledging again the testimonies of Jeremiah, thus, Sin is taken away by the new Testament, seeing the Lord saith that it shall come to pass, that according to the form of it, he will no more remember our sins: Therefore we need now no purging sacrifice to take away that which is already taken away, but we must rather take pains, that we may now through faith be partakers of that sacrifice.
  56. Hebrews 10:17 Why then, where is the fire of Purgatory, and that Popish distinction of the fault and the punishment?
  57. Hebrews 10:18 He said well, for sin: for there remaineth another offering, to wit, of thanksgiving.
  58. Hebrews 10:19 The sum of the former treatise: We are not shut out now of the holy place, as the Fathers were, but we have an entrance into the true holy place (that is, into heaven) seeing that we are purged with the blood not of beasts, but of Jesus. Neither as in times past, doth the high Priest shut us out by setting the veil against us, but through the veil, which is his flesh, he hath brought us into heaven itself, being present with us, so that we have now truly an high Priest, which is over the house of God.
  59. Hebrews 10:20 So Christ’s flesh showeth us the Godhead as it were under a veil, for otherwise we were not able to abide the brightness of it.
  60. Hebrews 10:22 A most grave exhortation, wherein which he showeth how that sacrifice of Christ may be applied to us: to wit, by faith, which also he describeth, by the consequence, to wit, by sanctification of the Spirit, which causeth us surely to hope in God, and to procure by all means possible one another’s salvation, through the love that is in us one toward another.
  61. Hebrews 10:22 With no double and counterfeit heart, but with such an heart as is truly and indeed given to God.
  62. Hebrews 10:22 This is it which the Lord saith, Be ye holy, for I am holy.
  63. Hebrews 10:23 With the grace of the holy Ghost.
  64. Hebrews 10:25 Having mentioned the last coming of Christ, he stirreth up the godly to the meditation of an holy life, and cites the faithless fallers from God, to the fearful judgment seat of the judge, because they wickedly rejected him in whom only salvation consisteth.
  65. Hebrews 10:26 Without any cause or occasion, or show of occasion.
  66. Hebrews 10:27 For it is another matter to sin through the frailty of man’s nature, and another thing to proclaim war as it were to God as to an enemy.
  67. Hebrews 10:28 If the breach of the Law of Moses was punished by death, how much more worthy death is it to fall away from Christ?
  68. Hebrews 10:30 The reason of all these things is, because God is a revenger of such as despise him: otherwise he should not rightly govern his Church. Now there is nothing more horrible then the wrath of the living God.
  69. Hebrews 10:30 Rule or govern.

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