The Perfect Sacrifice

10 Since the law has only a shadow of the good things^(A) to come, and not the actual form of those realities, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. ² Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, once purified, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Therefore, as He was coming into the world, He said:

⁸ After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law^(C)), ⁹ He then says, See, I have come to do Your will.^[b] He takes away the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.^(D)

¹¹ Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins.^{(E) 12} But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.^{(F) 13} He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool.^{(G) 14} For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified. ¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after He says:

¹⁷ He adds:

¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Exhortations to Godliness

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus,^{(I) 20} by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh^(J)), ²¹ and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,^{(K) 22} let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.^{(L) 23} Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.^{(M) 24} And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, ²⁵ not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other,^(N) and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Warning against Deliberate Sin

²⁶ For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,^{(O) 27} but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.^{(P) 28} If anyone disregards Moses’ law, he dies without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.^{(Q) 29} How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, regarded as profane^[d] the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace?^{(R) 30} For we know the One who has said, Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay,^[e][f] and again, The Lord will judge His people.^{(S)[g] 31} It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!^(T)

³² Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.^{(U) 33} Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way.^{(V) 34} For you sympathized with the prisoners^[h] and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession.^{[i](W) 35} So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.^{(X) 36} For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.^(Y)

³⁹ But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.