完美的祭

10 既然律法带有那将要来的美好事物的影子,它不是那些事物的本像,就绝不能藉着年年不断地献上同样的祭物,使近前来的人得以完全。 否则,事奉的人因为一次性地被洁净,不再觉得有罪孽,难道不早就停止献祭了吗? 然而这些祭物使人年年都想起罪孽来, 因为公牛和山羊的血,不可能把罪孽除去。

所以,基督进入世界的时候,他说:

“神哪[a],祭物和供物不是你所希望的;
你为我预备了一个身体。
燔祭和赎罪祭不是你所喜悦的;
于是我说:‘看哪,我来了!
关于我的事,
经卷上已经记载了。
神哪,我来是要遵行你的旨意!’”[b]

上文说:祭物、供物、燔祭和赎罪祭不是你所希望的,也不是你所喜悦的,尽管这些都是照着律法献上的; 接着又说:“看哪[c],我来了!是要遵行你的旨意!”神废除前者,是为了确立后者。 10 我们凭着这旨意,藉着耶稣基督身体做供物,就已经一次性地被分别为圣了。

11 所有的祭司天天都站着服事,再三地献上同样的祭物,但这些祭物绝不能把罪孽除掉, 12 而这一位为赎罪孽献上了一个永远的祭物,就在神的右边坐下了, 13 此后一直等候他的敌人被放在他的脚下做脚凳。 14 事实上,他藉着一个供物,使那些被分别为圣的人永远得以完全。 15 圣灵也向我们做见证,因为他说过[d]

16 “主说:‘在那些日子以后,
我要与他们订立这样的约:
我要把我的法则放在他们的心上,
刻在他们的意念中。’”[e]

17 然后又说:

“我绝不再想起他们的罪孽和他们的罪恶[f]。”[g]

18 所以在哪里这些罪得了赦免,在哪里就不再有赎罪的供物了。

敬神的劝勉

19 因此,弟兄们,我们藉着耶稣的血,可以坦然无惧地进入至圣所。 20 他为我们开辟了一条又新又活的道路,从幔子经过;这幔子就是他的身体。 21 既然我们有一位伟大的祭司管理神的家, 22 既然我们的心被血[h]洒过,脱离了罪恶感,身体也被清水洗净了,就让我们怀着真诚的心,以确信不移的信仰近前来; 23 让我们毫不动摇地持守所告白的盼望,因为向我们应许的那一位是信实的; 24 让我们彼此看顾,好激励爱心和美好的工作。 25 你们不要放弃自己的聚会,像某些人所习惯的那样,而要彼此鼓励;你们既然看见那日子[i]临近,就更应该这样。

警告明知故犯的罪

26 要知道,我们领受了真理的知识以后,如果还故意犯罪,就不再有赎罪的祭物被保留下来; 27 只保留了对审判的可怕等待,和那将要吞灭敌对者的嫉恨之火。 28 任何拒绝摩西律法的人,凭两个或三个见证人的见证,就得不到怜悯而死, 29 何况一个人践踏了神的儿子,把那使自己成圣的立约之血看做是俗物,又侮辱了恩典的圣灵,你们想想,这个人难道不该受更厉害的惩罚吗? 30 因为我们认识曾说过“报应在我,我将回报[j][k]的那一位,他又说过“主要审判自己的子民。”[l] 31 落在永生神的手中实在可怕。

32 你们要回想原先的日子:当你们蒙了光照以后,忍受了许多痛苦挣扎; 33 有时候当众受责骂、受患难;有时候陪伴那些受到同样遭遇的人。 34 的确,你们不但同情了那些被囚禁的人[m],而且当自己所拥有的被夺去时,你们也甘心接受了,因为知道你们在天上[n]有更好的、长存的产业。 35 所以,不要丢弃你们的确信,这确信带来极大的报偿。 36 其实,你们需要忍耐,好在你们行完神的旨意以后,可以领受所应许的。

37 要知道,还有一点点时候,
“要来的那一位就要来临,他不会迟延。
38 我的义人将因信而活;
如果他退缩,
我的心就不喜悦他。”[o]

39 然而,我们不是退缩以致灭亡[p]的人,而是有信仰以致保全灵魂[q]的人。

Footnotes

  1. 希伯来书 10:5 神哪——辅助词语。
  2. 希伯来书 10:7 《诗篇》40:6-8。
  3. 希伯来书 10:9 看哪——有古抄本作“看,神哪”。
  4. 希伯来书 10:15 说过——有古抄本作“预先说过”。
  5. 希伯来书 10:16 《耶利米书》31:33。
  6. 希伯来书 10:17 罪恶——原文直译“不法”。
  7. 希伯来书 10:17 《耶利米书》31:34。
  8. 希伯来书 10:22 血——辅助词语。
  9. 希伯来书 10:25 日子——指“基督再来的日子”。
  10. 希伯来书 10:30 有古抄本附“——这是主说的”。
  11. 希伯来书 10:30 《申命记》32:35。
  12. 希伯来书 10:30 《申命记》32:36。
  13. 希伯来书 10:34 那些被囚禁的人——有古抄本作“被囚禁的我”。
  14. 希伯来书 10:34 有古抄本没有“在天上”。
  15. 希伯来书 10:38 《哈巴谷书》2:3-4。
  16. 希伯来书 10:39 灭亡——或译作“沉沦”。
  17. 希伯来书 10:39 灵魂——或译作“生命”。

10 律法既然是以后要来的美好事物的影子,不是本体的真象,就不能凭着每年献同样的祭品,使那些进前来的人得到完全。 如果敬拜的人一次得洁净,良心就不再觉得有罪,那么,献祭的事不是早就停止了吗? 可是那些祭品,却使人每年都想起罪来, 因为公牛和山羊的血不能把罪除去。

所以,基督到世上来的时候,就说:

“祭品和礼物不是你所要的,

你却为我预备了身体。

燔祭和赎罪祭,

不是你所喜悦的;

那时我说:

‘看哪!我来了,

经卷上已经记载我的事,

 神啊!我来是要遵行你的旨意。’”

前面说:“祭品和礼物,燔祭和赎罪祭,不是你所要的,也不是你所喜悦的。”这些都是按照律法献的; 接着又说:“看哪!我来了,是要遵行你的旨意。”可见他废除那先前的,为要建立那后来的。 10 我们凭着这旨意,借着耶稣基督一次献上他的身体,就已经成圣。

11 所有的祭司都是天天站着事奉,多次献上同样的祭品,那些祭品永远不能把罪除去。 12 唯有基督献上了一次永远有效的赎罪祭,就在 神的右边坐下来。 13 此后,只是等待 神把他的仇敌放在他的脚下,作他的脚凳。 14 因为他献上了一次的祭,就使那些成圣的人永远得到完全。

15 圣灵也向我们作见证,因为后来他说过:

16 “主说:‘在那些日子以后,

我要与他们所立的约是这样:

我要把我的律法放在他们的心思里面,

写在他们的心上。’”

17 又说:“我决不再记着他们的罪恶,

和不法的行为。”

18 这一切既然都赦免了,就不必再为罪献祭了。

劝勉和警告

19 所以,弟兄们!我们凭着耶稣的血,可以坦然无惧地进入至圣所。 20 这进入的路,是他给我们开辟的,是一条通过幔子、又新又活的路,这幔子就是他的身体。 21 我们既然有一位伟大的祭司治理 神的家, 22 我们良心的邪恶既然被洒净,身体也用清水洗净了,那么,我们就应该怀着真诚的心和完备的信,进到 神面前; 23 又应该坚持我们所宣认的盼望,毫不动摇,因为那应许我们的是信实的。 24 我们又应该彼此关心,激发爱心,勉励行善。 25 我们不可放弃聚会,好象有些人的习惯一样;却要互相劝勉。你们既然知道那日子临近,就更应该这样。

26 如果我们领受了真理的知识以后,还是故意犯罪,就再没有留下赎罪的祭品了; 27 只好恐惧地等待着审判,和那快要吞灭众仇敌的烈火。 28 如果有人干犯了摩西的律法,凭着两三个证人,他尚且得不到怜悯而死; 29 何况是践踏 神的儿子,把那使他成圣的立约的血当作俗物,又侮辱施恩的圣灵的人,你们想想,他不是应该受更严厉的刑罚吗? 30 因为我们知道谁说过:

“伸冤在我,我必报应。”

又说:

“主必定审判他自己的子民。”

31 落在永活的 神手里,真是可怕的。

要忍耐行完 神的旨意

32 你们要回想从前的日子,那时,你们蒙了光照,忍受了许多痛苦的煎熬; 33 有时在众人面前被辱骂,遭患难;有时却成了遭遇同样情形的人的同伴。 34 你们同情那些遭监禁的人;你们的家业被抢夺的时候,又以喜乐的心接受,因为知道自己有更美长存的家业。 35 所以,你们不可丢弃坦然无惧的心,这样的心是带有大赏赐的。 36 你们还需要忍耐,好使你们行完了 神的旨意,可以领受所应许的。 37 因为:

“还有一点点的时候,

那要来的就来,

并不迟延。

38 我的义人必因信得生,

如果他后退,

我的心就不喜悦他。”

39 但我们不是那些后退以致灭亡的人,而是有信心以致保全生命的人。

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

10 For the Law, since it has only (A)a shadow of (B)the good things to come and not the [a]form of those things itself, [b]can (C)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, (D)make those who approach perfect. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had (E)consciousness of sins? But (F)in [c]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is (G)impossible for the (H)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, (I)when He comes into the world, He says,

(J)You have not desired sacrifice and offering,
But (K)You have prepared a body for Me;
(L)You have not taken pleasure in whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin.
(M)Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(It is written of Me in (N)the scroll of the book)
To do Your will, O God.’”

After saying above, “(O)Sacrifices and offerings and (P)whole burnt offerings and offerings (Q)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He [d]said, “(R)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By [e]this will, we have been (S)sanctified through (T)the offering of (U)the body of Jesus Christ (V)once for all time.

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and (W)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which (X)can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice (Y)for [f]sins (Z)for all time, (AA)sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward (AB)until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has (AC)perfected (AD)for all time those who are [g]sanctified. 15 And (AE)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

16 (AF)This is the covenant which I will make with them
After those days, declares the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their hearts,
And write them on their mind,”

He then says,

17 (AG)And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will no longer remember.”

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

A New and Living Way

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we (AH)have confidence to (AI)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by (AJ)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through (AK)the veil, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have (AL)a great priest (AM)over the house of God, 22 let’s (AN)approach God with a [h]sincere heart in (AO)full assurance of faith, having our hearts (AP)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies (AQ)washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the (AR)confession of our (AS)hope without wavering, for (AT)He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how (AU)to [i]encourage one another in love and (AV)good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own (AW)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but (AX)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see (AY)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

26 For if we go on (AZ)sinning willfully after receiving (BA)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of (BB)judgment and (BC)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 (BD)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 (BE)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve (BF)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean (BG)the blood of the covenant (BH)by which he was sanctified, and has (BI)insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “(BJ)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “(BK)The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a (BL)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the (BM)living God.

32 But remember (BN)the former days, [j]when, after being (BO)enlightened, you endured a great (BP)conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being (BQ)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming [k](BR)companions with those who were so treated. 34 For you (BS)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted (BT)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves (BU)a better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your (BV)confidence, which has a great (BW)reward. 36 For you have need of (BX)endurance, so that when you have (BY)done the will of God, you may (BZ)receive [l]what was promised.

37 (CA)For yet in a very little while,
(CB)He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 (CC)But My righteous one will live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

39 But [m]we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:1 Lit image
  2. Hebrews 10:1 One early ms they can
  3. Hebrews 10:3 Lit them there is
  4. Hebrews 10:9 Lit has said
  5. Hebrews 10:10 Lit which
  6. Hebrews 10:12 Or sins, forever sat down
  7. Hebrews 10:14 Or being sanctified
  8. Hebrews 10:22 Lit true
  9. Hebrews 10:24 Or stir up
  10. Hebrews 10:32 Lit in which
  11. Hebrews 10:33 Or partners
  12. Hebrews 10:36 Lit the promise
  13. Hebrews 10:39 Lit we are not of shrinking back...but of faith

He who embodied the sins of the world carries His own blood into the holy presence.

10 We have seen how the law is simply a shadow of the good things to come. Since it is not the perfect form of these ultimate realities, the offering year after year of these imperfect sacrifices cannot bring perfection to those who come forward to worship. If they had served this purpose, wouldn’t the repetition of these sacrifices have become unnecessary? If they had worked—and cleansed the worshipers—then one sacrifice would have taken away their consciousness of sin. But these sacrifices actually remind us that we sin again and again, year after year. In the end, the blood of bulls and of goats is powerless to take away sins. So when Jesus came into the world, He said,

Sacrifices and offerings were not what You wanted,
    but instead a body that You prepared for Me.
Burnt offerings and sin offerings
    were not what pleased You.
Then I said, “See, I have come to do Your will, God,
    as it is inscribed of Me in the scroll of the book.”[a]

Now when it says that God doesn’t want and takes no real pleasure in sacrifices, burnt offerings, and sin offerings (even though the law calls for them), and follows this with “See, I have come to do Your will,”[b] He effectively takes away the first—animal sacrifice—in order to establish the second, more perfect sacrifice. 10 By God’s will, we are made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus the Anointed once and for all time.

11 In the first covenant, every day every officiating priest stands at his post serving, offering over and over those same sacrifices that can never take away sin. 12 But after He stepped up to offer His single sacrifice for sins for all time, He sat down in the position of honor at the right hand of God. 13 Since then, He has been waiting for the day when He rests His feet on His enemies’ backs,[c] as the psalm says. 14 With one perfect offering, Jesus has perfected forever those who are being made holy, 15 as the Holy Spirit keeps testifying to us through the prophet Jeremiah. After he says,

16 “But when those days are over,” says the Eternal One, “I will make
    this kind of covenant with the people of Israel:
I will put My laws in their hearts
    and write them upon their minds,”[d]

then He adds,

17 I will erase their sins and wicked acts out of My memory
    as though they had never existed.[e]

18 When there is forgiveness such as this, there is no longer any need to make an offering for sin.

19 So, my friends, Jesus by His blood gives us courage to enter the most holy place. 20 He has created for us a new and living way through the curtain, that is, through His flesh. 21 Since we have a great High Priest who presides over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with true hearts full of faith, with hearts rinsed clean of any evil conscience, and with bodies cleansed with pure water. 23 Let us hold strong to the confession of our hope, never wavering, since the One who promised it to us is faithful. 24 Let us consider how to inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds, 25 not forgetting to gather as a community, as some have forgotten, but encouraging each other, especially as the day of His return approaches.

The word translated “church” in English Bibles means literally “assembly of the called”; it implies that members have said “yes” to God’s call in their lives. We assemble because we are called into being by God Himself. Some people, for reasons only they know, choose to live their Christian faiths in isolation. When they do, they cut themselves off from the gifts, encouragement, and vitality of others. And perhaps, just as tragically, they deprive the church of the grace and life God has invested in them.

26 Now if we willfully persist in sin after receiving such knowledge of the truth, then there is no sacrifice left for those sins— 27 only the fearful prospect of judgment and a fierce fire that will consume God’s adversaries. 28 Remember that those who depart from the law of Moses are put to death without mercy based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.[f] 29 Just think how much more severe the punishment will be for those who have turned their backs on the Son of God, trampled on the blood of the covenant by which He made them holy, and outraged the Spirit of grace with their contempt. 30 For we know the God who said, “Vengeance belongs to Me—I will repay,”[g] also said, “The Eternal One will judge His people.”[h] 31 It is truly a frightening thing to be on the wrong side of the living God.

32 Instead, think back to the days after you were first enlightened and understood who Jesus was: when you endured all sorts of suffering in the name of the Lord, 33 when people held you up for public scorn and ridicule, or when they abused your partners and companions in the faith. 34 Remember how you had compassion for those in prison and how you cheerfully accepted the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have a far greater and more enduring possession. 35 Remember this, and do not abandon your confidence, which will lead to rich rewards. 36 Simply endure, for when you have done as God requires of you, you will receive the promise. 37 As the prophet Habakkuk said,

In a little while, only a little longer,
    the One who is coming will come without delay.
38 But My righteous one must live by faith,
    for if he gives up his commitment,
My soul will have no pleasure in him.[i]

39 My friends, we are not those who give up hope and so are lost; but we are of the company who live by faith and so are saved.