The High Priest of a New Covenant

8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,^(A) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^{(B) 2} and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(C) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest^(D) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,^(E) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.^{(F) 4} If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.^{(G) 5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(H) and shadow^(I) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(J) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[a](K) 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant^(L) of which he is mediator^(M) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.^{(N) 8} But God found fault with the people and said^[b]:

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,”^(W) he has made the first one obsolete;^(X) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.^{(A) 2} A tabernacle^(B) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand^(C) and the table^(D) with its consecrated bread;^(E) this was called the Holy Place.^{(F) 3} Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,^{(G) 4} which had the golden altar of incense^(H) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.^(I) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,^(J) Aaron’s staff that had budded,^(K) and the stone tablets of the covenant.^{(L) 5} Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,^(M) overshadowing the atonement cover.^(N) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

⁶ When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly^(O) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. ⁷ But only the high priest entered^(P) the inner room,^(Q) and that only once a year,^(R) and never without blood,^(S) which he offered for himself^(T) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.^{(U) 8} The Holy Spirit was showing^(V) by this that the way^(W) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration^(X) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered^(Y) were not able to clear the conscience^(Z) of the worshiper. ¹⁰ They are only a matter of food^(AA) and drink^(AB) and various ceremonial washings^(AC)—external regulations^(AD) applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest^(AE) of the good things that are now already here,^[a](AF) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(AG) that is not made with human hands,^(AH) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;^(AI) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(AJ) once for all^(AK) by his own blood,^(AL) thus obtaining^[b] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(AM) and the ashes of a heifer^(AN) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(AO) offered himself^(AP) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(AQ) from acts that lead to death,^[c](AR) so that we may serve the living God!^(AS)

¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator^(AT) of a new covenant,^(AU) that those who are called^(AV) may receive the promised^(AW) eternal inheritance^(AX)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.^(AY)

¹⁶ In the case of a will,^[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^{(AZ) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(BA) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(BB) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(BC) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[e](BD) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(BE) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(BF)

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(BG) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(BH) he entered heaven itself,^(BI) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^{(BJ) 25} Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(BK) every year with blood that is not his own.^{(BL) 26} Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(BM) But he has appeared^(BN) once for all^(BO) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(BP) 27} Just as people are destined to die once,^(BQ) and after that to face judgment,^{(BR) 28} so Christ was sacrificed once^(BS) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(BT) not to bear sin,^(BU) but to bring salvation^(BV) to those who are waiting for him.^(BW)