旧约敬拜的礼仪

旧约有敬拜的礼仪和地上的圣幕。 建成后的圣幕共分两间,外面的一间称为圣所,摆设了灯台、桌子和圣饼。 在第二道幔子后面的那一间叫至圣所, 里面有纯金的香坛和包金的约柜。约柜里珍藏着盛吗哪的金罐、亚伦那根发过芽的手杖和两块刻着十诫的石版, 上面有荣耀的基路伯天使,高展翅膀盖着约柜上面的施恩座。关于这些事,现在不能一一细说。

这些东西都齐备了,祭司们便经常进入圣所,举行敬拜。 可是,只有大祭司有资格每年一次独自进入至圣所,而且每次都要端着血进去,为自己和以色列人的过犯献上。 圣灵借此指明,只要头一个圣幕还在,进入至圣所的路就还没有开启。 这件事是一个象征,告诉现今的世代:所献的礼物和祭物都不能使敬拜的人良心纯全, 10 因为这些不过是关于饮食和各样洁净礼仪的外在规条,等新秩序的时代一到,便不再有效了。

美好新约

11 现在基督已经来到,做了美好新约的大祭司,祂进入了那更伟大、更全备、非人手建造、不属于这个世界的圣幕。 12 祂只进入至圣所一次便完成了永远的救赎,用的不是山羊和牛犊的血,而是自己的血。 13 如果把山羊血、公牛血和母牛犊的灰洒在污秽的人[a]身上,就可以使他们圣洁,身体得到洁净, 14 更何况基督借着永恒的灵把自己毫无瑕疵地献给上帝呢?祂的血岂不更能洗净我们的良心,使我们脱离导致灭亡的行为,以便事奉永活的上帝吗?

15 因此,祂是新约的中保,借着死亡救赎了触犯旧约的人,好叫那些蒙召的人得到所应许的永恒基业。

16 凡是遗嘱[b],必须等到立遗嘱的人死了以后才能生效。 17 如果立遗嘱的人依然健在,遗嘱就不能生效。 18 正因如此,连立旧约也需要用血才能生效。 19 摩西依照律法向犹太人颁布所有诫命之后,便用红色的羊毛和牛膝草蘸了牛犊和山羊的血以及水,洒在律法书和百姓身上, 20 说:“这是上帝用来与你们立约的血。” 21 他又照样把血洒在圣幕和所有用来献祭的器具上。 22 根据律法,几乎所有的器具都要用血来洁净,因为若不流血,罪就得不到赦免。

23 既然仿照天上的样式所造的器具需要用祭牲的血来洁净,天上的原物当然要用更美的祭物来洁净。 24 因为基督并非进入了人手所造的圣所,那只是真圣所的缩影,祂是进入了天堂,替我们来到上帝面前。 25 祂在天上不必一次又一次地把自己献上,好像那些大祭司年年都带着牛羊的血进入至圣所。 26 否则,自创世以来,祂不知道要受难多少次了。但如今在这世代的末期,祂只一次献上自己,便除去了人的罪。 27 按着定命,人人都有一死,死后还有审判。 28 同样,基督为了承担世人的罪,也曾一次献上自己。祂还要再来,不是来除罪,而是来拯救那些热切等候祂的人。

Footnotes

  1. 9:13 污秽的人”指在犹太人的宗教礼仪上被视为不洁净的人。
  2. 9:16 遗嘱”希腊文和“约”是同一个字。

旧约敬拜的规例

前约也有它敬拜的规例,和属世界的圣所。 因为有一个支搭好了的会幕,第一进叫作圣所,里面有灯台、桌子和陈设饼。 在第二层幔子后面还有一个会幕,叫作至圣所, 里面有金香坛,有全部包金的约柜,柜里有盛着吗哪的金罐、亚伦那发过芽的杖和两块约板。 柜的上面有荣耀的基路伯罩着施恩座,关于这一切,现在不能一一细说了。

这一切物件都这样预备好了,祭司就常常进入第一进会幕,执行敬拜的事。 至于第二进会幕,只有大祭司一年一次独自进去,并且非带着血不可,好为自己和人民的愚妄把血献上。 圣灵借着这事表明,当第一进会幕存在的时候,进入至圣所的路,还没有显明出来。 这第一进会幕是现今的时代的预表,其实所献的礼物和祭品,都不能使敬拜的人在良心上得到完全。 10 这些只是关于饮食和各样洁净的礼仪,是在“更新的时候”来到之前,为肉体立的规例。

基督的血洁净我们

11 但基督已经来了,作了已经实现的美好事物的大祭司;他经过更大、更完备的会幕(不是人手所做的,也就是不属于这被造的世界的)。 12 他不是用山羊和牛犊的血,而是用自己的血,只一次进了至圣所,就得到了永远的救赎。 13 如果山羊和公牛的血,以及母牛犊的灰,洒在不洁的人身上,尚且可以使他们成为圣洁,身体洁净, 14 何况基督的血呢?他借着永远的灵,把自己无瑕无疵的献给 神,他的血不是更能洁净我们的良心脱离致死的行为,使我们可以事奉永活的 神吗?

15 因此,他作了新约的中保,借着他的死,使人在前约之下的过犯得到救赎,就叫那些蒙召的人,得着永远基业的应许。 16 凡有遗嘱(“遗嘱”或译:“约”,与17 节同),必须证实立遗嘱的人死了; 17 因为人死了,遗嘱才能确立,立遗嘱的人还活着的时候,遗嘱决不生效。 18 因此,前约并不是没有用血立的: 19 当日摩西按照律法,向所有人民宣布了各样的诫命,就拿牛犊(好些抄本在此有“和山羊”)的血和水,用朱红色的羊毛与牛膝草,洒在律法书上和人民身上, 20 说:“这就是 神规定你们立约的血。” 21 他照样把血洒在会幕和各样应用的器皿上。 22 按着律法,几乎所有都是用血洁净的,如果没有流血,就没有赦免。

基督一次献上自己就除掉罪

23 照着天上样式作的既然必须这样去洁净,天上物体的本身,就应该用更美的祭品去洁净了。 24 因为基督不是进了人手所做的圣所(那不过是真圣所的表象),而是进到天上,现在替我们显露在 神的面前。 25 他不必多次把自己献上,好象大祭司每年带着不是自己的血进入至圣所一样。 26 如果这样,他从创世以来,就必须受许多次的苦了。可是现在他在这世代的终结,只显现一次,把自己作为祭品献上,好除掉罪。 27 按着定命,人人都要死一次,死后还有审判。 28 照样,基督为了担当许多人的罪,也曾经一次把自己献上;将来他还要再一次显现,不是为担当罪,而是要向那些热切期待他的人成全救恩。

The Earthly Ministry of the Old Covenant

Now[a] the first covenant had regulations for worship and the earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the first one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the presentation of the loaves, which is called the holy place. And after the second curtain was a tent called the holy of holies, containing the golden incense altar and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which were a golden jar containing the manna and the rod of Aaron that budded and the tablets of the covenant. And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, about which it is not now possible to speak in detail.

Now these things having been prepared in this way, the priests enter into the first tent continually[b] as they[c] accomplish their service, but only the high priest enters into the second tent once a year, not without blood, which he offers on behalf of himself and the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was making this clear, that the way into the holy place was not yet revealed, while[d] the first tent was still in existence, which was a symbol for the present time, in which both the gifts and sacrifices which were offered were not able to perfect the worshiper with respect to the conscience, 10 concerning instead only food and drink and different washings, regulations of outward things imposed until the time of setting things right.

The Heavenly Ministry of the New Covenant

11 But Christ has arrived as a high priest of the good things to come. Through the greater and more perfect tent not made by hands, that is, not of this creation, 12 and not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered once for all into the most holy place, obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled sanctify them for the ritual purity of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And because of this, he is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that, because[e] a death has taken place for the redemption of transgressions committed during the first covenant, those who are the called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a will, it is a necessity for the death of the one who made the will to be established. 17 For a will is in force concerning those who are dead, since it is never in force when the one who made the will is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was ratified without blood. 19 For when[f] every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves[g] with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the people, 20 saying,

“This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you.”[h]

21 And likewise he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the utensils of service with the blood. 22 Indeed, nearly everything is purified with blood according to the law, and apart from the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf, 25 and not in order that he can offer himself many times, as the high priest enters into the sanctuary year by year[i] with blood not his own, 26 since it would have been necessary for him to suffer many times from the foundation of the world, but now he has appeared once at the end of the ages for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as[j] it is destined for people to die once, and after this, judgment, 28 thus also Christ, having been offered once in order to bear the sins of many, will appear for the second time without reference to sin to those who eagerly await him for salvation.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:1 Some manuscripts have “Now even”
  2. Hebrews 9:6 Literally “throughout all”
  3. Hebrews 9:6 Here “as” is supplied as a component of the temporal participle (“accomplish”)
  4. Hebrews 9:8 Here “while” is supplied as a component of the temporal participle (“was”)
  5. Hebrews 9:15 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“has taken place”) which is understood as causal
  6. Hebrews 9:19 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal participle (“had been spoken”)
  7. Hebrews 9:19 Some manuscripts have “calves and goats”
  8. Hebrews 9:20 A quotation from Exod 24:8
  9. Hebrews 9:25 Literally “according to year”
  10. Hebrews 9:27 Literally “in as much as”

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.(A) 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) Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,(G) 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) Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,(M) overshadowing the atonement cover.(N) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly(O) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 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) 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. 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)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
  2. Hebrews 9:12 Or blood, having obtained
  3. Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
  4. Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
  5. Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8

Ahora bien, aun el primer pacto tenía ordenanzas de culto y un santuario terrenal, pues el Tabernáculo estaba dispuesto así: en la primera parte, llamada el Lugar santo, estaban el candelabro, la mesa y los panes de la proposición. Tras el segundo velo estaba la parte del Tabernáculo llamada el Lugar santísimo. Allí había un incensario de oro y el Arca del pacto cubierta de oro por todas partes, en la que había una urna de oro que contenía el maná, la vara de Aarón que reverdeció y las tablas del pacto. Sobre la urna estaban los querubines de gloria que cubrían el propiciatorio. De estas cosas no se puede ahora hablar en detalle.

Así dispuestas estas cosas, en la primera parte del Tabernáculo entran los sacerdotes continuamente para cumplir los oficios del culto. Pero en la segunda parte sólo entra el sumo sacerdote una vez al año, llevando la sangre que ofrece por sí mismo y por los pecados de ignorancia del pueblo. El Espíritu Santo da a entender con esto que aún no se había abierto el camino al Lugar santísimo, entre tanto que la primera parte del Tabernáculo estuviera en pie. Lo cual es símbolo para el tiempo presente, según el cual se presentan ofrendas y sacrificios que no pueden hacer perfecto, en cuanto a la conciencia, al que practica ese culto, 10 ya que consiste sólo de comidas y bebidas, de diversas purificaciones y ordenanzas acerca de la carne, impuestas hasta el tiempo de reformar las cosas.

11 Pero estando ya presente Cristo, Sumo sacerdote de los bienes venideros, por el más amplio y más perfecto tabernáculo, no hecho de manos, es decir, no de esta creación, 12 y no por sangre de machos cabríos ni de becerros, sino por su propia sangre, entró una vez para siempre en el Lugar santísimo, habiendo obtenido eterna redención. 13 Porque si la sangre de los toros y de los machos cabríos, y las cenizas de la becerra rociadas a los impuros, santifican para la purificación de la carne, 14 ¿cuánto más la sangre de Cristo, el cual mediante el Espíritu eterno se ofreció a sí mismo sin mancha a Dios, limpiará vuestras conciencias de obras muertas para que sirváis al Dios vivo?

15 Por eso, Cristo es mediador de un nuevo pacto, para que, interviniendo muerte para la remisión de los pecados cometidos bajo el primer pacto, los llamados reciban la promesa de la herencia eterna, 16 pues donde hay testamento, es necesario que conste la muerte del testador, 17 porque el testamento con la muerte se confirma, pues no es válido entre tanto que el testador vive. 18 De donde ni aun el primer pacto fue instituido sin sangre, 19 porque habiendo anunciado Moisés todos los mandamientos de la Ley a todo el pueblo, tomó la sangre de los becerros y de los machos cabríos, con agua, lana escarlata e hisopo, y roció el mismo libro y también a todo el pueblo 20 diciendo: «Ésta es la sangre del pacto que Dios os ha mandado». 21 Además de esto, roció también con la sangre el Tabernáculo y todos los vasos del ministerio. 22 Y según la Ley, casi todo es purificado con sangre; y sin derramamiento de sangre no hay remisión.

El sacrificio de Cristo quita el pecado

23 Fue, pues, necesario que las figuras de las cosas celestiales fueran purificadas así; pero las cosas celestiales mismas, con mejores sacrificios que estos, 24 porque no entró Cristo en el santuario hecho por los hombres, figura del verdadero, sino en el cielo mismo, para presentarse ahora por nosotros ante Dios. 25 Y no entró para ofrecerse muchas veces, como entra el sumo sacerdote en el Lugar santísimo cada año con sangre ajena. 26 De otra manera le hubiera sido necesario padecer muchas veces desde el principio del mundo; pero ahora, en la consumación de los tiempos, se presentó una vez para siempre por el sacrificio de sí mismo para quitar de en medio el pecado. 27 Y de la manera que está establecido para los hombres que mueran una sola vez, y después de esto el juicio, 28 así también Cristo fue ofrecido una sola vez para llevar los pecados de muchos; y aparecerá por segunda vez, sin relación con el pecado, para salvar a los que lo esperan.