³ When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws,^(A) they responded with one voice, “Everything the Lord has said we will do.”^{(B) 4} Moses then wrote^(C) down everything the Lord had said.

He got up early the next morning and built an altar^(D) at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars^(E) representing the twelve tribes of Israel. ⁵ Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings^(F) and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings^(G) to the Lord. ⁶ Moses^(H) took half of the blood^(I) and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed^(J) against the altar. ⁷ Then he took the Book of the Covenant^(K) and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.”^(L)

⁸ Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people^(M) and said, “This is the blood of the covenant^(N) that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

⁹ Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders^(O) of Israel went up ¹⁰ and saw^(P) the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli,^(Q) as bright blue as the sky.^{(R) 11} But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw^(S) God, and they ate and drank.^(T)

The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest^(A) of the good things that are now already here,^[a](B) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(C) that is not made with human hands,^(D) 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;^(E) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(F) once for all^(G) by his own blood,^(H) thus obtaining^[b] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(I) and the ashes of a heifer^(J) 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^(K) offered himself^(L) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(M) from acts that lead to death,^[c](N) so that we may serve the living God!^(O)

¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator^(P) of a new covenant,^(Q) that those who are called^(R) may receive the promised^(S) eternal inheritance^(T)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.^(U)

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.^{(V) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(W) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(X) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(Y) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[e](Z) 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,^(AA) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(AB)

The Last Supper^(A)(B)(C)

¹⁷ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread,^(D) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”^(E)

¹⁸ He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time^(F) is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” ¹⁹ So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

²⁰ When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”^(G)

²² They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

²³ Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me.^{(H) 24} The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him.^(I) But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

²⁵ Then Judas, the one who would betray him,^(J) said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”^(K)

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it^(L) and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

²⁷ Then he took a cup,^(M) and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the^[a] covenant,^(N) which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.^{(O) 29} I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you^(P) in my Father’s kingdom.”

³⁰ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.^(Q)