Old Rules about Worship

9 That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth.

⁸ “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.

¹⁰ For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies—physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.

Christ Is the Perfect Sacrifice

¹¹ So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come.^[a] He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world.

² There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle,^[a] the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

³⁰ So obey my instructions, and do not defile yourselves by committing any of these detestable practices that were committed by the people who lived in the land before you. I am the Lord your God.”

⁹ “The priests must follow my instructions carefully. Otherwise they will be punished for their sin and will die for violating my instructions. I am the Lord who makes them holy.

³ So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. ⁴ You must obey all my regulations and be careful to obey my decrees, for I am the Lord your God.

⁷ If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it.

⁸ Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers^[a] of this world, rather than from Christ.

¹¹ and they will be ashamed^[a] of what they have done. Describe to them all the specifications of the Temple—including its entrances and exits—and everything else about it. Tell them about its decrees and laws. Write down all these specifications and decrees as they watch so they will be sure to remember and follow them.