16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”[a](A)

17 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”[b](B)

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(C) to enter the Most Holy Place(D) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(E) opened for us through the curtain,(F) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(G) over the house of God,(H) 22 let us draw near to God(I) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(J) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(K) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(L) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(M) we profess,(N) for he who promised is faithful.(O) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(P) 25 not giving up meeting together,(Q) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(R)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(S)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
  2. Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34

11-18 Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave in. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. The Holy Spirit confirms this:

This new plan I’m making with Israel
    isn’t going to be written on paper,
    isn’t going to be chiseled in stone;
This time “I’m writing out the plan in them,
    carving it on the lining of their hearts.”

He concludes,

I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.

Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them.

Don’t Throw It All Away

19-21 So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body.

22-25 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.

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