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

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

The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest^(AD) of the good things that are now already here,^[a](AE) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(AF) that is not made with human hands,^(AG) 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;^(AH) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(AI) once for all^(AJ) by his own blood,^(AK) thus obtaining^[b] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(AL) and the ashes of a heifer^(AM) 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^(AN) offered himself^(AO) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(AP) from acts that lead to death,^[c](AQ) so that we may serve the living God!^(AR)

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

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

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

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow^(BW) of the good things^(BX) that are coming—not the realities themselves.^(BY) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect^(BZ) those who draw near to worship.^{(CA) 2} Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.^{(CB) 3} But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.^{(CC) 4} It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats^(CD) to take away sins.^(CE)

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world,^(CF) he said:

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”^(CJ)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”^(CK) He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy^(CL) through the sacrifice of the body^(CM) of Jesus Christ once for all.^(CN)

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,^(CO) which can never take away sins.^{(CP) 12} But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,^(CQ) he sat down at the right hand of God,^{(CR) 13} and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.^{(CS) 14} For by one sacrifice he has made perfect^(CT) forever those who are being made holy.^(CU)

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies^(CV) to us about this. First he says:

¹⁷ Then he adds:

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^(CY) to enter the Most Holy Place^(CZ) by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way^(DA) opened for us through the curtain,^(DB) that is, his body, ²¹ and since we have a great priest^(DC) over the house of God,^{(DD) 22} let us draw near to God^(DE) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,^(DF) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience^(DG) and having our bodies washed with pure water.^(DH)