One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

10 For the Law, since it has only (A)a shadow of (B)the good things to come and not the [a]form of those things itself, [b]can (C)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, (D)make those who approach perfect. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had (E)consciousness of sins? But (F)in [c]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is (G)impossible for the (H)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, (I)when He comes into the world, He says,

(J)You have not desired sacrifice and offering,
But (K)You have prepared a body for Me;
(L)You have not taken pleasure in whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin.
(M)Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(It is written of Me in (N)the scroll of the book)
To do Your will, O God.’”

After saying above, “(O)Sacrifices and offerings and (P)whole burnt offerings and offerings (Q)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He [d]said, “(R)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By [e]this will, we have been (S)sanctified through (T)the offering of (U)the body of Jesus Christ (V)once for all time.

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and (W)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which (X)can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice (Y)for [f]sins (Z)for all time, (AA)sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward (AB)until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has (AC)perfected (AD)for all time those who are [g]sanctified. 15 And (AE)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

16 (AF)This is the covenant which I will make with them
After those days, declares the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their hearts,
And write them on their mind,”

He then says,

17 (AG)And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will no longer remember.”

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.

A New and Living Way

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we (AH)have confidence to (AI)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by (AJ)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through (AK)the veil, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have (AL)a great priest (AM)over the house of God, 22 let’s (AN)approach God with a [h]sincere heart in (AO)full assurance of faith, having our hearts (AP)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies (AQ)washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the (AR)confession of our (AS)hope without wavering, for (AT)He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how (AU)to [i]encourage one another in love and (AV)good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own (AW)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but (AX)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see (AY)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

26 For if we go on (AZ)sinning willfully after receiving (BA)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of (BB)judgment and (BC)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 (BD)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 (BE)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve (BF)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean (BG)the blood of the covenant (BH)by which he was sanctified, and has (BI)insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “(BJ)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “(BK)The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a (BL)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the (BM)living God.

32 But remember (BN)the former days, [j]when, after being (BO)enlightened, you endured a great (BP)conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being (BQ)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming [k](BR)companions with those who were so treated. 34 For you (BS)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted (BT)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves (BU)a better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your (BV)confidence, which has a great (BW)reward. 36 For you have need of (BX)endurance, so that when you have (BY)done the will of God, you may (BZ)receive [l]what was promised.

37 (CA)For yet in a very little while,
(CB)He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 (CC)But My righteous one will live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

39 But [m]we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:1 Lit image
  2. Hebrews 10:1 One early ms they can
  3. Hebrews 10:3 Lit them there is
  4. Hebrews 10:9 Lit has said
  5. Hebrews 10:10 Lit which
  6. Hebrews 10:12 Or sins, forever sat down
  7. Hebrews 10:14 Or being sanctified
  8. Hebrews 10:22 Lit true
  9. Hebrews 10:24 Or stir up
  10. Hebrews 10:32 Lit in which
  11. Hebrews 10:33 Or partners
  12. Hebrews 10:36 Lit the promise
  13. Hebrews 10:39 Lit we are not of shrinking back...but of faith

Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a (A)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, (B)can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once [a]purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For (C)it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will(D)

Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

(E)“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”

Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, [b]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 (F)By that will we have been [c]sanctified (G)through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

11 And every priest stands (H)ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 (I)But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down (J)at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting (K)till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being [d]sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 (L)“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, (M)“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is [e]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast Your Confession

19 Therefore, brethren, having (N)boldness[f] to enter (O)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and (P)living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us (Q)draw near with a true heart (R)in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for (S)He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 (T)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and (U)so much the more as you see (V)the Day approaching.

The Just Live by Faith

26 For (W)if we sin willfully (X)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there (Y)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and (Z)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three (AA)witnesses. 29 (AB)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, (AC)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, (AD)and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, (AE)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [g]says the Lord. And again, (AF)“The Lord will judge His people.” 31 (AG)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But (AH)recall the former days in which, after you were [h]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made (AI)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while (AJ)you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on [i]me (AK)in my chains, and (AL)joyfully accepted the plundering of your [j]goods, knowing that (AM)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves [k]in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, (AN)which has great reward. 36 (AO)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, (AP)you may receive the promise:

37 “For (AQ)yet a little while,
And (AR)He[l] who is coming will come and will not [m]tarry.
38 Now (AS)the[n] just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those (AT)who draw back to [o]perdition, but of those who (AU)believe to the saving of the soul.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:2 cleansed
  2. Hebrews 10:9 NU, M omit O God
  3. Hebrews 10:10 set apart
  4. Hebrews 10:14 set apart
  5. Hebrews 10:18 forgiveness
  6. Hebrews 10:19 confidence
  7. Hebrews 10:30 NU omits says the Lord
  8. Hebrews 10:32 enlightened
  9. Hebrews 10:34 NU the prisoners instead of me in my chains
  10. Hebrews 10:34 possessions
  11. Hebrews 10:34 NU omits in heaven
  12. Hebrews 10:37 Or that which
  13. Hebrews 10:37 delay
  14. Hebrews 10:38 NU My just one
  15. Hebrews 10:39 destruction

10 The Jewish Law is not a full and faithful model of the real things; it is only a faint outline of the good things to come. The same sacrifices are offered forever, year after year. How can the Law, then, by means of these sacrifices make perfect the people who come to God? If the people worshiping God had really been purified from their sins, they would not feel guilty of sin any more, and all sacrifices would stop. As it is, however, the sacrifices serve year after year to remind people of their sins. For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.

(A)For this reason, when Christ was about to come into the world, he said to God:

“You do not want sacrifices and offerings,
    but you have prepared a body for me.
You are not pleased with animals burned whole on the altar
    or with sacrifices to take away sins.
Then I said, ‘Here I am,
    to do your will, O God,
    just as it is written of me in the book of the Law.’”

First he said, “You neither want nor are you pleased with sacrifices and offerings or with animals burned on the altar and the sacrifices to take away sins.” He said this even though all these sacrifices are offered according to the Law. Then he said, “Here I am, O God, to do your will.” So God does away with all the old sacrifices and puts the sacrifice of Christ in their place. 10 Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once and for all.

11 (B)Every Jewish priest performs his services every day and offers the same sacrifices many times; but these sacrifices can never take away sins. 12 (C)Christ, however, offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective forever, and then he sat down at the right side of God. 13 There he now waits until God puts his enemies as a footstool under his feet. 14 With one sacrifice, then, he has made perfect forever those who are purified from sin.

15 And the Holy Spirit also gives us his witness. First he says,

16 (D)“This is the covenant that I will make with them
    in the days to come, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts
    and write them on their minds.”

17 (E)And then he says, “I will not remember their sins and evil deeds any longer.” 18 So when these have been forgiven, an offering to take away sins is no longer needed.

Let Us Come Near to God

19 We have, then, my friends, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. 20 He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain—that is, through his own body. 21 We have a great priest in charge of the house of God. 22 (F)So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. 23 Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise. 24 Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. 25 Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.

26 For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us. 27 (G)Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming Judgment and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God! 28 (H)Anyone who disobeys the Law of Moses is put to death without any mercy when judged guilty from the evidence of two or more witnesses. 29 (I)What, then, of those who despise the Son of God? who treat as a cheap thing the blood of God's covenant which purified them from sin? who insult the Spirit of grace? Just think how much worse is the punishment they will deserve! 30 (J)For we know who said, “I will take revenge, I will repay”; and who also said, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

32 Remember how it was with you in the past. In those days, after God's light had shone on you, you suffered many things, yet were not defeated by the struggle. 33 You were at times publicly insulted and mistreated, and at other times you were ready to join those who were being treated in this way. 34 You shared the sufferings of prisoners, and when all your belongings were seized, you endured your loss gladly, because you knew that you still possessed something much better, which would last forever. 35 Do not lose your courage, then, because it brings with it a great reward. 36 You need to be patient, in order to do the will of God and receive what he promises. 37 (K)For, as the scripture says,

“Just a little while longer,
    and he who is coming will come;
    he will not delay.
38 My righteous people, however, will believe and live;
    but if any of them turns back,
    I will not be pleased with them.”

39 We are not people who turn back and are lost. Instead, we have faith and are saved.