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The Perfect Sacrifice

10 Since the law has only a shadow of the good things(A) to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said:

You did not desire sacrifice and offering,
but you prepared a body for me.
You did not delight
in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
Then I said, “See—
it is written about me
in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, God.”[a](B)

After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law(C)), he then says, See, I have come to do your will.[b] He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.(D)

11 Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins.(E) 12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.[c](F) 13 He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool.(G) 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says:

16 This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days,

the Lord says,

I will put my laws on their hearts
and write them on their minds,

17 and I will never again remember

their sins and their lawless acts.[d](H)

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

Exhortations to Godliness

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus(I) 20 he has inaugurated[e] for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh(J))— 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,(K) 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.(L) 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.(M) 24 And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other,(N) and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Warning against Deliberate Sin

26 For if we deliberately go on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,(O) 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.(P) 28 Anyone who disregarded the law of Moses died without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(Q) 29 How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, who has regarded as profane[f] the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?(R) 30 For we know the one who has said,

Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,[g][h]

and again,

The Lord will judge his people.[i](S)

31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.(T)

32 Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.(U) 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way.(V) 34 For you sympathized with the prisoners[j] and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, because you know that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession.[k](W) 35 So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.(X) 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.(Y)

37 For yet in a very little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 But my righteous one[l] will live by faith;
and if he draws back,
I have no pleasure[m] in him.[n](Z)

39 But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and are saved.

Footnotes

  1. 10:5–7 Ps 40:6–8
  2. 10:9 Other mss add God
  3. 10:12 Or offering one sacrifice for sins, sat down forever at the right hand of God
  4. 10:16–17 Jr 31:33–34
  5. 10:20 Or opened
  6. 10:29 Or ordinary
  7. 10:30 Other mss add says the Lord
  8. 10:30 Dt 32:35
  9. 10:30 Dt 32:36
  10. 10:34 Other mss read sympathized with my imprisonment
  11. 10:34 Other mss add in heaven
  12. 10:38 Other mss read the righteous one
  13. 10:38 Lit my soul has no pleasure
  14. 10:37–38 Is 26:20 LXX; Hab 2:3–4

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 very [a]form of things, [b]can (C)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, (D)make perfect those who draw near. 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 year by 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)Sacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But (K)a body You have prepared for Me;
(L)In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure.
(M)Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(In (N)the scroll of the book it is written of Me)
To do Your will, O God.’”

After saying above, “(O)Sacrifices and offerings and (P)whole burnt offerings and sacrifices (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.

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 be 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 that I will make with them
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their heart,
And on their mind I will write them,”

He then says,

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

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

A New and Living Way

19 Therefore, brethren, 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, His flesh, 21 and since we have (AL)a great priest (AM)over the house of God, 22 let us (AN)draw near 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 us hold fast the (AR)confession of our (AS)hope without wavering, for (AT)He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how (AU)to stimulate one another to love and (AV)good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own (AW)assembling together, as is the habit of some, 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 set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 (BE)How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve (BF)who has trampled under foot 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, [i]when, after being (BO)enlightened, you endured a great (BP)conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being (BQ)made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming (BR)sharers 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 possession and a lasting one. 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 [j]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 shall live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

39 But [k]we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the [l]preserving of the soul.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:1 Lit image
  2. Hebrews 10:1 Two early mss read 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 10:32 Lit in which
  10. Hebrews 10:36 Lit the promise
  11. Hebrews 10:39 Lit we are not of shrinking back...but of faith
  12. Hebrews 10:39 Or possessing

Jesus Christ—the Only Sacrifice We Need

10 The law gave us only an unclear picture of the good things coming in the future. The law is not a perfect picture of the real things. The law tells people to offer the same sacrifices every year. Those who come to worship God continue to offer those sacrifices. But the law can never make them perfect. If the law could make people perfect, those sacrifices would have already stopped. They would already be clean from their sins, and they would not still feel guilty. But that’s not what happens. Their sacrifices make them remember their sins every year, because it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

So when Christ came into the world he said,

“You don’t want sacrifices and offerings,
    but you have prepared a body for me.
You are not pleased with the sacrifices of animals killed and burned
    or with offerings to take away sins.
Then I said, ‘Here I am, God.
    It is written about me in the book of the law.
    I have come to do what you want.’” (A)

Christ first said, “You don’t want sacrifices and offerings. You are not pleased with animals killed and burned or with sacrifices to take away sin.” (These are all sacrifices that the law commands.) Then he said, “Here I am, God. I have come to do what you want.” So God ends that first system of sacrifices and starts his new way. 10 Jesus Christ did the things God wanted him to do. And because of that, we are made holy through the sacrifice of Christ’s body. Christ made that sacrifice one time—enough for all time.

11 Every day the priests stand and do their religious service. Again and again they offer the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But Christ offered only one sacrifice for sins, and that sacrifice is good for all time. Then he sat down at the right side of God. 13 And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power.[a] 14 With one sacrifice Christ made his people perfect forever. They are the ones who are being made holy.

15 The Holy Spirit also tells us about this. First he says,

16 “This is the agreement[b] I will make
    with my people in the future, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts.
    I will write my laws in their minds.” (B)

17 Then he says,

“I will forget their sins
    and never again remember the evil they have done.” (C)

18 And after everything is forgiven, there is no more need for a sacrifice to pay for sins.

Come Near to God

19 And so, brothers and sisters, we are completely free to enter the Most Holy Place.[c] We can do this without fear because of the blood sacrifice of Jesus. 20 We enter through a new way that Jesus opened for us. It is a living way that leads through the curtain—Christ’s body. 21 And we have a great priest who rules the house of God. 22 Sprinkled with the blood of Christ, our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. So come near to God with a sincere heart, full of confidence because of our faith in Christ. 23 We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what he promised.

Help Each Other Be Strong

24 We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works. 25 We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer.

Don’t Turn Away From God’s Son

26 If we decide to continue sinning after we have learned the truth, then there is no other sacrifice that will take away sins. 27 If we continue sinning, all that is left for us is a fearful time of waiting for the judgment and the angry fire that will destroy those who live against God. 28 Whoever refused to obey the Law of Moses was found guilty from the testimony given by two or three witnesses. Such people were not forgiven. They were killed. 29 So think how much more punishment people deserve who show their hate for the Son of God—people who show they have no respect for the blood sacrifice that began the new agreement and once made them holy or who insult the Spirit of God’s grace. 30 We know that God said, “I will punish people for the wrongs they do; I will repay them.”[d] And he also said, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e] 31 It is a terrible thing to face punishment from the living God.

Keep the Courage and Patience You Had

32 Remember the days when you first learned the truth. You had a hard struggle with much suffering, but you continued strong. 33 Sometimes people said hateful things to you and mistreated you in public. And sometimes you helped others who were being treated that same way. 34 Yes, you helped them in prison and shared in their suffering. And you were still happy when everything you owned was taken away from you. You continued to be happy, because you knew that you had something much better—something that would continue forever.

35 So don’t lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly. 36 You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you. 37 He says,

“Very soon now, the one who is coming
    will come and will not be late.
38 The person who is right with me
    will live by trusting in me.
But I will not be pleased with the one
    who turns back in fear.” (D)

39 But we are not those who turn back and are lost. No, we are the people who have faith and are saved.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:13 to be put under his power Literally, “to be made a footstool for his feet.”
  2. Hebrews 10:16 agreement The new and better agreement that God has given to his people through Jesus. See “agreement” in the Word List.
  3. Hebrews 10:19 Most Holy Place Literally, “holies” for “holy of holies,” the spiritual place where God lives and is worshiped.
  4. Hebrews 10:30 Quote from Deut. 32:35.
  5. Hebrews 10:30 Quote from Deut. 32:36.

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow(A) of the good things(B) that are coming—not the realities themselves.(C) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect(D) those who draw near to worship.(E) 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.(F) But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.(G) It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats(H) to take away sins.(I)

Therefore, when Christ came into the world,(J) he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;(K)
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll(L)
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a](M)

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

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,(S) which can never take away sins.(T) 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,(U) he sat down at the right hand of God,(V) 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.(W) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect(X) forever those who are being made holy.(Y)

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

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.”[b](AA)

17 Then he adds:

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

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(AC) to enter the Most Holy Place(AD) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(AE) opened for us through the curtain,(AF) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(AG) over the house of God,(AH) 22 let us draw near to God(AI) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(AJ) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(AK) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(AL) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(AM) we profess,(AN) for he who promised is faithful.(AO) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(AP) 25 not giving up meeting together,(AQ) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(AR)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(AS)

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning(AT) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,(AU) no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire(AV) that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(AW) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(AX) underfoot,(AY) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(AZ) that sanctified them,(BA) and who has insulted the Spirit(BB) of grace?(BC) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d](BD) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e](BE) 31 It is a dreadful thing(BF) to fall into the hands(BG) of the living God.(BH)

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,(BI) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.(BJ) 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;(BK) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.(BL) 34 You suffered along with those in prison(BM) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.(BN) 35 So do not throw away your confidence;(BO) it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere(BP) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(BQ) 37 For,

“In just a little while,
    he who is coming(BR) will come
    and will not delay.”[f](BS)

38 And,

“But my righteous[g] one will live by faith.(BT)
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back.”[h](BU)

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
  2. Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
  3. Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34
  4. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
  5. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
  6. Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
  7. Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous
  8. Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)

10 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21 And having an high priest over the house of God;

22 Let us draw near with a true heart 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 profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.

35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.