Hebrews 8-10

English Standard Version

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

8 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, ^(A)one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ² a minister in the holy places, in ^(B)the true tent^[a] that the Lord ^(C)set up, not man. ³ For ^(D)every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus ^(E)it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. ⁴ Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. ⁵ They serve ^(F)a copy and ^(G)shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ^(H)“See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” ⁶ But as it is, Christ^[b] has obtained a ministry that is ^(I)as much more excellent than the old as ^(J)the covenant ^(K)he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. ^7 (L)For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

⁸ For he finds fault with them when he says:^[c]

¹³ In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And ^(R)what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and ^(S)an earthly place of holiness. ² For ^(T)a tent^[d] was prepared, the first section, in which were ^(U)the lampstand and ^(V)the table and ^(W)the bread of the Presence.^[e] It is called the Holy Place. ³ Behind ^(X)the second curtain was a second section^[f] called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ having the golden ^(Y)altar of incense and ^(Z)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(AA)a golden urn holding the manna, and ^(AB)Aaron's staff that budded, and ^(AC)the tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above it were ^(AD)the cherubim of glory overshadowing ^(AE)the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ These preparations having thus been made, ^(AF)the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, ⁷ but into the second only ^(AG)the high priest goes, and he but ^(AH)once a year, and not without taking blood, ^(AI)which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. ⁸ By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^(AJ)the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing ⁹ (which is symbolic for the present age).^[g] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(AK)that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, ¹⁰ but deal only with ^(AL)food and drink and ^(AM)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest ^(AN)of the good things that have come,^[h] then through ^(AO)the greater and more perfect tent (^(AP)not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹² he ^(AQ)entered ^(AR)once for all into the holy places, not by means of ^(AS)the blood of goats and calves but ^(AT)by means of his own blood, ^(AU)thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(AV)the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^(AW)the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[i] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(AX)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^(AY)offered himself without blemish to God, ^(AZ)purify our^[j] conscience ^(BA)from dead works ^(BB)to serve the living God.

¹⁵ Therefore he is ^(BC)the mediator of a new covenant, so that ^(BD)those who are called may ^(BE)receive the promised eternal inheritance, ^(BF)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{[k] 16} For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For ^(BG)a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated ^(BH)without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took ^(BI)the blood of calves and goats, ^(BJ)with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, ^(BK)“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both ^(BL)the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^(BM)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

²³ Thus it was necessary for ^(BN)the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has entered, not into holy places ^(BO)made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God ^(BP)on our behalf. ²⁵ Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as ^(BQ)the high priest enters ^(BR)the holy places every year with blood not his own, ²⁶ for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, ^(BS)he has appeared ^(BT)once for all ^(BU)at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as ^(BV)it is appointed for man to die once, and ^(BW)after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once ^(BX)to bear the sins of ^(BY)many, will appear ^(BZ)a second time, ^(CA)not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^(CB)waiting for him.

Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

10 For since the law has but ^(CC)a shadow ^(CD)of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ^(CE)it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But ^(CF)in these sacrifices ^(CG)there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For ^(CH)it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Consequently, ^(CI)when Christ^[l] came into the world, he said,

⁸ When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in ^(CK)sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), ⁹ then he added, ^(CL)“Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will ^(CM)we have been sanctified through the offering of ^(CN)the body of Jesus Christ ^(CO)once for all.

¹¹ And every priest stands ^(CP)daily at his service, ^(CQ)offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, ^(CR)which can never take away sins. ¹² But when Christ^[m] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he ^(CS)sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time ^(CT)until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. ¹⁴ For by a single offering ^(CU)he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

¹⁷ then he adds,

¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The Full Assurance of Faith

^19 (CX)Therefore, brothers,^[n] since we have confidence to enter ^(CY)the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(CZ)the new and living way that he opened for us through ^(DA)the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(DB)a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts ^(DC)sprinkled clean ^(DD)from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(DE)washed with pure water. ^23 (DF)Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for ^(DG)he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And ^(DH)let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ^25 (DI)not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ^(DJ)all the more as you see ^(DK)the Day drawing near.

²⁶ For ^(DL)if we go on sinning deliberately ^(DM)after receiving the knowledge of the truth, ^(DN)there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ^27 (DO)but a fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(DP)a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ^28 (DQ)Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^(DR)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one ^(DS)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned ^(DT)the blood of the covenant ^(DU)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(DV)outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, ^(DW)“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^(DX)“The Lord will judge his people.” ^31 (DY)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But recall the former days when, after ^(DZ)you were enlightened, you endured ^(EA)a hard struggle with sufferings, ³³ sometimes being ^(EB)publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. ³⁴ For ^(EC)you had compassion on those in prison, and ^(ED)you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had ^(EE)a better possession and an abiding one. ³⁵ Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has ^(EF)a great reward. ³⁶ For ^(EG)you have need of endurance, so that ^(EH)when you have done the will of God you may ^(EI)receive what is promised. ³⁷ For,

³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.