Hebrews 8-12

New King James Version

The New Priestly Service

8 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, ^(A)who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, ² a Minister of ^(B)the ^[a]sanctuary and of ^(C)the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

³ For ^(D)every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore ^(E)it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. ⁴ For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; ⁵ who serve ^(F)the copy and ^(G)shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, ^(H)“See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” ⁶ But now ^(I)He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a ^(J)better covenant, which was established on better promises.

A New Covenant^(K)

⁷ For if that ^(L)first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. ⁸ Because finding fault with them, He says: ^(M)“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— ⁹ not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. ¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the ^(N)Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and ^(O)I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ^11 (P)None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the ^(Q)Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. ¹² For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, ^(R)and their sins ^[b]and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

^13 (S)In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Earthly Sanctuary^(T)

9 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and ^(U)the earthly sanctuary. ² For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the ^[c]sanctuary; ^3 (V)and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, ⁴ which had the ^(W)golden censer and ^(X)the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were ^(Y)the golden pot that had the manna, ^(Z)Aaron’s rod that budded, and ^(AA)the tablets of the covenant; ⁵ and ^(AB)above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Limitations of the Earthly Service

⁶ Now when these things had been thus prepared, ^(AC)the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. ⁷ But into the second part the high priest went alone ^(AD)once a year, not without blood, which he offered for ^(AE)himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; ⁸ the Holy Spirit indicating this, that ^(AF)the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. ⁹ It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(AG)which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— ¹⁰ concerned only with ^(AH)foods and drinks, ^(AI)various ^[d]washings, ^(AJ)and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

¹¹ But Christ came as High Priest of ^(AK)the good things ^[e]to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. ¹² Not ^(AL)with the blood of goats and calves, but ^(AM)with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place ^(AN)once for all, ^(AO)having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(AP)the blood of bulls and goats and ^(AQ)the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, ^[f]sanctifies for the ^[g]purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without ^[h]spot to God, ^(AR)cleanse your conscience from ^(AS)dead works ^(AT)to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this reason ^(AU)He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that ^(AV)those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

The Mediator’s Death Necessary

¹⁶ For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷ For ^(AW)a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. ^18 (AX)Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every ^[i]precept to all the people according to the law, ^(AY)he took the blood of calves and goats, ^(AZ)with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, ^(BA)“This is the ^(BB)blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” ²¹ Then likewise ^(BC)he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. ²² And according to the law almost all things are ^[j]purified with blood, and ^(BD)without shedding of blood there is no ^[k]remission.

Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

²³ Therefore it was necessary that ^(BE)the copies of the things in the heavens should be ^[l]purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For ^(BF)Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are ^[m]copies of ^(BG)the true, but into heaven itself, now ^(BH)to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ not that He should offer Himself often, as ^(BI)the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— ²⁶ He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ^27 (BJ)And as it is appointed for men to die once, ^(BK)but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so ^(BL)Christ was ^(BM)offered once to bear the sins ^(BN)of many. To those who ^(BO)eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a ^(BP)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, ^(BQ)can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. ² For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once ^[n]purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. ³ But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For ^(BR)it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will^(BS)

⁵ Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

⁸ 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), ⁹ then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, ^[o]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. ^10 (BU)By that will we have been ^[p]sanctified ^(BV)through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

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

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

^16 (CA)“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, ^(CB)“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” ¹⁸ Now where there is ^[r]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast Your Confession

¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, having ^(CC)boldness^[s] to enter ^(CD)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and ^(CE)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 ^(CF)draw near with a true heart ^(CG)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 ^(CH)He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ^25 (CI)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and ^(CJ)so much the more as you see ^(CK)the Day approaching.

The Just Live by Faith

²⁶ For ^(CL)if we sin willfully ^(CM)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there ^(CN)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(CO)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three ^(CP)witnesses. ^29 (CQ)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, ^(CR)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, ^(CS)and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, ^(CT)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” ^[t]says the Lord. And again, ^(CU)“The Lord will judge His people.” ^31 (CV)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

³² But ^(CW)recall the former days in which, after you were ^[u]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: ³³ partly while you were made ^(CX)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while ^(CY)you became companions of those who were so treated; ³⁴ for you had compassion on ^[v]me ^(CZ)in my chains, and ^(DA)joyfully accepted the plundering of your ^[w]goods, knowing that ^(DB)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves ^[x]in heaven. ³⁵ Therefore do not cast away your confidence, ^(DC)which has great reward. ^36 (DD)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, ^(DE)you may receive the promise:

³⁹ But we are not of those ^(DI)who draw back to ^[ab]perdition, but of those who ^(DJ)believe to the saving of the soul.

By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the ^[ac]substance of things hoped for, the ^[ad]evidence ^(DK)of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

³ By faith we understand that ^(DL)the ^[ae]worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Faith at the Dawn of History^(DM)

⁴ By faith ^(DN)Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still ^(DO)speaks.

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ^(DP)“and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

⁷ By faith ^(DQ)Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, ^(DR)prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of ^(DS)the righteousness which is according to faith.

Faithful Abraham^(DT)

⁸ By faith ^(DU)Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. ⁹ By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, ^(DV)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(DW)the heirs with him of the same promise; ¹⁰ for he waited for ^(DX)the city which has foundations, ^(DY)whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹ By faith ^(DZ)Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and ^(EA)she^[af] bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him ^(EB)faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore from one man, and him as good as ^(EC)dead, were born as many as the ^(ED)stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

The Heavenly Hope

¹³ These all died in faith, ^(EE)not having received the ^(EF)promises, but ^(EG)having seen them afar off ^[ag]were assured of them, embraced them and ^(EH)confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who say such things ^(EI)declare plainly that they seek a homeland. ¹⁵ And truly if they had called to mind ^(EJ)that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed ^(EK)to be called their God, for He has ^(EL)prepared a city for them.

The Faith of the Patriarchs^(EM)

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, ^(EN)when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, ^18 [ah]of whom it was said, ^(EO)“In Isaac your seed shall be called,” ¹⁹ concluding that God ^(EP)was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

²⁰ By faith ^(EQ)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was dying, ^(ER)blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

²² By faith ^(ES)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

The Faith of Moses^(ET)

²³ By faith ^(EU)Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s ^(EV)command.

²⁴ By faith ^(EW)Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the ^[ai]passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming ^(EX)the ^[aj]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures ^[ak]in Egypt; for he looked to the ^(EY)reward.

²⁷ By faith ^(EZ)he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith ^(FA)he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith ^(FB)they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned.

By Faith They Overcame

³⁰ By faith ^(FC)the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith ^(FD)the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who ^[al]did not believe, when ^(FE)she had received the spies with peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of ^(FF)Gideon and ^(FG)Barak and ^(FH)Samson and ^(FI)Jephthah, also of ^(FJ)David and ^(FK)Samuel and the prophets: ³³ who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, ^(FL)stopped the mouths of lions, ^34 (FM)quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ^35 (FN)Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were ^(FO)tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and ^(FP)of chains and imprisonment. ^37 (FQ)They were stoned, they were sawn in two, ^[am]were tempted, were slain with the sword. ^(FR)They wandered about ^(FS)in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, ^(FT)in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And all these, ^(FU)having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, ⁴⁰ God having provided something better for us, that they should not be ^(FV)made perfect apart from us.

The Race of Faith

12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, ^(FW)let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and ^(FX)let us run ^(FY)with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the ^[an]author and ^[ao]finisher of our faith, ^(FZ)who for the joy that was set before Him ^(GA)endured the cross, despising the shame, and ^(GB)has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Discipline of God^(GC)

^3 (GD)For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, ^(GE)lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. ^4 (GF)You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. ⁵ And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:

^7 (GI)If^[aq] you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what ^(GJ)son is there whom a father does not chasten? ⁸ But if you are without chastening, ^(GK)of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to ^(GL)the Father of spirits and live? ¹⁰ For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, ^(GM)that we may be partakers of His holiness. ¹¹ Now no ^[ar]chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields ^(GN)the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Renew Your Spiritual Vitality^(GO)

¹² Therefore ^(GP)strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, ¹³ and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

^14 (GQ)Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, ^(GR)without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone ^(GS)fall short of the grace of God; lest any ^(GT)root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; ¹⁶ lest there be any ^(GU)fornicator or ^[as]profane person like Esau, ^(GV)who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. ¹⁷ For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was ^(GW)rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

The Glorious Company

¹⁸ For you have not come ^[at]to ^(GX)the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and ^[au]darkness and tempest, ¹⁹ and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it ^(GY)begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore. ²⁰ (For they could not endure what was commanded: ^(GZ)“And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned ^[av]or shot with an arrow.” ²¹ And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ^(HA)“I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.”)

²² But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, ²³ to the ^[aw]general assembly and church of ^(HB)the firstborn ^(HC)who are registered in heaven, to God ^(HD)the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men ^(HE)made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus ^(HF)the Mediator of the new covenant, and to ^(HG)the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things ^(HH)than that of Abel.

Hear the Heavenly Voice

²⁵ See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For ^(HI)if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, ²⁶ whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, ^(HJ)“Yet once more I ^[ax]shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” ²⁷ Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the ^(HK)removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.

²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we ^[ay]may ^(HL)serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For ^(HM)our God is a consuming fire.