Cleansing From Sin

13 “On that day a fountain^(A) will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse^(B) them from sin and impurity.

² “On that day, I will banish the names of the idols^(C) from the land, and they will be remembered no more,”^(D) declares the Lord Almighty. “I will remove both the prophets^(E) and the spirit of impurity from the land. ³ And if anyone still prophesies, their father and mother, to whom they were born, will say to them, ‘You must die, because you have told lies^(F) in the Lord’s name.’ Then their own parents will stab the one who prophesies.^(G)

⁴ “On that day every prophet will be ashamed^(H) of their prophetic vision. They will not put on a prophet’s garment^(I) of hair^(J) in order to deceive.^{(K) 5} Each will say, ‘I am not a prophet. I am a farmer; the land has been my livelihood since my youth.^[a]’^{(L) 6} If someone asks, ‘What are these wounds on your body^[b]?’ they will answer, ‘The wounds I was given at the house of my friends.’

The Shepherd Struck, the Sheep Scattered

4 The Spirit^(A) clearly says that in later times^(B) some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits^(C) and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.^{(D) 3} They forbid people to marry^(E) and order them to abstain from certain foods,^(F) which God created^(G) to be received with thanksgiving^(H) by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴ For everything God created is good,^(I) and nothing is to be rejected^(J) if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God^(K) and prayer.

⁶ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters,^[a] you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith^(L) and of the good teaching that you have followed.^{(M) 7} Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales;^(N) rather, train yourself to be godly.^{(O) 8} For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,^(P) holding promise for both the present life^(Q) and the life to come.^{(R) 9} This is a trustworthy saying^(S) that deserves full acceptance. ¹⁰ That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God,^(T) who is the Savior of all people,^(U) and especially of those who believe.

¹¹ Command and teach these things.^{(V) 12} Don’t let anyone look down on you^(W) because you are young, but set an example^(X) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith^(Y) and in purity. ¹³ Until I come,^(Z) devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,^(AA) to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy^(AB) when the body of elders^(AC) laid their hands on you.^(AD)

¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save^(AE) both yourself and your hearers.

Blessings for a Defiled People

¹⁰ On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month,^(A) in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai: ¹¹ “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests^(B) what the law says: ¹² If someone carries consecrated meat^(C) in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?^(D)’”

The priests answered, “No.”

¹³ Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”

“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.^(E)”

¹⁴ Then Haggai said, “‘So it is with this people^(F) and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer^(G) there is defiled.

¹⁵ “‘Now give careful thought^(H) to this from this day on^[a]—consider how things were before one stone was laid^(I) on another in the Lord’s temple.^{(J) 16} When anyone came to a heap^(K) of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat^(L) to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty.^{(M) 17} I struck all the work of your hands^(N) with blight,^(O) mildew and hail,^(P) yet you did not return^(Q) to me,’ declares the Lord.^{(R) 18} ‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought^(S) to the day when the foundation^(T) of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: ¹⁹ Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate^(U) and the olive tree have not borne fruit.^(V)

“‘From this day on I will bless^(W) you.’”

Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring

²⁰ The word of the Lord came to Haggai^(X) a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month:^{(Y) 21} “Tell Zerubbabel^(Z) governor of Judah that I am going to shake^(AA) the heavens and the earth. ²² I will overturn^(AB) royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms.^(AC) I will overthrow chariots^(AD) and their drivers; horses and their riders^(AE) will fall, each by the sword of his brother.^(AF)

²³ “‘On that day,^(AG)’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant^(AH) Zerubbabel^(AI) son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring,^(AJ) for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

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

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

The Blood of Christ

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