New Testament in a Year

Chapter 10

A Unique Sacrifice^[a]

The Law Was a Shadow. ¹ The Law contains little more than a shadow of the good things to come and not the true image of them. These sacrifices that are offered year after year can never bring the worshipers to perfection. ² If they could, those sacrifices would no longer be offered, for the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all and would no longer feel guilty for sins.

³ However, in these sacrifices sins are brought to mind year after year, ⁴ because sins cannot be taken away by the blood of bulls and goats.

One Sacrifice for Sins. ⁵ That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said,

⁸ First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in,” even though they are offered according to the Law. ⁹ Then he adds, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He thus abolishes the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And it was by this “will” that we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

^11 [b]Day after day every priest stands to perform his ministry, offering over and over again the same sacrifices that can never remove sins. ¹² But Jesus offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, and then took his seat at the right hand of God, ¹³ where he now waits until his enemies are made his footstool. ¹⁴ Therefore, by a single offering he has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For he first says,

¹⁷ Then he also asserts,

¹⁸ When these have been forgiven, there are no longer any offerings for sins.