Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

9 The first agreement had laws about worship. And it had a holy place on earth where the agreement was kept.

² A house was made. In the first part of the house were the light, the table, and the bread of God. This first part was called the Holy Place.

³ The next part of the house was called the Most Holy Place.

⁴ In the Most Holy Place was a pan made of gold. In this pan a fire could burn to make a sweet-smelling smoke. The box of the agreement was also in the Most Holy Place. It was covered all over with gold. In this box were: the golden pot, which had some of the food God sent from heaven for the people in the desert; Aaron's stick which grew flowers on it; and the stones which had God's agreement written on them.

⁵ On top of the box were the shapes of two angels. They showed that God is great. Their wings spread over the cover of the box. It was the place where God showed that he is kind. But we cannot take time to tell about every part of these things now.

⁶ These things were made ready. The priests always went into the first part of the house to do their work for God.

⁷ But only the high priest went into the second part. And he went in only once a year. He never went in without taking blood with him. He gave the blood to God for the wrong things he had done and for the wrong things people had done.

⁸ This is how the Holy Spirit showed that the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet open to everybody. It was not open as long as the first house was still standing.

⁹ This first part is a picture of the time we are in now. In it gifts and sacrifices are made to God. But they cannot make a person's heart clean to worship God.

¹⁰ These are only things to eat and drink and different kinds of washings. They are laws made for the body until the time when everything is made right again.

¹¹ But Christ has come as the high priest of the good things which have come. He went through a greater and better house which was not made by men's hands. It is not a part of this world.

¹² He did not take the blood of goats and young cows. He took his own blood. And he went into the Most Holy Place just once. He paid for our sins and made us free for ever.