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Hebrews 9-10
New King James Version

The Earthly Sanctuary(A)

9 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and (B)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 [a]sanctuary; 3 (C)and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the (D)golden censer and (E)the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were (F)the golden pot that had the manna, (G)Aaron’s rod that budded, and (H)the tablets of the covenant; 5 and (I)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, (J)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 (K)once a year, not without blood, which he offered for (L)himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that (M)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 (N)which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with (O)foods and drinks, (P)various [b]washings, (Q)and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

11 But Christ came as High Priest of (R)the good things [c]to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not (S)with the blood of goats and calves, but (T)with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place (U)once for all, (V)having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if (W)the blood of bulls and goats and (X)the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, [d]sanctifies for the [e]purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without [f]spot to God, (Y)cleanse your conscience from (Z)dead works (AA)to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason (AB)He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that (AC)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 (AD)a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 (AE)Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19 For when Moses had spoken every [g]precept to all the people according to the law, (AF)he took the blood of calves and goats, (AG)with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, (AH)“This is the (AI)blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise (AJ)he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are [h]purified with blood, and (AK)without shedding of blood there is no [i]remission.

Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

23 Therefore it was necessary that (AL)the copies of the things in the heavens should be [j]purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For (AM)Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are [k]copies of (AN)the true, but into heaven itself, now (AO)to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as (AP)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 (AQ)And as it is appointed for men to die once, (AR)but after this the judgment, 28 so (AS)Christ was (AT)offered once to bear the sins (AU)of many. To those who (AV)eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a (AW)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, (AX)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 [l]purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For (AY)it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will(AZ)

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

(BA)“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”

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, [m]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 (BB)By that will we have been [n]sanctified (BC)through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

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

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

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

Hold Fast Your Confession

19 Therefore, brethren, having (BJ)boldness[q] to enter (BK)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and (BL)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 (BM)draw near with a true heart (BN)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 (BO)He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 (BP)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and (BQ)so much the more as you see (BR)the Day approaching.

The Just Live by Faith

26 For (BS)if we sin willfully (BT)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there (BU)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and (BV)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three (BW)witnesses. 29 (BX)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, (BY)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, (BZ)and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, (CA)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [r]says the Lord. And again, (CB)“The Lord will judge His people.” 31 (CC)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But (CD)recall the former days in which, after you were [s]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made (CE)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while (CF)you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on [t]me (CG)in my chains, and (CH)joyfully accepted the plundering of your [u]goods, knowing that (CI)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves [v]in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, (CJ)which has great reward. 36 (CK)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, (CL)you may receive the promise:

37 “For (CM)yet a little while,
And (CN)He[w] who is coming will come and will not [x]tarry.
38 Now (CO)the[y] just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those (CP)who draw back to [z]perdition, but of those who (CQ)believe to the saving of the soul.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:2 holy place, lit. holies
  2. Hebrews 9:10 Lit. baptisms
  3. Hebrews 9:11 NU that have come
  4. Hebrews 9:13 sets apart
  5. Hebrews 9:13 cleansing
  6. Hebrews 9:14 blemish
  7. Hebrews 9:19 command
  8. Hebrews 9:22 cleansed
  9. Hebrews 9:22 forgiveness
  10. Hebrews 9:23 cleansed
  11. Hebrews 9:24 representations
  12. Hebrews 10:2 cleansed
  13. Hebrews 10:9 NU, M omit O God
  14. Hebrews 10:10 set apart
  15. Hebrews 10:14 set apart
  16. Hebrews 10:18 forgiveness
  17. Hebrews 10:19 confidence
  18. Hebrews 10:30 NU omits says the Lord
  19. Hebrews 10:32 enlightened
  20. Hebrews 10:34 NU the prisoners instead of me in my chains
  21. Hebrews 10:34 possessions
  22. Hebrews 10:34 NU omits in heaven
  23. Hebrews 10:37 Or that which
  24. Hebrews 10:37 delay
  25. Hebrews 10:38 NU My just one
  26. Hebrews 10:39 destruction
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Hebrews 9-10
New International Version

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)

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator(AT) of a new covenant,(AU) that those who are called(AV) may receive the promised(AW) eternal inheritance(AX)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.(AY)

16 In the case of a will,[d] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.(AZ) 19 When Moses had proclaimed(BA) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,(BB) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.(BC) 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[e](BD) 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,(BE) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.(BF)

23 It was necessary, then, for the copies(BG) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;(BH) he entered heaven itself,(BI) now to appear for us in God’s presence.(BJ) 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place(BK) every year with blood that is not his own.(BL) 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.(BM) But he has appeared(BN) once for all(BO) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.(BP) 27 Just as people are destined to die once,(BQ) and after that to face judgment,(BR) 28 so Christ was sacrificed once(BS) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,(BT) not to bear sin,(BU) but to bring salvation(BV) to those who are waiting for him.(BW)

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow(BX) of the good things(BY) that are coming—not the realities themselves.(BZ) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect(CA) those who draw near to worship.(CB) 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.(CC) 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.(CD) 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats(CE) to take away sins.(CF)

5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world,(CG) he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;(CH)
6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll(CI)—
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”[f](CJ)

8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”(CK)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”(CL) He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy(CM) through the sacrifice of the body(CN) of Jesus Christ once for all.(CO)

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,(CP) which can never take away sins.(CQ) 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,(CR) he sat down at the right hand of God,(CS) 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.(CT) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect(CU) forever those who are being made holy.(CV)

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies(CW) to us about this. First he says:

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”[g](CX)

17 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”[h](CY)

18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(CZ) to enter the Most Holy Place(DA) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(DB) opened for us through the curtain,(DC) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(DD) over the house of God,(DE) 22 let us draw near to God(DF) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(DG) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(DH) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(DI) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(DJ) we profess,(DK) for he who promised is faithful.(DL) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(DM) 25 not giving up meeting together,(DN) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(DO)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(DP)

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning(DQ) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,(DR) no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire(DS) that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(DT) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(DU) underfoot,(DV) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(DW) that sanctified them,(DX) and who has insulted the Spirit(DY) of grace?(DZ) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[i](EA) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[j](EB) 31 It is a dreadful thing(EC) to fall into the hands(ED) of the living God.(EE)

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,(EF) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.(EG) 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;(EH) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.(EI) 34 You suffered along with those in prison(EJ) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.(EK) 35 So do not throw away your confidence;(EL) it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere(EM) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(EN) 37 For,

“In just a little while,
    he who is coming(EO) will come
    and will not delay.”[k](EP)

38 And,

“But my righteous[l] one will live by faith.(EQ)
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back.”[m](ER)

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
  2. Hebrews 9:12 Or blood, having obtained
  3. Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
  4. Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
  5. Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8
  6. Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
  7. Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
  8. Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34
  9. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
  10. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
  11. Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
  12. Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous
  13. Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)
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