The New Priestly Service

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, a Minister of (B)the [a]sanctuary and of (C)the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

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. For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 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.” 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)

For if that (L)first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 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 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)

Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and (U)the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the [c]sanctuary; (V)and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 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; 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

Now when these things had been thus prepared, (AC)the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 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; 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. 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.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 8:2 Lit. holies
  2. Hebrews 8:12 NU omits and their lawless deeds
  3. Hebrews 9:2 holy place, lit. holies
  4. Hebrews 9:10 Lit. baptisms
  5. Hebrews 9:11 NU that have come
  6. Hebrews 9:13 sets apart
  7. Hebrews 9:13 cleansing
  8. Hebrews 9:14 blemish
  9. Hebrews 9:19 command
  10. Hebrews 9:22 cleansed
  11. Hebrews 9:22 forgiveness
  12. Hebrews 9:23 cleansed
  13. Hebrews 9:24 representations

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