1
Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
2
A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table
and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.
3
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
4
which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark
of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna,
Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
5
Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing
the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6
When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly
into the outer room to carry on their ministry.
7
But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year,
and never without blood, which he offered for himself
and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
8
The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place
had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.
9
This is an illustration for the present time,
indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able
to clear the conscience of the worshiper.
10
They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings -
external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
11
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here,
he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made,
that is to say, not a part of this creation.
12
He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;
but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood
having obtained etnernal redemption.
13
The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer 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 offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences
from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
15
For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who
are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that he has died
as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16
In the case of a will, 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.
19
When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the
people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool
and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.
20
He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you
to keep."
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,
and without thre shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23
It was necessary, then, for the copies 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 man-made sanctuary that was a copy of
the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us
in God's presence.
25
Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way
the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood
that is not his own.
26
Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.
But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away
with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,
28
so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people;
and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring
salvation to those who are waiting for him.
