Hebrews 9
9
The Earthly Sanctuary
1Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and #Ex. 25:8; (Heb. 8:2; 9:11, 24)the earthly sanctuary. 2For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3#Ex. 26:31–35; 40:3and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4which had the #Lev. 16:12golden censer and #Ex. 25:10the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were #Ex. 16:33the golden pot that had the manna, #Num. 17:1–10Aaron’s rod that budded, and #Ex. 25:16; 34:29; Deut. 10:2–5the tablets of the covenant; 5and #Ex. 25:17, 20; Lev. 16:2; 1 Kin. 8:7above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Limitations of the Earthly Service
6Now when these things had been thus prepared, #Num. 18:2–6; 28:3the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7But into the second part the high priest went alone #Ex. 30:10; Lev. 16:34; Heb. 10:3once a year, not without blood, which he offered for #Heb. 5:3himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8the Holy Spirit indicating this, that #(John 14:6; Heb. 10:20)the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered #(Gal. 3:21); Heb. 7:19which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10concerned only with #Lev. 11:2; Col. 2:16foods and drinks, #Num. 19:7various washings, #Eph. 2:15and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
The Heavenly Sanctuary
11But Christ came as High Priest of #(Eph. 1:3–11); Heb. 10:1the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12Not #Heb. 10:4with the blood of goats and calves, but #Is. 53:12; Eph. 1:7with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place #Zech. 3:9once for all, #(Dan. 9:24)having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if #Lev. 16:14, 15; Heb. 9:19; 10:4the blood of bulls and goats and #Num. 19:2the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, #1 John 1:7cleanse your conscience from #Heb. 6:1dead works #Luke 1:74to serve the living God? 15And for this reason #Rom. 3:25He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that #Heb. 3:1those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
The Mediator’s Death Necessary
16For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17For #Gal. 3:15a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18#Ex. 24:6Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, #Ex. 24:5, 6he took the blood of calves and goats, #Lev. 14:4, 7; Num. 19:6, 18with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, #(Matt. 26:28)“This is the #Ex. 24:3–8blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21Then likewise #Ex. 29:12, 36he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and #Lev. 17:11without shedding of blood there is no remission.
Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice
23Therefore it was necessary that #Heb. 8:5the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For #Heb. 6:20Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of #Heb. 8:2the true, but into heaven itself, now #Rom. 8:34to appear in the presence of God for us; 25not that He should offer Himself often, as #Heb. 9:7the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 26He 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#Gen. 3:19; Eccl. 3:20And as it is appointed for men to die once, #(2 Cor. 5:10); 1 John 4:17but after this the judgment, 28so #Rom. 6:10Christ was #Is. 53:12; 1 Pet. 2:24offered once to bear the sins #Matt. 26:28of many. To those who #1 Cor. 1:7; Titus 2:13eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
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Hebrews 9: NKJV
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.
Hebrews 9
9
Earthly and Heavenly Worship
1The first covenant had rules for worship and an earthly place for worship as well. 2#Ex 26.1–30; 25.31–40; 25.23–30A Tent was put up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place. In it were the lampstand and the table with the bread offered to God. 3#Ex 26.31–33Behind the second curtain was the Tent called the Most Holy Place. 4#Ex 30.1–6; 25.10–16; 16.33; Num 17.8–10; Ex 25.16; Deut 10.3–5In it were the gold altar for the burning of incense and the Covenant Box all covered with gold and containing the gold jar with the manna in it, Aaron's stick that had sprouted leaves, and the two stone tablets with the commandments written on them. 5#Ex 25.18–22Above the Box were the winged creatures representing God's presence, with their wings spread over the place where sins were forgiven. But now is not the time to explain everything in detail.
6 #
Num 18.2–6
This is how those things have been arranged. The priests go into the outer Tent every day to perform their duties, 7#Lev 16.2–34but only the High Priest goes into the inner Tent, and he does so only once a year. He takes with him blood which he offers to God on behalf of himself and for the sins which the people have committed without knowing they were sinning. 8The Holy Spirit clearly teaches from all these arrangements that the way into the Most Holy Place has not yet been opened as long as the outer Tent still stands. 9This is an illustration which points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshipper's heart perfect, 10since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order.
11But Christ has already come as the High Priest of the good things that are already here.#9.11 already here; some manuscripts have coming. The tent in which he serves is greater and more perfect; it is not a tent made by human hands, that is, it is not a part of this created world. 12When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us. 13#Lev 16.15–16; Num 19.9, 17–19The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually unclean, and this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity. 14Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.
15For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the first covenant was in force.
16In the case of a will it is necessary to prove that the person who made it has died, 17for a will means nothing while the person who made it is alive; it comes into effect only after his death. 18That is why even the first covenant#9.18 covenant: In Greek the same word means “will” and “covenant”. came into effect only with the use of blood. 19#Ex 24.6–8First, Moses proclaimed to the people all the commandments as set forth in the Law. Then he took the blood of bulls and goats, mixed it with water, and sprinkled it on the book of the Law and all the people, using a sprig of hyssop and some red wool. 20He said, “This is the blood which seals the covenant that God has commanded you to obey.” 21#Lev 8.15In the same way Moses also sprinkled the blood on the Sacred Tent and over all the things used in worship. 22#Lev 17.11Indeed, according to the Law almost everything is purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.
Christ's Sacrifice Takes Away Sins
23Those things, which are copies of the heavenly originals, had to be purified in that way. But the heavenly things themselves require much better sacrifices. 24For Christ did not go into a Holy Place made by human hands, which was a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God. 25The Jewish High Priest goes into the Most Holy Place every year with the blood of an animal. But Christ did not go in to offer himself many times, 26for then he would have had to suffer many times ever since the creation of the world. Instead, now when all ages of time are nearing the end, he has appeared once and for all, to remove sin through the sacrifice of himself. 27Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. 28#Is 53.12In the same manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of many. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are waiting for him.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.