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.
Hebrews 9
9
1The former indeed had also justifications of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2For there was a tabernacle made the first, wherein were the candlesticks, and the table, and the setting forth of loaves, which is called the holy.
3And after the second veil, the tabernacle, which is called the holy of holies:
4Having a golden censer, and the ark of the testament covered about on every part with gold, in which was a golden pot that had manna, and the rod of Aaron, that had blossomed, and the tables of the testament.
5And over it were the cherubims of glory overshadowing the propitiatory: of which it is not needful to speak now particularly.
6Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests indeed always entered, accomplishing the offices of sacrifices.
7But into the second, the high priest alone, once a year: not without blood, which he offereth for his own, and the people's ignorance:
8The Holy Ghost signifying this, that the way into the holies was not yet made manifest, whilst the former tabernacle was yet standing.
9Which is a parable of the time present: according to which gifts and sacrifices are offered, which can not, as to the conscience, make him perfect that serveth, only in meats and in drinks,
10And divers washings, and justices of the flesh laid on them until the time of correction.
11But Christ, being come an high priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, that is, not of this creation:
12Neither by the blood of goats, or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption.
13For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh:
14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?
15And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that by means of his death, for the redemption of those trangressions, which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16For where there is a testament, the death of the testator must of necessity come in.
17For a testament is of force, after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.
18Whereupon neither was the first indeed dedicated without blood.
19For when every commandment of the law had been read by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
20Saying: This is the blood of the testament, which God hath enjoined unto you.
21The tabernacle also and all the vessels of the ministry, in like manner, he sprinkled with blood.
22And almost all things, according to the law, are cleansed with blood: and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
23It is necessary therefore that the patterns of heavenly things should be cleansed with these: but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24For Jesus is not entered into the holies made with hands, the patterns of the true: but into heaven itself, that he may appear now in the presence of God for us.
25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holies, every year with the blood of others:
26For then he ought to have suffered often from the beginning of the world: but now once at the end of ages, he hath appeared for the destruction of sin, by the sacrifice of himself.
27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment:
28So also Christ was offered once to exhaust the sins of many; the second time he shall appear without sin to them that expect him unto salvation.
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An historical text maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.