Hebrews 10
10
1The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices offered year after year. 2If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.
5 # Ps 40.6-8 (LXX). When Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“Sacrifices and offerings
are not what you want,
but you have given me
my body.
6No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
and offerings for sin.”
7Then Christ said,
“And so, my God,
I have come to do
what you want,
as the Scriptures say.”
8The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. This is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” 10So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.
11 #
Ex 29.38. The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12#Ps 110.1. But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God's right side,#10.12 right side: See the note at 1.3. 13and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.
15The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,
16 #
Jr 31.33. “When the time comes,
I will make an agreement
with them.
I will write my laws
on their minds and hearts.
17 #
Jr 31.34. Then I will forget
about their sins
and no longer remember
their evil deeds.”
18When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices.
Encouragement and Warning
19My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place 20by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.
21We have a great high priest who is in charge of God's house. 22#Lv 8.30; Ez 36.25. So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us. 24We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. 25Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.
26No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. 27#Is 26.11 (LXX). They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire. 28#Dt 17.5-7; 19.15. If two or more witnesses accused someone of breaking the Law of Moses, that person could be put to death. 29#Ex 24.8. But it is much worse to dishonor God's Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy. 30#Dt 32.35; Dt 32.36. We know that God has said he will punish and take revenge. We also know that the Scriptures say the Lord will judge his people. 31It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32Don't forget all the hard times you went through when you first received the light. 33Sometimes you were abused and mistreated in public, and at other times you shared in the sufferings of others. 34You were kind to people in jail. And you gladly let your possessions be taken away, because you knew you had something better, something that would last forever.
35Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. 36Learn to be patient, so you will please God and be given what he has promised. 37#Hb 2.3,4 (LXX). As the Scriptures say,
“God is coming soon!
It won't be very long.
38The people God accepts
will live because
of their faith.#10.38 The people God accepts will live because of their faith: Or “The people God accepts because of their faith will live.”
But he isn't pleased
with anyone
who turns back.”
39We are not like those people who turn back and get destroyed. We will keep on having faith until we are saved.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.
Hebrews 10
10
1The Jewish Law is not a full and faithful model of the real things; it is only a faint outline of the good things to come. The same sacrifices are offered for ever, year after year. How can the Law, then, by means of these sacrifices make perfect the people who come to God? 2If the people worshipping God had really been purified from their sins, they would not feel guilty of sin any more, and all sacrifices would stop. 3As it is, however, the sacrifices serve year after year to remind people of their sins. 4For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.
5 #
Ps 40.6–8 (LXX) For this reason, when Christ was about to come into the world, he said to God:
“You do not want sacrifices and offerings,
but you have prepared a body for me.
6You are not pleased with animals burnt whole on the altar
or with sacrifices to take away sins.
7Then I said, ‘Here I am,
to do your will, O God,
just as it is written of me in the book of the Law.’ ”
8First he said, “You neither want nor are you pleased with sacrifices and offerings or with animals burnt on the altar and the sacrifices to take away sins.” He said this even though all these sacrifices are offered according to the Law. 9Then he said, “Here I am, O God, to do your will.” So God does away with all the old sacrifices and puts the sacrifice of Christ in their place. 10Because Jesus Christ did what God wanted him to do, we are all purified from sin by the offering that he made of his own body once and for all.
11 #
Ex 29.38
Every Jewish priest performs his services every day and offers the same sacrifices many times; but these sacrifices can never take away sins. 12#Ps 110.1Christ, however, offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective for ever, and then he sat down at the right-hand side of God. 13There he now waits until God puts his enemies as a footstool under his feet. 14With one sacrifice, then, he has made perfect for ever those who are purified from sin.
15And the Holy Spirit also gives us his witness. First he says:
16 #
Jer 31.33
“This is the covenant that I will make with them
in the days to come, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts
and write them on their minds.”
17 #
Jer 31.34
And then he says, “I will not remember their sins and evil deeds any longer.” 18So when these have been forgiven, an offering to take away sins is no longer needed.
Let us Come Near to God
19We have, then, my brothers and sisters, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. 20He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain — that is, through his own body. 21We have a great priest in charge of the house of God. 22#Lev 8.30; Ezek 36.25So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. 23Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise. 24Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. 25Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.
26For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us. 27#Is 26.11 (LXX)Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming Judgement and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God! 28#Deut 17.6; 19.15Anyone who disobeys the Law of Moses is put to death without any mercy when judged guilty on the evidence of two or more witnesses. 29#Ex 24.8What, then, of those who despise the Son of God? who treat as a cheap thing the blood of God's covenant which purified them from sin? who insult the Spirit of grace? Just think how much worse is the punishment they will deserve! 30#Deut 32.35, 36For we know who said, “I will take revenge, I will repay”; and who also said, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32Remember how it was with you in the past. In those days, after God's light had shone on you, you suffered many things, yet were not defeated by the struggle. 33You were at times publicly insulted and ill-treated, and at other times you were ready to join those who were being treated in this way. 34You shared the sufferings of prisoners, and when all your belongings were seized, you endured your loss gladly, because you knew that you still possessed something much better, which would last for ever. 35Do not lose your courage, then, because it brings with it a great reward. 36You need to be patient, in order to do the will of God and receive what he promises. 37#Hab 2.3–4 (LXX)For, as the scripture says:
“Just a little while longer,
and he who is coming will come;
he will not delay.
38My righteous people, however, will believe and live;
but if any of them turns back,
I will not be pleased with him.”
39We are not people who turn back and are lost. Instead, we have faith and are saved.
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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.