Hebrews 9
9
Christ Offered a Superior Sacrifice
1The first promise had rules for the priests’ service. It also had a holy place on earth. 2A tent was set up. The first part of this tent was called the holy place. The lamp stand, the table, and the bread of the presence were in this part of the tent. 3Behind the second curtain was the part of the tent called the most holy place. 4It contained the gold incense burner and the ark of the Lord’s promise. The ark was completely covered with gold. In the ark were the gold jar filled with manna, Aaron’s staff that had blossomed, and the tablets on which the promise #9:4 Or “covenant.” was written. 5Above the ark were the angels #9:5 Or “cherubim.” of glory ⌞with their wings⌟ overshadowing the throne of mercy. (Discussing these things in detail isn’t possible now.)
6That is how these two parts of the tent were set up. The priests always went into the first part of the tent to perform their duties. 7But only the chief priest went into the second part of the tent. Once a year he entered and brought blood that he offered for himself and for the things that the people did wrong unintentionally. 8The Holy Spirit used this to show that the way into the most holy place was not open while the tent was still in use.
9The first part of the tent is an example for the present time. The gifts and sacrifices that were brought there could not give the worshiper a clear conscience. 10These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things.
11But Christ came as a chief priest of the good things that are now here. Christ went through a better, more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not part of this created world. 12He used his own blood, not the blood of goats and bulls, for the sacrifice. He went into the most holy place and offered this sacrifice once and for all to free us forever.
13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of cows sprinkled on unclean #9:13 “Unclean” refers to anything that Moses’ Teachings say is not presentable to God. people made their bodies holy and clean. 14The blood of Christ, who had no defect, does even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done. Now we can serve the living God.
15Because Christ offered himself to God, he is able to bring a new promise from God. Through his death he paid the price to set people free from the sins they committed under the first promise. He did this so that those who are called can be guaranteed an inheritance that will last forever.
16In order for a will to take effect, it must be shown that the one who made it has died. 17A will is used only after a person is dead because it goes into effect only when a person dies.
18That is why even the first promise was made with blood. 19As Scripture tells us, Moses told all the people every commandment. Then he took the blood of calves and goats together with some water, red yarn, and hyssop and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, “Here is the blood that seals the promise God has made to you.” 21In the same way, Moses sprinkled blood on the tent and on everything used in worship. 22As Moses’ Teachings tell us, blood was used to cleanse almost everything, because if no blood is shed, no sins can be forgiven.
23The copies of the things in heaven had to be cleansed by these sacrifices. But the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed by better sacrifices. 24Christ didn’t go into a holy place made by human hands. He didn’t go into a model of the real thing. Instead, he went into heaven to appear in God’s presence on our behalf. 25Every year the chief priest went into the holy place to make a sacrifice with blood that isn’t his own. However, Christ didn’t go into heaven to sacrifice himself again and again. 26Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the world was created. But now, at the end of the ages, he has appeared once to remove sin by his sacrifice. 27People die once, and after that they are judged. 28Likewise, Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of humanity, and after that he will appear a second time. This time he will not deal with sin, but he will save those who eagerly wait for him.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.
Hebrews 9
9
Old Covenant Ministry
1Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. 2For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves. # Ex 25:8-9,23-39; 26:1; Lv 24:5-8 3Behind the second curtain, the tabernacle was called the most holy place. # Ex 26:31-33; 40:3 4It contained the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which there was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. # Ex 16:33; 25:10,16; 30:1-5; Nm 17:10; Dt 10:2 5The cherubim of glory were above it overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now. # Ex 25:18-19; Lv 16:2
6With these things set up this way, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. # Nm 28:3 7But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. # Ex 30:10; Lv 16:15,34; Heb 5:3 8The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing. # Jn 14:6; Heb 10:19-20 9This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience. # Heb 5:1; 7:19 10They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of restoration. # Lv 11:2-3; Col 2:16
New Covenant Ministry
11But the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come. # Other mss read that are to come In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation # Heb 2:17; 8:2; 10:1), 12He entered the most holy place once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. # Dn 9:24; Heb 7:27; 10:4 13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, # Lv 16:14-15; Nm 19:2,9,17-18 14how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit # 1Pt 3:18; 1Jn 1:7 offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our # Other mss read your consciences from dead works to serve the living God? # Ti 2:14; Heb 6:1; 10:2,22
15Therefore, He is the mediator # 1Tm 2:5; Heb 8:6; 12:24 of a new covenant, # The Gk word used here and in vv. 15-18 can be translated covenant, will, or testament. # Jr 31:31-34; 1Co 11:25; 2Co 3:6; Heb 7:22; 8:8; 13:20 so that those who are called might receive the promise # Gn 12:7; Rm 8:28; Gl 3:19; Heb 4:1 of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. # Rm 3:25; 5:6 16Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in force while the one who made it is living. 18That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. 19For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, # Ex 24:6-8; Lv 14:4-6 20saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you. # Ex 24:8; Mt 26:28 # Ex 24:8 21In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood. # Ex 29:12; Lv 8:15 22According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. # Lv 17:11
23Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. # Heb 8:5 24For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model # Or antitype, or figure of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us. # Rm 8:34; Heb 7:25; 8:2 25He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. # Heb 9:7; 10:19 26Otherwise, He would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, # Mt 24:3; 28:20; 1Co 10:11 for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself. # Heb 4:3; 7:27 27And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgment # Gn 3:19; 2Co 5:10 — 28so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, # Is 53:12; 1Pt 2:24 will appear a second time, # Mk 8:38; 1Th 4:16 not to bear sin, but # Lit time, apart from sin, to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. # Mt 26:28; 1Co 1:7; Ti 2:13
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