Study Desk

Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a ^(C1)high priest, who has taken His seat at ^(C2)the right hand of the throne of the ^(C2)Majesty in the heavens,

a ^(C1)minister ^(F1)in the sanctuary and ^(F1)in the ^(C2)true ^(F2)tabernacle, which the Lord ^(C3)set up, not man.

For every ^(C1)high priest is appointed ^(C2)to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.

Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are ^(F1)those who ^(C1)offer the gifts according to the Law;

who serve ^(C1)a copy and ^(C2)shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses ^(F1)was ^(C3)warned by God when he was about to erect the ^(F2)tabernacle; for, "^(C4)SEE," He says, "THAT YOU MAKE all things BY THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN TO YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN."

But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, to the extent that He is also the ^(C1)mediator of ^(C2)a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

For ^(C1)if that first covenant had been free of fault, no ^(F1)circumstances would have been sought for a second.

For in finding fault with ^(F1)the people, He says, "^(C1)BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, ^(F2)WHEN I WILL BRING ABOUT ^(C2)A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND THE HOUSE OF JUDAH,

^(C1)NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS ON THE DAY I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO BRING THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE ABOUT THEM, SAYS THE LORD.

-"^(C1)FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT WHICH I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD: ^(F1)I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND WRITE THEM ^(C2)ON THEIR HEARTS. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

-"^(C1)AND THEY WILL NOT TEACH, EACH ONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EACH ONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, 'KNOW THE LORD,' FOR ^(C2)THEY WILL ALL KNOW ME, FROM ^(F1)THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM.

-"^(C1)FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TOWARD THEIR WRONGDOINGS, ^(C2)AND THEIR SINS I WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER."

^(F1)When He said, "^(C1)A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. ^(C2)But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ^(F2)about to disappear.

Now even the first covenant had ^(C1)regulations for divine worship and ^(C2)the earthly sanctuary.

For ^(C1)a ^(F1)tabernacle was equipped, the ^(F2)outer sanctuary, in which were ^(C2)the lampstand, ^(C3)the table, and ^(C4)the ^(F3)sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place.

Behind ^(C1)the second veil there was a ^(F1)tabernacle which is called the ^(C2)Most Holy Place,

having a golden ^(F1)(C1)altar of incense and ^(C2)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(C3)a golden jar holding the manna, ^(C4)Aaron's staff which budded, and ^(C5)the tablets of the covenant;

and above it were the ^(C1)cherubim of glory ^(C2)overshadowing the ^(F1)atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests ^(C1)are continually entering the ^(F1)outer ^(F2)tabernacle, performing the divine worship,

but into ^(C1)the second, only ^(C2)the high priest enters ^(C3)once a year, ^(C4)not without taking blood which he ^(C5)offers for himself and for the ^(F1)(C6)sins of the people committed in ignorance.

^(C1)The Holy Spirit is signifying this, ^(C2)that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the ^(F1)outer tabernacle is still standing,

which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly ^(C1)both gifts and sacrifices are offered which ^(C2)cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,

since they relate only to ^(C1)food, ^(C2)drink, and various ^(C3)washings, ^(C4)regulations for the ^(F1)body imposed until ^(C5)a time of reformation.

But when Christ appeared as a ^(C1)high priest of the ^(C2)good things ^(F1)having come, He entered through ^(C3)the greater and more perfect ^(F2)tabernacle, ^(C4)not made by hands, that is, ^(C5)not of this creation;

and not through ^(C1)the blood of goats and calves, but ^(C2)through His own blood, He ^(C3)entered the holy place ^(C4)once for all time, ^(F1)having obtained ^(C5)eternal redemption.

For if ^(C1)the blood of goats and bulls, and ^(C2)the ^(F1)ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the ^(F2)cleansing of the flesh,

how much more will ^(C1)the blood of Christ, who through ^(F1)(C2)the eternal Spirit ^(C3)offered Himself without blemish to God, ^(C4)cleanse your conscience from ^(C5)dead works to serve ^(C6)the living God?

For this reason ^(C1)He is the ^(C2)mediator of a ^(C3)new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been ^(C4)called may ^(C5)receive the promise of ^(C6)the eternal inheritance.

For where there is a ^(F1)covenant, there must of necessity ^(F2)be the death of the one who made it.

For a ^(F1)covenant is valid only when people are dead, ^(F2)for it is never in force while the one who made it lives.

Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.

For when every commandment had been ^(C1)spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, ^(C2)he took the ^(C3)blood of the calves and the goats, with ^(C4)water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ^(C5)the book itself and all the people,

saying, "^(C1)THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU."

And in the same way he ^(C1)sprinkled both the ^(F1)tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood.

And ^(C1)almost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and ^(C2)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Therefore it was necessary for the ^(C1)copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but ^(C1)the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

For Christ ^(C1)did not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of ^(C2)the true one, but into ^(C3)heaven itself, now ^(C4)to appear in the presence of God for us;

nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as ^(C1)the high priest enters ^(C2)the Holy Place ^(C1)year by year with blood that is not his own.

Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since ^(C1)the foundation of the world; but now ^(C2)once at ^(C3)the consummation of the ages He has been ^(C4)revealed to put away sin ^(F1)(C5)by the sacrifice of Himself.

And just as ^(C1)it is destined for people to die once, and after this ^(C2)comes judgment,

so Christ also, having been ^(C1)offered once to ^(C2)bear the sins of many, will appear ^(C3)a second time for ^(C4)salvation ^(C5)without reference to sin, to those who ^(C6)eagerly await Him.

For the Law, since it has only ^(C1)a shadow of ^(C2)the good things to come and not the ^(F1)form of those things itself, ^(F2)can ^(C3)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, ^(C4)make those who approach perfect.

Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had ^(C1)consciousness of sins?

But ^(C1)in ^(F1)those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

For it is ^(C1)impossible for the ^(C2)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Therefore, ^(C1)when He comes into the world, He says, "^(C2)YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED SACRIFICE AND OFFERING, BUT ^(C3)YOU HAVE PREPARED A BODY FOR ME;

^(C1)YOU HAVE NOT TAKEN PLEASURE IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND OFFERINGS FOR SIN.

-"^(C1)THEN I SAID, 'BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IT IS WRITTEN OF ME IN ^(C2)THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.'"

After saying above, "^(C1)SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND ^(C2)WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND OFFERINGS ^(C3)FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE IN THEM" (which are offered according to the Law),

then He ^(F1)said, "^(C1)BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL." He takes away the first in order to establish the second.

By ^(F1)this will, we have been ^(C1)sanctified through ^(C2)the offering of ^(C3)the body of Jesus Christ ^(C4)once for all time.

Every priest stands daily ministering and ^(C1)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which ^(C2)can never take away sins;

but He, having offered one sacrifice ^(C1)for ^(F1)sins ^(C2)for all time, ^(C3)SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD,

waiting from that time onward ^(C1)UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET.

For by one offering He has ^(C1)perfected ^(C2)for all time those who are ^(F1)sanctified.

And ^(C1)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

"^(C1)THIS IS THE COVENANT WHICH I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, DECLARES THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEARTS, AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR MIND," He then says,

Footnotes:  

Cross References:  

"^(C1)AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL NO LONGER REMEMBER."

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, an offering for sin is no longer required.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we ^(C1)have confidence to ^(C2)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,

by ^(C1)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through ^(C2)the veil, that is, through His flesh,

and since we have ^(C1)a great priest ^(C2)over the house of God,

let's ^(C1)approach God with a ^(F1)sincere heart in ^(C2)full assurance of faith, having our hearts ^(C3)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(C4)washed with pure water.

Let's hold firmly to the ^(C1)confession of our ^(C2)hope without wavering, for ^(C3)He who promised is faithful;

and let's consider how ^(C1)to ^(F1)encourage one another in love and ^(C2)good deeds,

not abandoning our own ^(C1)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but ^(C2)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see ^(C3)the day drawing near.

For if we go on ^(C1)sinning willfully after receiving ^(C2)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

but a terrifying expectation of ^(C1)judgment and ^(C2)THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.

^(C1)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

^(C1)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve ^(C2)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean ^(C3)the blood of the covenant ^(C4)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(C5)insulted the Spirit of grace?

For we know Him who said, "^(C1)VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY." And again, "^(C2)THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE."

It is a ^(C1)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the ^(C2)living God.

But remember ^(C1)the former days, ^(F1)when, after being ^(C2)enlightened, you endured a great ^(C3)conflict of sufferings,

partly by being ^(C1)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming ^(F1)(C2)companions with those who were so treated.

For you ^(C1)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted ^(C2)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves ^(C3)a better and lasting possession.

Therefore, do not throw away your ^(C1)confidence, which has a great ^(C2)reward.

For you have need of ^(C1)endurance, so that when you have ^(C2)done the will of God, you may ^(C3)receive ^(F1)what was promised.

^(C1)FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE, ^(C2)HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.

^(C1)BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE WILL LIVE BY FAITH; AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

But ^(F1)we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.