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The Old and the New

¹ Now even the first covenant had ^(C1)regulations for divine worship and for the earthly ^(C2)sanctuary. ^(VR1)2 (C1)A tabernacle (sacred tent) was put up, the outer one or first section, in which were ^(C2)the lampstand and ^(C3)the table with its loaves of ^(C4)the sacred showbread; this is called the Holy Place. ^(VR1)3 Behind ^(C1)the second veil there was another tabernacle the inner one or second section known as the ^(C2)Holy of Holies, ^(VR1)4 (F1)having the golden ^(C1)altar of incense and ^(C2)the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. This contained ^(C3)a golden jar which held the manna, and the ^(C4)rod of Aaron that sprouted, and ^(C5)the two stone tablets of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments; ^(VR1)5 and above the ark were the golden ^(C1)cherubim of glory ^(C2)overshadowing ^(F1)the mercy seat; but we cannot now go into detail about these things.

⁶ Now when these things have been prepared in this way, the priests ^(C1)continually enter the outer or first section of the tabernacle that is, the Holy Place performing their ritual acts of the divine worship,⁷ but into ^(C1)the second inner tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, only ^(C2)the high priest enters and then only ^(C3)once a year, and ^(C4)never without bringing a sacrifice of blood, which he ^(C5)offers as a substitutionary atonement for himself and for the ^(C6)sins of the people committed in ignorance. ^(VR1)8 By this ^(C1)the Holy Spirit signifies ^(C2)that the way into the Holy Place the true Holy of Holies and the presence of God has not yet been disclosed as long as the ^(F1)first or outer tabernacle is still standing that is, as long as the Levitical system of worship remains a recognized institution,⁹ for this first or outer tabernacle is a symbol that is, an archetype or paradigm for the present time. Accordingly both ^(C1)gifts and sacrifices are offered which ^(C2)are incapable of perfecting the conscience and renewing the inner self of the worshiper.¹⁰ For they the gifts, sacrifices, and ceremonies deal only with clean and unclean ^(C1)food and ^(C2)drink and various ritual ^(C3)washings, mere external ^(C4)regulations for the body imposed to help the worshipers until ^(C5)the time of reformation that is, the time of the new order when Christ will establish the reality of what these things foreshadow—a better covenant.

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a ^(C1)High Priest of the ^(C2)good things to come that is, true spiritual worship, He entered through ^(C3)the greater and more perfect tabernacle, ^(C4)not made with hands, that is to say, ^(C5)not a part of this material creation.¹² He ^(C1)went ^(C2)once for all into the Holy Place the Holy of Holies of heaven, into the presence of God, and not through ^(C3)the blood of goats and calves, but through ^(C4)His own blood, having obtained and secured ^(C5)eternal redemption that is, the salvation of all who personally believe in Him as Savior.¹³ For if ^(C1)the sprinkling of ceremonially defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and ^(C2)the ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the cleansing of the body, ^(VR1)14 how much more will ^(C1)the blood of Christ, who through ^(C2)the eternal Holy Spirit willingly ^(C3)offered Himself unblemished that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice to God, ^(C4)cleanse your conscience from ^(C5)dead works and lifeless observances to serve ^(C6)the ever living God?

¹⁵ For this reason ^(C1)He is the ^(C2)Mediator and Negotiator of a ^(C3)new covenant that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man, so that those who have been ^(C4)called by God may ^(C5)receive the fulfillment of the promised ^(C6)eternal inheritance, since a death has taken place as the payment which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant.¹⁶ For where there is a will and ^(F1)testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established,¹⁷ for a will and testament takes effect only at death, since it is never in force as long as the one who made it is alive.¹⁸ So even the first covenant was not put in force without the shedding of blood.¹⁹ For when every commandment in the Law had been ^(C1)read by Moses to all the people, ^(C2)he took the ^(C3)blood of the calves and goats which had been sacrificed, together with ^(C4)water and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and he sprinkled both ^(C5)the scroll itself and all the people,²⁰ saying, "^(C1)THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT that seals and ratifies the agreement WHICH GOD ORDAINED and COMMANDED me to deliver to YOU." ^(VR1)21 And in the same way he ^(C1)sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the containers and sacred utensils of worship with the blood.²² In fact under the Law ^(C1)almost everything is cleansed with blood, and ^(C2)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment.

²³ Therefore it was necessary for the earthly ^(C1)copies of the heavenly things to be cleansed with these, but ^(C1)the heavenly things themselves required far better sacrifices than these.²⁴ For Christ ^(C1)did not enter into a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of ^(C2)the true one, but He entered into ^(C3)heaven itself, now ^(C4)to appear in the very presence of God on our behalf;²⁵ nor did He enter into the heavenly sanctuary to offer Himself again and again, as ^(C1)the high priest enters ^(C2)the Holy Place ^(C1)every year with blood that is not his own.²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer over and over since ^(C1)the foundation of the world; but now ^(C2)once for all at ^(C3)the consummation of the ages He has ^(C4)appeared and been publicly manifested to put away sin ^(C5)by the sacrifice of Himself.²⁷ And just as ^(C1)it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this ^(C2)comes certain judgment,²⁸ so Christ, having been ^(C1)offered once and once for all to ^(C2)bear as a burden ^(F1)the sins of many, will appear ^(C3)a second time when he returns to earth, ^(C4)not to deal with sin, but to bring ^(C5)salvation to those who are ^(C6)eagerly and confidently waiting for Him.