Read the Bible

Old Covenant Ministry

¹ Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. ² For 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.^{(C1) 3} Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place.^{(C1) 4} It had the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.^{(C1) 5} The cherubim of glory were above the ark overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.^(C1)

⁶ With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry.^{(C1) 7} But 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 the people had committed in ignorance.^{(C1) 8} The 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.^{(C1) 9} This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.^{(C1) 10} They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.^(C1)

New Covenant Ministry

¹¹ But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come.^(F1) In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation^(C1)), ¹² he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.^{(C1) 13} For 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,^{(C1) 14} how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(C1) offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our^(F1) consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?^(C2)

¹⁵ Therefore, he is the mediator^(C1) of a new covenant,^(F1)(C2) so that those who are called might receive the promise^(C3) of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{(C4) 16} Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. ¹⁹ For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,^(F1) along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,^{(C1) 20} saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.^{(F1)(C1) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood.^{(C1) 22} According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(C1)

²³ Therefore, 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.^{(C1) 24} For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model^(F1) of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.^{(C1) 25} He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.^{(C1) 26} Otherwise, 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,^(C1) for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(C2) 27} And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment^(C1)— ²⁸ so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,^(C1) will appear a second time,^(C2) not to bear sin, but^(F1) to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.^(C3)