Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 8

A Heavenly Priesthood

¹ Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,^{(a) 2} a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man.^{(b) 3} For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts^(c) and sacrifices; therefore it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. ⁴ Now if He were on earth, He wouldn't be a priest, since there are those^[a] offering the gifts prescribed by the law. ⁵ These serve as a copy and shadow^(d) of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain. ^{(e)[b] 6} But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator^(f) of a better covenant,^(g) which has been legally enacted on better promises.^(h)

A Superior Covenant

⁷ For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. ⁸ But finding fault with His people,^[c] He says:^[d]

¹³ By saying, a new covenant , He has declared that the first is old. And what is old and aging is about to disappear.^(l)

Chapter 9

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.^{(a) 3} Behind the second curtain, the tabernacle was called the most holy place.^{(b) 4} It 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.^{(c) 5} The cherubim of glory were above it overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.^(d)

⁶ With these things set up this way, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry.^{(e) 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 of the people committed in ignorance.^{(f) 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.^{(g) 9} This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper's conscience.^{(h) 10} They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of restoration.⁽ⁱ⁾

New Covenant Ministry

¹¹ But the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come.^[a] In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation^(j)), ¹² He 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.^{(k) 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,^{(l) 14} how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit^(m) offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our^[b] consciences from dead works to serve the living God?⁽ⁿ⁾

¹⁵ Therefore, He is the mediator^(o) of a new covenant,^[c](p) so that those who are called might receive the promise^(q) of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{(r) 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 force 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, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,^{(s) 20} saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you. ^{(t)[d] 21} In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood.^{(u) 22} According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(v)

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.^{(w) 24} For the Messiah did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model^[e] of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that He might now appear in the presence of God for us.^{(x) 25} He did not do this to offer Himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.^{(y) 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,^(z) for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of Himself.^{(aa) 27} And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment^(ab)— ²⁸ so also the Messiah, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,^(ac) will appear a second time,^(ad) not to bear sin, but^[f] to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.^(ae)

Chapter 10

The Perfect Sacrifice

¹ Since the law has only a shadow of the good things^(a) to come, and not the actual form of those realities, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. ² Otherwise, wouldn't they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, once purified, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Therefore, as He was coming into the world, He said:

⁸ After He says above, You did not want or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law^(c)), ⁹ He then says, See, I have come to do Your will. ^[b] He takes away the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ By this will of God, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.^(d)

¹¹ Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins.^{(e) 12} But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.^{(f) 13} He is now waiting until His enemies are made His footstool.^{(g) 14} For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are sanctified. ¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after He says:

¹⁷ He adds:

¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Exhortations to Godliness

¹⁹ Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus,^{(i) 20} by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh^(j)), ²¹ and since we have a great high priest over the house of God,^{(k) 22} let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.^{(l) 23} Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.^{(m) 24} And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, ²⁵ not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other,⁽ⁿ⁾ and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Warning against Deliberate Sin

²⁶ For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,^{(o) 27} but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries.^{(p) 28} If anyone disregards Moses' law, he dies without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses.^{(q) 29} How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, regarded as profane^[d] the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace?^{(r) 30} For we know the One who has said, Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, ^[e][f] and again, The Lord will judge His people. ^{(s)[g] 31} It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!^(t)

³² Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings.^{(u) 33} Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way.^{(v) 34} For you sympathized with the prisoners^[h] and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession.^{[i](w) 35} So don't throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.^{(x) 36} For you need endurance, so that after you have done God's will, you may receive what was promised.^(y)

³⁹ But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.