Study Desk

It was necessary, then, for the copies^(bg) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(bh) he entered heaven itself,^(bi) now to appear for us in God's presence.^(bj)

Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(bk) every year with blood that is not his own.^(bl)

Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(bm) But he has appeared^(bn) once for all^(bo) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^(bp)

Just as people are destined to die once,^(bq) and after that to face judgment,^(br)

so Christ was sacrificed once^(bs) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(bt) not to bear sin,^(bu) but to bring salvation^(bv) to those who are waiting for him.^(bw)

Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

The law is only a shadow^(a) of the good things^(b) that are coming—not the realities themselves.^(c) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect^(d) those who draw near to worship.^(e)

Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.^(f)

But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.^(g)

It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats^(h) to take away sins.⁽ⁱ⁾

Therefore, when Christ came into the world,^(j) he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;^(k)

with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.

Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll^(l)— I have come to do your will, my God.'"^[a](m)

First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them"⁽ⁿ⁾—though they were offered in accordance with the law.

Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will."^(o) He sets aside the first to establish the second.

And by that will, we have been made holy^(p) through the sacrifice of the body^(q) of Jesus Christ once for all.^(r)

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,^(s) which can never take away sins.^(t)

But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,^(u) he sat down at the right hand of God,^(v)

and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.^(w)

For by one sacrifice he has made perfect^(x) forever those who are being made holy.^(y)

The Holy Spirit also testifies^(z) to us about this. First he says:

"This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."^[b](aa)

Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."^[c](ab)

And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.