The In-Dept Study of the Bible
Hebrews 09
1 Now indeed even the first† covenant
had ordinances of divine service and an
earthly sanctuary.
2 For a tabernacle was prepared. In the
first part were the lamp stand, the table,
and the show bread, which is called the
Holy Place.
3 After the second veil was the tabernacle
which is called the Holy of Holies,
4 having a goldenaltar ofincense and the
ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides
with gold, in which was a golden pot holding
the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded,
and the tablets of the covenant;
5 and above it cherubim of glory
overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things
we can’t speak now in detail.
6 Now these things having been thus prepared,
the priests go in continually into
the firsttabernacle, accomplishing
the services,
7 but into the second the high priest
alone, once in the year, not without blood,
which he offers for himself and for the
errors of the people.
8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that
the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet
revealed while the first tabernacle was still
standing.
9 This is a symbol of the present age,
where gifts and sacrifices are offered that
are incapable, concerning the conscience,
of making the worshiper perfect,
10 being only (with foods and drinks and
various washings) fleshly ordinances,
imposed until a time of reformation.
11 But Christ having come as a high priest
of the coming good things, through the
greater and more perfect tabernacle, not
made with hands, that is to say, not of this
creation,
12 nor yet through the blood of goats and
calves, but through his own blood, entered
in once for all into the Holy Place, having
obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and
the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who
have been defiled, sanctify to the
cleanness of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself without defect to God,
cleanse your conscience from dead works
to serve the living God?
15 For this reason he is the mediator of a
new covenant, since a death has occurred
for the redemption of the transgressions
that were under the first covenant, that
those who have been called may receive
the promise of the eternal inheritance.
16 For where a last will and testament is,
there must of necessity be the death of him
who made it.
17 For a will is in force where there has
been death, for it is never in force while he
who made it lives.
18 Therefore even the first covenant has
not been dedicated without blood.
19 For when every commandment had
been spoken by Moses to all the people
according to the law, he took the blood of
the calves and the goats, with water and
scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled
both the book itself and all the people,
20 saying, “This is the blood of the
covenant which God has commanded
you.”*
21 He sprinkledthe tabernacle andallthe
vessels of the ministry in the same way
with the blood.
22 According to the law, nearly everything
is cleansed with blood, and apart
from shedding of blood there is no remission.
23 It was necessary therefore that the
copies of the things in the heavens should
be cleansed with these, but the heavenly
things themselves with better sacrifices
than these.
24 For Christ hasn’t entered into holy
places made with hands, which are
representations of the true, but into heaven
itself, now to appear inthe presence of God
for us;
25 nor yet that he should offer himself
often, as thehighpriest enters into theholy
place year by year with blood not his own,
26 or else he must have suffered often
since the foundation ofthe world. But now
once at the end of the ages, he has been
revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of
himself.
27 Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to
die once, and after this, judgment,
28 so Christ also, having been offered
once to bear the sins of many, will appear
a second time, not to deal with sin, but
to save those who are eagerly waiting for
him.