10. The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow—a faint foretaste of the good things to come—not the good things themselves. Under that system, sacrifices were repeated over and over again, year after year, but they could never completely cleanse those who came to worship. 2 If sacrifices could have completely cleansed, then they would have stopped being offered, because the worshipers would have been cleansed once and for all, and the guilt would have disappeared.
3 But in reality, these sacrifices reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when Christ [ a ] came into the world, he said to God:
«You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you gave me a body to offer.
6 You had no pleasure in burnt offerings or other sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, O God; I have come to do your will, as it is written about me in the Scriptures . ” [ b ]
8 First, Christ said, “You did not desire animal sacrifices, sin offerings, burnt offerings, or any other sin offering; you did not like all these offerings” (even though the Law of Moses requires them). 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He annuls the first covenant so that the second can take effect. 10 For it was God’s will that the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ should make us holy, once for all.
11 Under the old covenant, the priest officiates at the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices over and over again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, valid forever. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and put under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he has perfected forever those he is making holy.
15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness that this is true, for he says:
16 “This is the new covenant that I will make with my people on that day, [ c ] says the Lord : I will put my laws in their hearts and write them on their minds” [ d ] .
17 Then he says:
“I will never again remember their sins and their lawless deeds” [ e ] .
18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no longer any need to offer sacrifices.
A call to stand firm
19 So, beloved brothers, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, [ f ] Jesus opened a new way—a life-giving way—through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 Since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go straight into God’s presence with a sincere heart and full confidence in him. For our guilty conscience has been sprinkled with the blood of Christ to cleanse us, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast without wavering to the hope we affirm, because God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us consider how we can motivate one another to acts of love and good deeds. 25 And let us not give up meeting together, as some do, but let us encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
26 Dear friends, if we continue to sin deliberately after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice to cover our sins. 27 Only the fearful expectation of God’s judgment remains, and the raging fire that will consume His enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was executed without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Consider then how much worse the punishment will be for those who trample underfoot the Son of God and treat the blood of the covenant that makes us holy as something vulgar and unclean, and insult and despise the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy. 30 For we know Him who said:
“I will take revenge; I will pay them what they deserve” [ g ] .
He also said:
“The Lord will judge his own people” [ h ] .
31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32 Remember the early days when you were first learning about Christ. [ i ] Remember how you remained faithful even though you had to endure terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly ridiculed and beaten, but at other times you helped those who were suffering the same. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into prison, and when all your possessions were taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew that better things were waiting for you in the future, things that will last forever.
35 Therefore, do not throw away your firm trust in the Lord. Keep in mind the great reward that will come to you! 36 You need to endure with patience to keep doing God’s will. Then you will receive everything he has promised.
37 “For in a very little while He who is coming will come without delay.
38 My righteous will live by faith. [ j ] But I will not be pleased with anyone who turns away from me . [ k ]
39 But we are not of those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful, and our souls will be saved.
Footnotes
- 10:5 In Greek he ; also in 10:8.
- 10:5-7 Ps 40:6-8 (Greek version).
- 10:16a Greek after those days.
- 10:16b Jr 31:33a.
- 10:17 Jr 31:34b.
- 10:20 In Greek Through his flesh.
- 10:30a Deut 32:35.
- 10:30b Dt 32:36.
- 10:32 In Greek when they were first enlightened.
- 10:38 Or My righteous ones will live by their faithfulness ; in Greek it says My righteous ones will live by faith.
- 10:37-38 Ha 2:3-4.