The Earthly Sanctuary
1 Then indeed, even the firstcovenanthad ordinances of divine service andthe earthly sanctuary.
2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the firstpart,in whichwasthe lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;
3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,
4 which had thegolden censer andthe ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in whichwerethe golden pot that had the manna,Aaron’s rod that budded, andthe tablets of the covenant;
5 andabove it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Limitations of the Earthly Service
6 Now when these things had been thus prepared,the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.
7 But into the second part the high priestwentaloneonce a year, not without blood, which he offered forhimself andforthe people’s sinscommittedin ignorance;
8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, thatthe way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.
9 Itwassymbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offeredwhich cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—
10 concernedonly withfoods and drinks,various washings,and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
The Heavenly Sanctuary
11 But Christ cameasHigh Priest ofthe good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
12 Notwith the blood of goats and calves, butwith His own blood He entered the Most Holy Placeonce for all,having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For ifthe blood of bulls and goats andthe ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,
14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God,cleanse your conscience fromdead worksto serve the living God?
15 And for this reasonHe is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, thatthose who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
The Mediator’s Death Necessary
16 For where thereisa testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
17 Fora testamentisin force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.
18 Therefore not even the firstcovenantwas dedicated without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law,he took the blood of calves and goats,with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
20 saying,“Thisistheblood of the covenant which God has commanded you.”
21 Then likewisehe sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, andwithout shedding of blood there is no remission.
Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice
23 Thereforeitwasnecessary thatthe copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 ForChrist has not entered the holy places made with hands,whicharecopies ofthe true, but into heaven itself, nowto appear in the presence of God for us;
25 not that He should offer Himself often, asthe high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—
26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once,but after this the judgment,
28 soChrist wasoffered once to bear the sinsof many. To those whoeagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.