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Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 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. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy(P) through the sacrifice of the body(Q) of Jesus Christ once for all.(R)

11 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) 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,(U) he sat down at the right hand of God,(V) 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.(W) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect(X) forever those who are being made holy.(Y)

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

16 “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)

17 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”[c](AB)

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

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(AC) to enter the Most Holy Place(AD) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(AE) opened for us through the curtain,(AF) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(AG) over the house of God,(AH) 22 let us draw near to God(AI) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(AJ) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(AK) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(AL) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(AM) we profess,(AN) for he who promised is faithful.(AO) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(AP) 25 not giving up meeting together,(AQ) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(AR)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(AS)

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning(AT) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,(AU) no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire(AV) that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(AW) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(AX) underfoot,(AY) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(AZ) that sanctified them,(BA) and who has insulted the Spirit(BB) of grace?(BC) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d](BD) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e](BE) 31 It is a dreadful thing(BF) to fall into the hands(BG) of the living God.(BH)

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,(BI) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.(BJ) 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;(BK) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.(BL) 34 You suffered along with those in prison(BM) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.(BN) 35 So do not throw away your confidence;(BO) it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere(BP) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(BQ) 37 For,

“In just a little while,
    he who is coming(BR) will come
    and will not delay.”[f](BS)

38 And,

“But my righteous[g] one will live by faith.(BT)
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back.”[h](BU)

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
  2. Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
  3. Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34
  4. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
  5. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
  6. Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
  7. Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous
  8. Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ[a] came into the world, he said to God,

“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
    But you have given me a body to offer.
You were not pleased with burnt offerings
    or other offerings for sin.
Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
    as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”[b]

First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

16 “This is the new covenant I will make
    with my people on that day,[c] says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”[d]

17 Then he says,

“I will never again remember
    their sins and lawless deeds.”[e]

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

A Call to Persevere

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters,[f] we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death,[g] Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. 30 For we know the one who said,

“I will take revenge.
    I will pay them back.”[h]

He also said,

“The Lord will judge his own people.”[i]

31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ.[j] Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. 34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.

35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

37 “For in just a little while,
    the Coming One will come and not delay.
38 And my righteous ones will live by faith.[k]
    But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”[l]

39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

Footnotes

  1. 10:5 Greek he; also in 10:8.
  2. 10:5-7 Ps 40:6-8 (Greek version).
  3. 10:16a Greek after those days.
  4. 10:16b Jer 31:33a.
  5. 10:17 Jer 31:34b.
  6. 10:19 Greek brothers.
  7. 10:20 Greek Through his flesh.
  8. 10:30a Deut 32:35.
  9. 10:30b Deut 32:36.
  10. 10:32 Greek when you were first enlightened.
  11. 10:38 Or my righteous ones will live by their faithfulness; Greek reads my righteous one will live by faith.
  12. 10:37-38 Hab 2:3-4.

10 The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices offered year after year. If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.

(A) When Christ came into the world, he said to God,

“Sacrifices and offerings
    are not what you want,
but you have given me
    my body.
No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
    and offerings for sin.”

Then Christ said,

“And so, my God,
    I have come to do
what you want,
    as the Scriptures say.”

The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. This is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” 10 So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.

11 (B) The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 (C) But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God's right side,[a] 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.

15 The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,

16 (D) “When the time comes,
I will make an agreement
    with them.
I will write my laws
    on their minds and hearts.
17 (E) Then I will forget
    about their sins
and no longer remember
    their evil deeds.”

18 When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices.

Encouragement and Warning

19 My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place 20 by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.

21 We have a great high priest who is in charge of God's house. 22 (F) So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us. 24 We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. 25 Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.

26 No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. 27 (G) They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire. 28 (H) If two or more witnesses accused someone of breaking the Law of Moses, that person could be put to death. 29 (I) But it is much worse to dishonor God's Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy. 30 (J) We know that God has said he will punish and take revenge. We also know that the Scriptures say the Lord will judge his people. 31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

32 Don't forget all the hard times you went through when you first received the light. 33 Sometimes you were abused and mistreated in public, and at other times you shared in the sufferings of others. 34 You were kind to people in jail. And you gladly let your possessions be taken away, because you knew you had something better, something that would last forever.

35 Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. 36 Learn to be patient, so you will please God and be given what he has promised. 37 (K) As the Scriptures say,

“God is coming soon!
    It won't be very long.
38 The people God accepts
will live because
    of their faith.[b]
But he isn't pleased
with anyone
    who turns back.”

39 We are not like those people who turn back and get destroyed. We will keep on having faith until we are saved.

Footnotes

  1. 10.12 right side: See the note at 1.3.
  2. 10.38 The people God accepts will live because of their faith: Or “The people God accepts because of their faith will live.”

One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

10 For the Law, since it has only (A)a shadow of (B)the good things to come and not the [a]form of those things itself, [b]can (C)never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, (D)make those who approach perfect. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had (E)consciousness of sins? But (F)in [c]those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is (G)impossible for the (H)blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, (I)when He comes into the world, He says,

(J)You have not desired sacrifice and offering,
But (K)You have prepared a body for Me;
(L)You have not taken pleasure in whole burnt offerings and offerings for sin.
(M)Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come
(It is written of Me in (N)the scroll of the book)
To do Your will, O God.’”

After saying above, “(O)Sacrifices and offerings and (P)whole burnt offerings and offerings (Q)for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He [d]said, “(R)Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By [e]this will, we have been (S)sanctified through (T)the offering of (U)the body of Jesus Christ (V)once for all time.

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and (W)offering time after time the same sacrifices, which (X)can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice (Y)for [f]sins (Z)for all time, (AA)sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward (AB)until His enemies are made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has (AC)perfected (AD)for all time those who are [g]sanctified. 15 And (AE)the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

16 (AF)This is the covenant which I will make with them
After those days, declares the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their hearts,
And write them on their mind,”

He then says,

17 (AG)And their sins and their lawless deeds
I will no longer remember.”

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

A New and Living Way

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we (AH)have confidence to (AI)enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by (AJ)a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through (AK)the veil, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have (AL)a great priest (AM)over the house of God, 22 let’s (AN)approach God with a [h]sincere heart in (AO)full assurance of faith, having our hearts (AP)sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies (AQ)washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the (AR)confession of our (AS)hope without wavering, for (AT)He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how (AU)to [i]encourage one another in love and (AV)good deeds, 25 not abandoning our own (AW)meeting together, as is the habit of some people, but (AX)encouraging one another; and all the more as you see (AY)the day drawing near.

Christ or Judgment

26 For if we go on (AZ)sinning willfully after receiving (BA)the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of (BB)judgment and (BC)the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 (BD)Anyone who has ignored the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 (BE)How much more severe punishment do you think he will deserve (BF)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean (BG)the blood of the covenant (BH)by which he was sanctified, and has (BI)insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “(BJ)Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “(BK)The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a (BL)terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the (BM)living God.

32 But remember (BN)the former days, [j]when, after being (BO)enlightened, you endured a great (BP)conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being (BQ)made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming [k](BR)companions with those who were so treated. 34 For you (BS)showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted (BT)joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves (BU)a better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away your (BV)confidence, which has a great (BW)reward. 36 For you have need of (BX)endurance, so that when you have (BY)done the will of God, you may (BZ)receive [l]what was promised.

37 (CA)For yet in a very little while,
(CB)He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 (CC)But My righteous one will live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

39 But [m]we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith for the safekeeping of the soul.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:1 Lit image
  2. Hebrews 10:1 One early ms they can
  3. Hebrews 10:3 Lit them there is
  4. Hebrews 10:9 Lit has said
  5. Hebrews 10:10 Lit which
  6. Hebrews 10:12 Or sins, forever sat down
  7. Hebrews 10:14 Or being sanctified
  8. Hebrews 10:22 Lit true
  9. Hebrews 10:24 Or stir up
  10. Hebrews 10:32 Lit in which
  11. Hebrews 10:33 Or partners
  12. Hebrews 10:36 Lit the promise
  13. Hebrews 10:39 Lit we are not of shrinking back...but of faith

Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

10 For the law, having a (A)shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, (B)can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once [a]purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For (C)it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will(D)

Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

(E)“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”

Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, [b]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 (F)By that will we have been [c]sanctified (G)through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

11 And every priest stands (H)ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 (I)But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down (J)at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting (K)till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being [d]sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 (L)“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, (M)“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is [e]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast Your Confession

19 Therefore, brethren, having (N)boldness[f] to enter (O)the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and (P)living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us (Q)draw near with a true heart (R)in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for (S)He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 (T)not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and (U)so much the more as you see (V)the Day approaching.

The Just Live by Faith

26 For (W)if we sin willfully (X)after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there (Y)no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and (Z)fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three (AA)witnesses. 29 (AB)Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, (AC)counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, (AD)and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, (AE)“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” [g]says the Lord. And again, (AF)“The Lord will judge His people.” 31 (AG)It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But (AH)recall the former days in which, after you were [h]illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made (AI)a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while (AJ)you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on [i]me (AK)in my chains, and (AL)joyfully accepted the plundering of your [j]goods, knowing that (AM)you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves [k]in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, (AN)which has great reward. 36 (AO)For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, (AP)you may receive the promise:

37 “For (AQ)yet a little while,
And (AR)He[l] who is coming will come and will not [m]tarry.
38 Now (AS)the[n] just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those (AT)who draw back to [o]perdition, but of those who (AU)believe to the saving of the soul.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:2 cleansed
  2. Hebrews 10:9 NU, M omit O God
  3. Hebrews 10:10 set apart
  4. Hebrews 10:14 set apart
  5. Hebrews 10:18 forgiveness
  6. Hebrews 10:19 confidence
  7. Hebrews 10:30 NU omits says the Lord
  8. Hebrews 10:32 enlightened
  9. Hebrews 10:34 NU the prisoners instead of me in my chains
  10. Hebrews 10:34 possessions
  11. Hebrews 10:34 NU omits in heaven
  12. Hebrews 10:37 Or that which
  13. Hebrews 10:37 delay
  14. Hebrews 10:38 NU My just one
  15. Hebrews 10:39 destruction