The High Priest of a New Covenant

8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,^(A) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^{(B) 2} and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(C) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest^(D) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,^(E) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.^{(F) 4} If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.^{(G) 5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(H) and shadow^(I) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(J) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[a](K) 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant^(L) of which he is mediator^(M) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.^{(N) 8} But God found fault with the people and said^[b]:

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,”^(W) he has made the first one obsolete;^(X) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.^{(Y) 2} A tabernacle^(Z) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand^(AA) and the table^(AB) with its consecrated bread;^(AC) this was called the Holy Place.^{(AD) 3} Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,^{(AE) 4} which had the golden altar of incense^(AF) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.^(AG) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,^(AH) Aaron’s staff that had budded,^(AI) and the stone tablets of the covenant.^{(AJ) 5} Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,^(AK) overshadowing the atonement cover.^(AL) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

⁶ When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly^(AM) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. ⁷ But only the high priest entered^(AN) the inner room,^(AO) and that only once a year,^(AP) and never without blood,^(AQ) which he offered for himself^(AR) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.^{(AS) 8} The Holy Spirit was showing^(AT) by this that the way^(AU) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration^(AV) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered^(AW) were not able to clear the conscience^(AX) of the worshiper. ¹⁰ They are only a matter of food^(AY) and drink^(AZ) and various ceremonial washings^(BA)—external regulations^(BB) applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest^(BC) of the good things that are now already here,^[d](BD) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(BE) that is not made with human hands,^(BF) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;^(BG) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(BH) once for all^(BI) by his own blood,^(BJ) thus obtaining^[e] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(BK) and the ashes of a heifer^(BL) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(BM) offered himself^(BN) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(BO) from acts that lead to death,^[f](BP) so that we may serve the living God!^(BQ)

¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator^(BR) of a new covenant,^(BS) that those who are called^(BT) may receive the promised^(BU) eternal inheritance^(BV)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.^(BW)

¹⁶ In the case of a will,^[g] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^{(BX) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(BY) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(BZ) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(CA) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[h](CB) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(CC) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(CD)

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(CE) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(CF) he entered heaven itself,^(CG) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^{(CH) 25} Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(CI) every year with blood that is not his own.^{(CJ) 26} Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(CK) But he has appeared^(CL) once for all^(CM) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(CN) 27} Just as people are destined to die once,^(CO) and after that to face judgment,^{(CP) 28} so Christ was sacrificed once^(CQ) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(CR) not to bear sin,^(CS) but to bring salvation^(CT) to those who are waiting for him.^(CU)