Hebrews 8:1-9:10

New International Version

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) ²and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(C) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³Every 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) ⁴If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.^(G) ⁵They 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) ⁶But 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.

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

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
    when I will make a new covenant^(O)
with the people of Israel
    and with the people of Judah.
⁹It will not be like the covenant
    I made with their ancestors^(P)
when I took them by the hand
    to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
    and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
¹⁰This is the covenant^(Q) I will establish with the people of Israel
    after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
    and write them on their hearts.^(R)
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.^(S)
¹¹No longer will they teach their neighbor,
    or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,^(T)
    from the least of them to the greatest.
¹²For I will forgive their wickedness
    and will remember their sins no more.^(U)”^[c]^(V)

¹³By calling this covenant “new,”^(W) he has made the first one obsolete;^(X) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.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) ²A 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) ³Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,^(AE) ⁴which 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) ⁵Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,^(AK) overshadowing the atonement cover.^(AL) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

⁶When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly^(AM) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. ⁷But 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) ⁸The 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. ⁹This 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. ¹⁰They 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.