Hebrews 10:1-18
Expanded Bible
10 The law is only an ·unclear picture [L shadow] of the good things coming in the future; it is not the ·real thing [reality itself; true image of them]. The people under the law offer the same sacrifices every year, but these sacrifices can never make perfect those who come near to worship God. 2 If the law could make them perfect, the sacrifices would have already ·stopped [ceased; been abolished]. The worshipers would ·be made clean [L have been cleansed/purified once for all; C forever], and they would no longer have a ·sense of [consciousness of; feeling of guilt about] sin. 3 But these sacrifices remind them of their sins every year, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 So when ·Christ [L he] came into the world, he said:
“You did not ·want [desire] sacrifices and offerings,
but you have ·prepared a body for me [or given me a body].
6 You ·did not ask for [were not pleased with; took no delight in] burnt offerings
and offerings to take away sins.
7 Then I said, ‘·Look [or Here I am; T Behold], I have come.
It is written about me in the ·book [scroll].
·God [L O God], I have come to do ·what you want [your will; Ps. 40:6–8].’”
8 In this Scripture ·he first said [or cited above he said], “You did not ·want [desire] sacrifices and offerings. You ·did not ask for [were not pleased with; took no delight in] burnt offerings and offerings to take away sins [v. 6].” (These are all sacrifices that the law ·commands [requires; prescribes].) 9 Then he said, “·Look [or Here I am; T Behold], I have come to do ·what you want [your will; v. 7].” God ·ends [abolishes; takes away] the ·first system of sacrifices [L first] so he can ·set up [establish] the ·new system [L second]. 10 And ·because of this [L by God’s will/desire/intention], we are ·made holy [sanctified; set apart to God] through the sacrifice Christ made in his body ·once and for all time [L once for all; 7:27; 9:12, 26].
11 ·Every day [Day after day] ·the priests [L every priest] stand and do their ·religious [priestly] service, ·often [again and again] offering the same sacrifices. Those sacrifices can never take away sins. 12 But after ·Christ [L this one; C this priest] offered one sacrifice for sins, forever, he sat down at the right ·side [L hand] of God [1:3, 13; Ps. 110:1a]. 13 And now ·Christ [L he] waits there for his enemies to be ·put under his power [L made a footstool for his feet; 1:13; Ps. 110:1b]. 14 With one ·sacrifice [offering] he made perfect forever those who are being ·made holy [sanctified; set apart to God].
15 The Holy Spirit also ·tells [testifies/bears witness to] us about this. First he says:
16 “This is the ·agreement [covenant; contract] I will make
with them ·at that time [L after those days], says the Lord.
I will put my ·teachings [laws] in their hearts
and write them on their minds [8:10; Jer. 31:33].”
17 Then he says:
“Their sins and ·the evil things they do [their lawless/wicked actions]—
I will not remember anymore [8:12; Jer. 31:34].”
18 Now when these have been forgiven, there is no more need for a ·sacrifice [offering] for sins.
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