Hebrews 7:12-10:30

English Standard Version

¹² For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. ¹³ For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. ¹⁴ For it is evident that our Lord was descended ^(A)from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

¹⁵ This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶ who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is witnessed of him,

¹⁸ For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside ^(C)because of its weakness and uselessness ¹⁹ (for ^(D)the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, ^(E)a better hope is introduced, through which ^(F)we draw near to God.

²⁰ And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, ²¹ but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

²² This makes Jesus the guarantor of ^(H)a better covenant.

²³ The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, ²⁴ but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues ^(I)forever. ²⁵ Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost^{[a] (J)}those who draw near to God ^(K)through him, since he always lives ^(L)to make intercession for them.

²⁶ For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, ^(M)holy, innocent, unstained, ^(N)separated from sinners, and ^(O)exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, ^(P)first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this ^(Q)once for all when he offered up himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints men ^(R)in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made ^(S)perfect forever.

Jesus, High Priest of a Better Covenant

8 Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, ^(T)one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, ² a minister in the holy places, in ^(U)the true tent^[b] that the Lord ^(V)set up, not man. ³ For ^(W)every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus ^(X)it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. ⁴ Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. ⁵ They serve ^(Y)a copy and ^(Z)shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ^(AA)“See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” ⁶ But as it is, Christ^[c] has obtained a ministry that is ^(AB)as much more excellent than the old as ^(AC)the covenant ^(AD)he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. ^7 (AE)For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.

⁸ For he finds fault with them when he says:^[d]

¹³ In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And ^(AK)what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and ^(AL)an earthly place of holiness. ² For ^(AM)a tent^[e] was prepared, the first section, in which were ^(AN)the lampstand and ^(AO)the table and ^(AP)the bread of the Presence.^[f] It is called the Holy Place. ³ Behind ^(AQ)the second curtain was a second section^[g] called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ having the golden ^(AR)altar of incense and ^(AS)the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^(AT)a golden urn holding the manna, and ^(AU)Aaron's staff that budded, and ^(AV)the tablets of the covenant. ⁵ Above it were ^(AW)the cherubim of glory overshadowing ^(AX)the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ These preparations having thus been made, ^(AY)the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, ⁷ but into the second only ^(AZ)the high priest goes, and he but ^(BA)once a year, and not without taking blood, ^(BB)which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. ⁸ By this the Holy Spirit indicates that ^(BC)the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing ⁹ (which is symbolic for the present age).^[h] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered ^(BD)that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, ¹⁰ but deal only with ^(BE)food and drink and ^(BF)various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ appeared as a high priest ^(BG)of the good things that have come,^[i] then through ^(BH)the greater and more perfect tent (^(BI)not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹² he ^(BJ)entered ^(BK)once for all into the holy places, not by means of ^(BL)the blood of goats and calves but ^(BM)by means of his own blood, ^(BN)thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³ For if ^(BO)the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with ^(BP)the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[j] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more will ^(BQ)the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit ^(BR)offered himself without blemish to God, ^(BS)purify our^[k] conscience ^(BT)from dead works ^(BU)to serve the living God.

¹⁵ Therefore he is ^(BV)the mediator of a new covenant, so that ^(BW)those who are called may ^(BX)receive the promised eternal inheritance, ^(BY)since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.^{[l] 16} For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. ¹⁷ For ^(BZ)a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated ^(CA)without blood. ¹⁹ For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took ^(CB)the blood of calves and goats, ^(CC)with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, ^(CD)“This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” ²¹ And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both ^(CE)the tent and all the vessels used in worship. ²² Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and ^(CF)without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

²³ Thus it was necessary for ^(CG)the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has entered, not into holy places ^(CH)made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God ^(CI)on our behalf. ²⁵ Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as ^(CJ)the high priest enters ^(CK)the holy places every year with blood not his own, ²⁶ for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, ^(CL)he has appeared ^(CM)once for all ^(CN)at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as ^(CO)it is appointed for man to die once, and ^(CP)after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once ^(CQ)to bear the sins of ^(CR)many, will appear ^(CS)a second time, ^(CT)not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly ^(CU)waiting for him.

Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

10 For since the law has but ^(CV)a shadow ^(CW)of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, ^(CX)it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? ³ But ^(CY)in these sacrifices ^(CZ)there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴ For ^(DA)it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Consequently, ^(DB)when Christ^[m] came into the world, he said,

⁸ When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in ^(DD)sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), ⁹ then he added, ^(DE)“Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will ^(DF)we have been sanctified through the offering of ^(DG)the body of Jesus Christ ^(DH)once for all.

¹¹ And every priest stands ^(DI)daily at his service, ^(DJ)offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, ^(DK)which can never take away sins. ¹² But when Christ^[n] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he ^(DL)sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time ^(DM)until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. ¹⁴ For by a single offering ^(DN)he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

¹⁷ then he adds,

¹⁸ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

The Full Assurance of Faith

^19 (DQ)Therefore, brothers,^[o] since we have confidence to enter ^(DR)the holy places by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by ^(DS)the new and living way that he opened for us through ^(DT)the curtain, that is, through his flesh, ²¹ and since we have ^(DU)a great priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts ^(DV)sprinkled clean ^(DW)from an evil conscience and our bodies ^(DX)washed with pure water. ^23 (DY)Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for ^(DZ)he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And ^(EA)let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ^25 (EB)not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ^(EC)all the more as you see ^(ED)the Day drawing near.

²⁶ For ^(EE)if we go on sinning deliberately ^(EF)after receiving the knowledge of the truth, ^(EG)there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ^27 (EH)but a fearful expectation of judgment, and ^(EI)a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ^28 (EJ)Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy ^(EK)on the evidence of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one ^(EL)who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned ^(EM)the blood of the covenant ^(EN)by which he was sanctified, and has ^(EO)outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know him who said, ^(EP)“Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, ^(EQ)“The Lord will judge his people.”