Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks
8 1 To prove more certainly that the ceremonies of the Law are abrogated, 5 he showeth that they were appointed to serve the heavenly pattern. 8 He bringeth in the place of Jeremiah, 13 to prove the amendment of the old covenant.
1 Now [a]of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum, that we have such an high Priest, that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heavens,
2 [b]And is a minister of the [c]Sanctuary, [d]and of that [e]true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3 [f]For every high Priest is ordained to offer both gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it was of necessity, that this man should have somewhat also to offer.
4 [g]For he were not a Priest, if he were on the earth, seeing there are Priests that according to the Law offer gifts,
5 Who serve unto the pattern and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was warned by God when he was about to finish the Tabernacle. (A)See, said he, that thou make all things according to the pattern, showed to thee in the mount.
6 [h]But now our high Priest hath obtained a more excellent office, inasmuch as he is the Mediator of a better Testament, which is established upon better promises.
7 [i]For if that first Testament had been unblameable, no place should have been sought for the second.
8 For in rebuking them he saith, (B)Behold, the days will come, saith the Lord, when I shall make with the [j]house of Israel, and with the house of Judah a new Testament:
9 Not like the Testament that I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand, to lead them out of the land of Egypt: for they continued not in my Testament, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the Testament that I will make with the house of Israel, After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my Laws in their mind, and in their heart I will write them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.
13 [k]In that he saith a new Testament, he hath abrogated the old: now that which is disannulled and waxed old, is ready to vanish away.
9 2 Comparing the form of the Tabernacle, 10 and the ceremonies of the Law, 11 unto the truth set out in Christ, 15 he concludeth that now there is no more need of another Priest, 24 because Christ himself had fulfilled these duties under the new covenant.
1 Then [l]the first Testament had also ordinances of religion, and a [m]worldly Sanctuary,
2 For the first Tabernacle was made, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread, which Tabernacle is called the Holy places.
3 And after the [n]second veil was the Tabernacle, which is called the [o]Holiest of all,
4 Which had the golden censer, and the Ark of the Testament overlaid round about with gold, wherein the golden pot, which had Manna, was, and (C)Aaron’s rod that had budded, and the (D)tables of the Testament.
5 (E)And over the Ark were the glorious Cherubims, shadowing the [p]mercy seat: of which things we will not now speak particularly.
6 [q]Now when these things were thus ordained, the Priest went always into the first Tabernacle, and accomplished the service.
7 But into the second went the (F)high Priest alone, once every year, not without blood which he offered for himself, and for the [r]ignorances of the people.
8 [s]Whereby the holy Ghost this signified, that the way into the Holiest of all was not yet opened, while as yet the first tabernacle was standing,
9 [t]Which was a figure [u]for that present time, wherein were offered gifts and sacrifices that could not make holy, concerning the conscience, him that did the service,
10 [v]Which only stood in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal rites, [w]which were enjoined, until the time of reformation.
11 [x]But Christ being come an high Priest of good things to come, [y]by a [z]greater and a more perfect Tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this building,
12 [aa]Neither by the blood of [ab]goats and calves: but by his own blood entered he in once unto the holy place, and obtained eternal redemption for us.
13 (G)[ac]For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling them that are unclean, sanctifieth as touching the [ad]purifying of the flesh,
14 How much more shall the (H)blood of Christ which through the eternal Spirit offered himself without fault to God, (I)purge your conscience from [ae]dead works, to serve the living God?
15 [af]And for this cause is he the Mediator of the new Testament, that through (J)death which was for the redemption of the transgressions that were in the former Testament, they which were called, might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 [ag]For where a Testament is, there must be the death of him that made the Testament.
17 (K)For the Testament is confirmed when men are dead: for it is yet of no force as long as he that made it, is alive.
18 [ah]Wherefore, neither was the first ordained without blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to the people, [ai]according to the Law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water and purple wool and hyssop, and [aj]sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 (L)Saying, This is the blood of the Testament, which God hath appointed unto you.
21 Moreover, he sprinkled likewise the Tabernacle with blood also, and all the ministering vessels,
22 And almost all things are by the Law purged with blood, and without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was then necessary, that the [ak]similitudes of heavenly things should be purified with such things: but the heavenly things themselves are purified with better sacrifices than are these.
24 [al]For Christ is not entered into the holy places that are made with hands, which are similitudes of the true Sanctuary: but is entered into very heaven, to appear now in the sight of God for us,
25 [am]Not that he should offer himself often, as the high Priest entered into the Holy place every year with others’ blood,
26 [an](For then must he have often suffered since the foundation of the world) but now in the [ao]end of the world hath he been made manifest, once to put away [ap]sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men that they shall [aq]once die, and after that cometh the judgment:
28 So (M)Christ was once offered to take away the sins of [ar]many, [as]and unto them that look for him, shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
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