Hebrews 9:1-28.
Hebrews 9:1-28 (GNT)
1The first covenant had rules for worship and a place made for worship as
well. 2A tent was put up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place.
In it were the lampstand and the table with the bread offered to God.
3Behind the second curtain was the tent called the Most Holy Place. 4In it
were the gold altar for the burning of incense and the Covenant Box all
covered with gold and containing the gold jar with the manna in it,
Aaron's stick that had sprouted leaves, and the two stone tablets with the
commandments written on them. 5Above the Box were the winged creatures
representing God's presence, with their wings spread over the place where
sins were forgiven. But now is not the time to explain everything in
detail. 6This is how those things have been arranged. The priests go into
the outer tent every day to perform their duties, 7but only the high
priest goes into the inner tent, and he does so only once a year. He takes
with him blood which he offers to God on behalf of himself and for the sins
which the people have committed without knowing they were sinning. 8The
Holy Spirit clearly teaches from all these arrangements that the way into
the Most Holy Place has not yet been opened as long as the outer tent
still stands. 9This is a symbol which points to the present time. It means
that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the
worshiper's heart perfect, 10since they have to do only with food, drink,
and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which
apply only until the time when God will establish the new order. 11But
Christ has already come as the High Priest of the good things that are
already here. The tent in which he serves is greater and more perfect; it
is not a tent made by human hands, that is, it is not a part of this
created world. 12When Christ went through the tent and entered once and
for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and
bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained
eternal salvation for us. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of
a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually unclean, and
this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity. 14Since this is
true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the
eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood
will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the
living God. 15For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new
covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the
eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there
has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the
first covenant was in effect. 16In the case of a will it is necessary to
prove that the person who made it has died, 17for a will means nothing
while the person who made it is alive; it goes into effect only after his
death. 18That is why even the first covenant went into effect only with
the use of blood. 19First, Moses proclaimed to the people all the
commandments as set forth in the Law. Then he took the blood of bulls and
goats, mixed it with water, and sprinkled it on and all the people, using
a sprig of hyssop and some red wool. 20He said, This is the blood which
seals the covenant that God has commanded you to obey. 21In the same way
Moses also sprinkled the blood on the Sacred Tent and over all the things
used in worship. 22Indeed, according to the Law almost everything is
purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.
23Those things, which are copies of the heavenly originals, had to be
purified in that way. But the heavenly things themselves require much
better sacrifices. 24For Christ did not go into a Holy Place made by human
hands, which was a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where
he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God. 25The Jewish high
priest goes into the Most Holy Place every year with the blood of an
animal. But Christ did not go in to offer himself many times, 26for then
he would have had to suffer many times ever since the creation of the
world. Instead, now when all ages of time are nearing the end, he has
appeared once and for all, to remove sin through the sacrifice of himself.
27Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. 28In the same
manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of
many. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save
those who are waiting for him.
God bless you.
--
Bernie Tontodonati
1The first covenant had rules for worship and a place made for worship as
well. 2A tent was put up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place.
In it were the lampstand and the table with the bread offered to God.
3Behind the second curtain was the tent called the Most Holy Place. 4In it
were the gold altar for the burning of incense and the Covenant Box all
covered with gold and containing the gold jar with the manna in it,
Aaron's stick that had sprouted leaves, and the two stone tablets with the
commandments written on them. 5Above the Box were the winged creatures
representing God's presence, with their wings spread over the place where
sins were forgiven. But now is not the time to explain everything in
detail. 6This is how those things have been arranged. The priests go into
the outer tent every day to perform their duties, 7but only the high
priest goes into the inner tent, and he does so only once a year. He takes
with him blood which he offers to God on behalf of himself and for the sins
which the people have committed without knowing they were sinning. 8The
Holy Spirit clearly teaches from all these arrangements that the way into
the Most Holy Place has not yet been opened as long as the outer tent
still stands. 9This is a symbol which points to the present time. It means
that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the
worshiper's heart perfect, 10since they have to do only with food, drink,
and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which
apply only until the time when God will establish the new order. 11But
Christ has already come as the High Priest of the good things that are
already here. The tent in which he serves is greater and more perfect; it
is not a tent made by human hands, that is, it is not a part of this
created world. 12When Christ went through the tent and entered once and
for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and
bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained
eternal salvation for us. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of
a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually unclean, and
this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity. 14Since this is
true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the
eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood
will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the
living God. 15For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new
covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the
eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there
has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the
first covenant was in effect. 16In the case of a will it is necessary to
prove that the person who made it has died, 17for a will means nothing
while the person who made it is alive; it goes into effect only after his
death. 18That is why even the first covenant went into effect only with
the use of blood. 19First, Moses proclaimed to the people all the
commandments as set forth in the Law. Then he took the blood of bulls and
goats, mixed it with water, and sprinkled it on and all the people, using
a sprig of hyssop and some red wool. 20He said, This is the blood which
seals the covenant that God has commanded you to obey. 21In the same way
Moses also sprinkled the blood on the Sacred Tent and over all the things
used in worship. 22Indeed, according to the Law almost everything is
purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.
23Those things, which are copies of the heavenly originals, had to be
purified in that way. But the heavenly things themselves require much
better sacrifices. 24For Christ did not go into a Holy Place made by human
hands, which was a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where
he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God. 25The Jewish high
priest goes into the Most Holy Place every year with the blood of an
animal. But Christ did not go in to offer himself many times, 26for then
he would have had to suffer many times ever since the creation of the
world. Instead, now when all ages of time are nearing the end, he has
appeared once and for all, to remove sin through the sacrifice of himself.
27Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. 28In the same
manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of
many. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save
those who are waiting for him.
God bless you.
--
Bernie Tontodonati
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