Hebrews 9:1-22.
Hebrews 9:1-22 (Good News Translation)
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
the book of the Law 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.
God bless you.
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
the book of the Law 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.
God bless you.
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