Hebrews 10

Chapter 10

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

1 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.

2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.
3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year.4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

5 That is why, when Christt came into the world, he said to God,
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings.
But you have given me a body to offer.6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings
or other offerings for sin.7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—
as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”t8 First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses).9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.

10 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet.

14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,
16 “This is the new covenant I will make
with my people on that day,t says the LORD:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”t

17 Then he says,
“I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.”t

18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

A Call to Persevere

19 And so, dear brothers and sisters,t we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.20 By his death,t Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,

22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.

30 For we know the one who said,
“I will take revenge.
I will pay them back.”t
He also said,
“The LORD will judge his own people.”t

31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ.t Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.33 Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.

34 You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!

36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.
37 “For in just a little while,
the Coming One will come and not delay.38 And my righteous ones will live by faith.t
But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”t

39 But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

HEBREWS 10

1 The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices offered year after year. 2 If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices.

3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.

5  t When Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“Sacrifices and offerings
are not what you want,
but you have given me
my body.

6 No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
and offerings for sin.”

7 Then Christ said,
“And so, my God,
I have come to do
what you want,
as the Scriptures say.”
8 The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9 Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. This is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.”

10 So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.
11  t The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 t But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God's right side, t 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power.

14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.

15 The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,

16  t “When the time comes,
I will make an agreement
with them.
I will write my laws
on their minds and hearts.

17  t Then I will forget
about their sins
and no longer remember
their evil deeds.”

18 When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices.

Encouragement and Warning

20 by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.
21 We have a great high priest who is in charge of God's house. 22 t So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us. 24 We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things.

25 Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.
26 No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. 27 t They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire. 28 t If two or more witnesses accused someone of breaking the Law of Moses, that person could be put to death. 29 t But it is much worse to dishonor God's Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy. 30 t We know that God has said he will punish and take revenge. We also know that the Scriptures say the Lord will judge his people.

31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32 Don't forget all the hard times you went through when you first received the light. 33 Sometimes you were abused and mistreated in public, and at other times you shared in the sufferings of others.

34 You were kind to people in jail. And you gladly let your possessions be taken away, because you knew you had something better, something that would last forever.
35 Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. 36 Learn to be patient, so you will please God and be given what he has promised.

37 t As the Scriptures say,
“God is coming soon!
It won't be very long.

38 The people God accepts
will live because
of their faith.t
But he isn't pleased
with anyone
who turns back.”
39 We are not like those people who turn back and get destroyed. We will keep on having faith until we are saved.