Hebrews 10

1 For the law contains the shadow of future good things, not the very image of these things. So, by the very same sacrifices which they offer ceaselessly each year, they can never cause these to approach perfection.2 Otherwise, they would have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, once cleansed, would no longer be conscious of any sin.3 Instead, in these things, a commemoration of sins is made every year.4 For it is impossible for sins to be taken away by the blood of oxen and goats.5 For this reason, as Christ enters into the world, he says: “Sacrifice and oblation, you did not want. But you have fashioned a body for me.6 Holocausts for sin were not pleasing to you.7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I draw near.’ At the head of the book, it has been written of me that I should do your will, O God.”8 In the above, by saying, “Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin, you did not want, nor are those things pleasing to you, which are offered according to the law;9 then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,’ ” he takes away the first, so that he may establish what follows.10 For by this will, we have been sanctified, through the one time oblation of the body of Jesus Christ.11 And certainly, every priest stands by, ministering daily, and frequently offering the same sacrifices, which are never able to take away sins.12 But this man, offering one sacrifice for sins, sits at the right hand of God forever,13 awaiting that time when his enemies will be made his footstool.14 For, by one oblation, he has brought to fulfillment, for all time, those who are sanctified.15 Now the Holy Spirit also testifies for us about this. For afterward, he said:16 “And this is the testament which I will commit to them after those days, says the Lord. I will instill my laws in their hearts, and I will inscribe my laws on their minds.17 And I will no longer remember their sins and iniquities.”18 Now, when there is a remission of these things, there is no longer an oblation for sin.19 And so, brothers, have faith in the entrance into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Christ,20 and in the new and living Way, which he has initiated for us by the veil, that is, by his flesh,21 and in the Great Priest over the house of God.22 So, let us draw near with a true heart, in the fullness of faith, having hearts cleansed from an evil conscience, and bodies absolved with clean water.23 Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope, without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.24 And let us be considerate of one another, so as to prompt ourselves to charity and to good works,25 not deserting our assembly, as some are accustomed to do, but consoling one another, and even more so as you see that the day is approaching.26 For if we sin willingly, after receiving knowledge of the truth, there is no sacrifice remaining for sins,27 but instead, a certain terrible expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire that shall consume its adversaries.28 If someone dies for acting against the law of Moses, and is shown no compassion because of two or three witnesses,29 how much more, do you think, someone would deserve worse punishments, if he has tread upon the Son of God, and has treated the blood of the testament, by which he was sanctified, as unclean, and has acted with disgrace toward the Spirit of grace?30 For we know that he has said: “Vengeance is mine, and I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”31 It is dreadful to fall into the hands of the living God.32 But call to mind the former days, in which, after being enlightened, you endured a great struggle of afflictions.33 And certainly, in one way, by insults and tribulations, you were made a spectacle, but in another way, you became the companions of those who were the object of such behavior.34 For you even had compassion on those who were imprisoned, and you accepted with gladness being deprived of your goods, knowing that you have a better and more lasting substance.35 And so, do not lose your confidence, which has a great reward.36 For it is necessary for you to be patient, so that, by doing the will of God, you may receive the promise.37 “For, in a little while, and somewhat longer, he who is to come will return, and he will not delay.38 For my just man lives by faith. But if he were to draw himself back, he would not please my soul.”39 So then, we are not sons who are drawn away to perdition, but we are sons of faith toward the securing of the soul.

Hebrews 10

Concluding Exposition: Old and New Sacrifices Contrasted

1 For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship.t2 For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so havet no further consciousness of sin?3 But in those sacrificest there is a reminder of sins year after year.4 For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.t

5 So when he came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.

6 “Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.

7 “Then I said, ‘Here I am:tI have come – it is written of me in the scroll of the book – to do your will, O God.’”s
8 When he says above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sin-offeringsyou did not desire nor did you take delight in them”s (which are offered according to the law),9 then he says, “Here I am:I have come to do your will.”s He does away witht the first to establish the second.10 By his willt we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.11 And every priest stands day after dayt serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again – sacrifices that can never take away sins.12 But when this priestt had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hands of God,13 where he is now waitingtuntil his enemies are made a footstool for his feet.s14 For by one offering he has perfected for all time those who are made holy.15 And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying,t16 “This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord. I will puttmy laws on their hearts and I will inscribe them on their minds,”s17 then he says,t “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer.”s

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

Drawing Near to God in Enduring Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters,t since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,20 by the fresh and living way that he inaugurated for ust through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,s21 and since we have a great priestt over the house of God,22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings,t because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil consciences and our bodies washed in pure water.23 And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy.24 And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works,t

25 not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the days drawing near.t
26 For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us,t27 but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a furytsof fire that will consume God’s enemies.ts28 Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to deatht without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.s29 How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt fort the Son of God, and profanest the blood of the covenant that made him holy,t and insults the Spirit of grace?30 For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,”s and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”s

31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But remember the former days when you endured a harsh conflict of suffering after you were enlightened.33 At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and afflictions, and at other times you came to share with others who were treated in that way.34 For in fact you shared the sufferings of those in prison,s and you accepted the confiscation of your belongings with joy, because you knew that you certainlyt had a better and lasting possession.35 So do not throw away your confidence, because itt has great reward.36 For you need endurance in order to do God’s will and so receive what is promised.t37 For just a little longers and he who is coming will arrive and not delay.s38 But my righteous one will live by faith, and if he shrinks back, Ittake no pleasure in him.s

39 But we are not among those who shrink back and thus perish, but are among those who have faith and preserve their souls.t