Hebrews 10

1 For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things; by the selfsame sacrifices which they offer continually every year, can never make the comers thereunto perfect:2 For then they would have ceased to be offered: because the worshippers once cleansed should have no conscience of sin any longer:3 But in them there is made a commemoration of sins every year.4 For it is impossible that with the blood of oxen and goats sin should be taken away.5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith: Sacrifice and oblation thou wouldest not: but a body thou hast fitted to me:6 Holocausts for sin did not please thee.7 Then said I: Behold I come: in the head of the book it is written of me: that I should do thy will, O God.8 In saying before, Sacrifices, and oblations, and holocausts for sin thou wouldest not, neither are they pleasing to thee, which are offered according to the law.9 Then said I: Behold, I come to do thy will, O God: he taketh away the first, that he may establish that which followeth.10 In the which will, we are sanctified by the oblation of the body of Jesus Christ once.11 And every priest indeed standeth daily ministering, and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.12 But this man offering one sacrifice for sins, for ever sitteth on the right hand of God,13 From henceforth expecting, until his enemies be made his footstool.14 For by one oblation he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.15 And the Holy Ghost also doth testify this to us. For after that he said:16 And this is the testament which I will make unto them after those days, saith the Lord. I will give my laws in their hearts, and on their minds will I write them:17 And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.18 Now where there is a remission of these, there is no more an oblation for sin.19 Having therefore, brethren, a confidence in the entering into the holies by the blood of Christ;20 A new and living way which he hath dedicated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh,21 And a high priest over the house of God:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with clean water.23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (for he is faithful that hath promised),24 And let us consider one another, to provoke unto charity and to good works:25 Not forsaking our assembly, as some are accustomed; but comforting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.26 For if we sin wilfully after having the knowledge of the truth, there is now left no sacrifice for sins,27 But a certain dreadful expectation of judgment, and the rage of a fire which shall consume the adversaries.28 A man making void the law of Moses, dieth without any mercy under two or three witnesses:29 How much more, do you think he deserveth worse punishments, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath esteemed the blood of the testament unclean, by which he was sanctified, and hath offered an affront to the Spirit of grace?30 For we know him that hath said: Vengeance belongeth to me, and I will repay. And again: The Lord shall judge his people.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.32 But call to mind the former days, wherein, being illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions.33 And on the one hand indeed, by reproaches and tribulations, were made a gazingstock; and on the other, became companions of them that were used in such sort.34 For you both had compassion on them that were in bands, and took with joy the being stripped of your own goods, knowing that you have a better and a lasting substance.35 Do not therefore lose your confidence, which hath a great reward.36 For patience is necessary for you; that, doing the will of God, you may receive the promise.37 For yet a little and a very little while, and he that is to come, will come, and will not delay.38 But my just man liveth by faith; but if he withdraw himself, he shall not please my soul.39 But we are not the children of withdrawing unto perdition, but of faith to the saving 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