Hebrews 9

The Arrangement and Ritual of the Earthly Sanctuary

1 Now the first covenant,t in fact, had regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary.2 For a tent was prepared, the outer one,t which containedt the lampstand, the table, and the presentation of the loaves; thist is called the holy place.3 And after the second curtain there was a tent called the holy of holies.4 It contained the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. In this arkt were the golden urn containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.5 And above the arkt were the cherubims of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Now is not the time to speak of these things in detail.6 So with these things prepared like this, the priests enter continually into the outer tentt as they perform their duties.7 But only the high priest enters once a year into the inner tent,t and not without blood that he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.t8 The Holy Spirit is making clear that the way into the holy place had not yet appeared as long as the old tabernaclet was standing.9 This was a symbol for the time then present, when gifts and sacrifices were offered that could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.

10 They served only for matters of food and drinkt and various washings; they are external regulationss imposed until the new order came.t

Christ’s Service in the Heavenly Sanctuary

11 But now Christ has comet as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation,12 and he entered once for all into the most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself securedt eternal redemption.13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity,t

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify ours consciences from dead works to worship the living God.
15 And so he is the mediatort of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised,t since he diedt to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.16 For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven.t17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive.18 So even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood.s19 For when Moses had spoken every command to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,20 and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.”ts21 And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood.22 Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.23 So it was necessary for the sketchest of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices,t but the heavenly things themselves requiredt better sacrifices than these.24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representationt of the true sanctuaryt – but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us.25 And he did not enter to offert himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own,26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice.27 And just as peoplet are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,t

28 so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many,s to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sint but to bring salvation.t

HEBREWS 9

The Tent in Heaven

1 The first promise included rules for worship and a tent for worship here on earth.

2 t The first part of the tent was called the holy place, and a lampstand, a table, and the sacred loaves of bread were kept there.
3  t Behind the curtain was the most holy place. 4 t The gold altar for burning incense was in this holy place. The gold-covered sacred chest was also there, and inside it were three things. First, there was a gold jar filled with manna.t Then there was Aaron's walking stick that sprouted.t Finally, there were the flat stones with the Ten Commandments written on them.

5 t On top of the chest were the glorious creatures with wingst opened out above the place of mercy.t
Now isn't the time to go into detail about these things. 6 t But this is how everything was when the priests went each day into the first part of the tent to do their duties.

7 t However, only the high priest could go into the second part of the tent, and he went in only once a year. Each time he carried blood to offer for his sins and for any sins that the people had committed without meaning to.
8 All of this is the Holy Spirit's way of saying no one could enter the most holy place while the tent was still the place of worship. 9 This also has a meaning for today. It shows we cannot make our consciences clear by offering gifts and sacrifices.

10 These rules are merely about such things as eating and drinking and ceremonies for washing ourselves. And rules about physical things will last only until the time comes to change them for something better.
11  tChrist came as the high priest of the good things that are now here.t He also went into a much better tent that wasn't made by humans and that doesn't belong to this world.

12 Then Christ went once for all into the most holy place and freed us from sin forever. He did this by offering his own blood instead of the blood of goats and bulls.
13  tAccording to the Law of Moses, those people who become unclean are not fit to worship God. Yet they will be considered clean, if they are sprinkled with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a sacrificed calf.

14 But Christ was sinless, and he offered himself as an eternal and spiritual sacrifice to God. This is why his blood is much more powerful and makes ourt consciences clear. Now we can serve the living God and no longer do things that lead to death.
15 Christ died to rescue those who had sinned and broken the old agreement. Now he brings his chosen ones a new agreement with its guarantee of God's eternal blessings! 16 In fact, making an agreement of this kind is like writing a will. This is because the one who makes the will must die before it is of any use.

17 In other words, a will doesn't go into effect as long as the one who made it is still alive.
18 Blood was also usedt to put the first agreement into effect. 19 t Moses told the people all the Law said they must do. Then he used red wool and a hyssop plant to sprinkle the people and the book of the Law with the blood of bulls and goatst and with water. 20 He told the people, “With this blood God makes his agreement with you.” 21 t Moses also sprinkled blood on the tent and on everything else used in worship.

22 t The Law says that almost everything must be sprinkled with blood, and no sins can be forgiven unless blood is offered.

Christ's Great Sacrifice

24 This is why Christ did not go into a tent made by humans and was only a copy of the real one. Instead, he went into heaven and is now there with God to help us.
25 Christ did not have to offer himself many times. He wasn't like a high priest who goes into the most holy place each year to offer the blood of an animal.

26 If he had offered himself every year, he would have suffered many times since the creation of the world. But instead, near the end of time he offered himself once and for all, so he could be a sacrifice that does away with sin.
27 We die only once, and then we are judged. 28 t So Christ died only once to take away the sins of many people. But when he comes again, it will not be to take away sin. He will come to save everyone who is waiting for him.