Hebrews 9

1 Now even a first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and its sanctuary, a sanctuary of this world.2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy place.3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies;4 having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.6 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services;7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people:8 the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing;9 which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect,10 being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling them that have been defiled, sanctify unto the cleanness of the flesh:14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?15 And for this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, they that have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.16 For where a testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him that made it.17 For a testament is of force where there hath been death: for it doth never avail while he that made it liveth.18 Wherefore even the first covenant hath not been dedicated without blood.19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses unto all the people according to the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded to you-ward.21 Moreover the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled in like manner with the blood.22 And according to the law, I may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission.23 It was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.24 For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own;26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment;28 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation.

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.