Hebrews 9

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold‑covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.

5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry.7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings–external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man‑made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.

14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it,17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.19 When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies.

22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.24 For Christ did not enter a man‑made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.27 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,

28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

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