1 Now of the things
which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest,
who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in
the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which
the Lord pitched, and not man.
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices:
wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also
to offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing
that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things,
as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the
tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according
to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how
much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was
established upon better promises.
7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should
no place have been sought for the second.
8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come,
saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house
of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers
in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of
the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant,
and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house
of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws
into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will
be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every
man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me,
from the least to the greatest.
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their
sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first
old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish
away.
Chapter 9
1 Then verily the
first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a
worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the
candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called
the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called
the Holiest of all;
4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid
round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna,
and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat;
of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went
always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service
of God.
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every
year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for
the errors of the people:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest
of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle
was yet standing:
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were
offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that
did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings,
and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
that is to say, not of this building;
12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own
blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained
eternal redemption for us.
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of
an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying
of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament,
that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions
that were under the first testament, they which are called might
receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be
the death of the testator.
17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise
it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without
blood.
19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people
according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats,
with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both
the book, and all the people,
20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath
enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and
all the vessels of the ministry.
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and
without shedding of blood is no remission.
23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in
the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly
things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with
hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself,
now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest
entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation
of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared
to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this
the judgment:
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and
unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation.
Chapter 10
1 For the law having
a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the
things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year
by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because
that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience
of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made
of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats
should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice
and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared
me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no
pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written
of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings
and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure
therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh
away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins
for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that
are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after
that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts,
and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering
for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest
by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us,
through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;
(for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and
to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the
manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge
of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two
or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought
worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath
counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified,
an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto
me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. 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 remembrance the former days, in which, after
ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches
and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of
them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully
the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have
in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the
will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come,
and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but
of them that believe to the saving of the soul. |