1Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.2For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;4Which 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;5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.6Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.7But 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:8The 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:9Which 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;10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.11But 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;12Neither 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.13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:14How 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?15And 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.16For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.18Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.19For 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,20Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.23It 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.24For 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:25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;26For 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.27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:28So 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.
Hebrews 9
English Standard Version
The Earthly Holy Place
1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. (Ex 25:8)2For a tent[1] was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence.[2] It is called the Holy Place. (Ex 25:23; Ex 25:30; Ex 25:31; Ex 26:1; Ex 26:35; Ex 40:4; Le 24:5)3Behind the second curtain was a second section[3] called the Most Holy Place, (Ex 26:31; Ex 40:3; Ex 40:21)4having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. (Ex 16:33; Ex 25:10; Ex 25:16; Ex 26:33; Ex 40:3; Ex 40:20; Ex 40:21; Le 16:12; Nu 17:10; De 10:2; De 10:5; 1Ki 8:9; 1Ki 8:21; 2Ch 5:10; Re 11:19)5Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. (Ex 25:18; Le 16:2; 1Ki 8:6)6These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, (Nu 28:3)7but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. (Ex 30:10; Le 16:15; Le 16:34; Heb 5:3; Heb 10:3)8By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (Joh 14:6; Heb 10:20)9(which is symbolic for the present age).[4] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, (Heb 7:19)10but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. (Le 11:2; Le 11:25; Mr 7:4; Mr 7:8)
Redemption Through the Blood of Christ
11But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come,[5] then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) (Mr 14:58; Heb 8:2; Heb 9:24; Heb 10:1)12he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Job 33:24; Da 9:24; Ac 20:28; 1Co 6:20; Heb 7:27; Heb 9:24; Heb 10:4; Heb 10:10)13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify[6] for the purification of the flesh, (Le 16:14; Nu 19:2; Nu 19:17)14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our[7] conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Ro 6:13; Heb 1:3; Heb 6:1; Heb 7:27; Heb 8:3; Heb 9:12; Heb 10:22; 1Pe 4:2; 1Jo 1:7; Re 7:14)15Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.[8] (Ex 32:13; Ro 3:24; Ro 5:6; Ro 8:28; Heb 3:1; Heb 8:6; Heb 10:36; Heb 12:24)16For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.17For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. (Ga 3:15)18Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. (Ex 24:6; Ex 24:8)19For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, 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, (Le 14:4; Le 14:7; Nu 19:6; Nu 19:17; Heb 9:12)20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” (Ex 24:8; Mt 26:28)21And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. (Ex 29:12; Ex 29:36; Le 8:15; Le 8:19; Le 16:14; Le 16:16; 2Ch 29:22)22Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Le 17:11)23Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Heb 8:5)24For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. (Ro 8:34; Heb 7:25; Heb 8:2; Heb 9:11)25Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, (Heb 9:7; Heb 10:19)26for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (1Co 10:11; Heb 1:2; Heb 7:27; Heb 9:12; Heb 10:10; 1Pe 3:18; 1Jo 3:5)27And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, (Ge 3:19; Mt 16:27)28so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Isa 25:9; Isa 53:12; Mt 20:28; Mt 26:28; Mr 10:45; Ac 1:11; Tit 2:13; Heb 4:15; 1Pe 2:24; 1Pe 3:18; Re 5:9)