11But Christ becoming the high-priest of future good things, through a better and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is, not of this creation; 12nor by the blood of goats and of calves, but by his own blood, he entered once for all into the holies, having obtained eternal redemption.
13For if the blood of bulls, and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the defiled sanctifieth to corporal purification, 14how much more shall the blood of Christ, who, by the eternal Spirit, offered up himself in sacrifice without blemish to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, that we may perform divine service to the living God?
15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that, death being suffered for the redemption of transgressions committed against the first testament, they who are called might receive the promise of an eternal inheritance. 16For where a testament is, of necessity the death of the testator is implied. 17For a testament is valid when men are dead; for else it is of no efficacy whilst the testator is alive. 18Wherefore also that first testament was not consecrated without blood. 19For when every command according to the law had been spoken by Moses to all the people, taking the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21And the tabernacle also, and all the vessels employed in the divine service, he in like manner sprinkled with blood. 22And almost all things are purified by blood according to the law, and without effusion of blood there is no remission of sin. 23There was a necessity therefore that the representations of the things in heaven should be purified by these; but the celestial things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ is not entered into the holies made with hands, the antitypes of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the presence of God for us: 25and not that he should often offer up himself in sacrifice, as the high-priest enters every year into the holies with blood not his own, 26(for in that case he must have suffered often since the foundation of the world:) but now once for all at the consummation of the ages hath he been manifested for the abolishing sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And forasmuch as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment, 28so Christ having been once offered in sacrifice to bear the sins of men, will appear the second time without sin, to those who expect him, for their salvation.
[CHAP. X.]
NOW the law, having a shadow of the good things which were to come, not the very substance of the things, cannot possibly, by the same sacrifices which they offer year by year continually, make those perfect who approach God; 2else they would have discontinued to make the offering, because they who performed the service being once made clean, would have had no more sense of sins on their conscience. 3But in these sacrifices there is a commemoration of sins every year. 4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sin. 5Wherefore, coming into the world, he saith, “Sacrifice and oblation thou hast not chosen, but thou hast exactly fashioned a body for me: 6thou hast had no delight in whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin: 7then I said, Here am I; (in the volume of the book it is written of me) I come to do thy will, O God[137].” 8Having said before that sacrifice, and oblation, and whole burnt-offerings and sin-offerings thou hast not chosen, nor takest pleasure in, (which are offered according to the law,) 9he then added, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He abolishes the first that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are sanctified through the oblation of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all.
11And every priest standeth indeed daily performing the divine service, and frequently offering the same sacrifices, which cannot possibly take away sins: 12but this person, having offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever hath seated himself at the right hand of God; 13henceforth waiting till his enemies be put as a footstool for his feet. 14For by one oblation he hath made those perfect for ever who are sanctified.
15Now the Holy Ghost also beareth this testimony to us: for after declaring before, 16“This is the testament which I will appoint to them after those days, saith the Lord; giving my laws to their hearts, even on their minds will I inscribe them;” 17he adds, “and their sins and their iniquities I will in no wise remember any more.” 18Now where there is remission of these, no more offering for sin is needed.
19Having therefore, brethren, entire liberty of entrance into the holies by the blood of Jesus—20a way, which he hath consecrated for us, newly opened, and giving life, through the vail, that is, his flesh; 21and having a great priest over the house of God, 22let us come to him with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and the body washed with pure water: 23let us hold fast the profession of hope unwavering, (for he who promises is faithful.) 24and let us attentively observe one another, to excite an ardour of love and of good works: 25not deserting the assembling of ourselves together, as is the custom with some, but exhorting to it; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no more sacrifice for sins remaineth; 27but a certain terrible expectation of judgment, and a burning indignation, ready to devour these enemies.
28Any man who treated the law of Moses with neglect, was put to death, without mercy, on the deposition of two or three witnesses: 29by how much, think ye, shall he be counted worthy of more condign punishment who hath trampled on the Son of God, and regarded the blood of his testament, by which he was sanctified, as an unclean thing, and hath treated the gracious Spirit contumeliously? 30For we know him who declares, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord[138].” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.