Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
For the Law, since it has only aa shadow of bthe good things to come and not the very form of things, can cnever, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, dmake perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have aconsciousness of sins? 3 But ain those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is aimpossible for the bblood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, awhen He comes into the world, He says,
“bSacrifice and offering You have not desired,
But ca body You have prepared for Me;
6 aIn burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure.
7 aThen I said, ‘Behold, I have come,
In bthe scroll of the book it is written of Me,
To do Your will, O God.’”
8 After saying above, “aSacrifices and offerings and bburnt offerings and sacrifices cfor sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “aBehold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been asanctified through bthe offering of cthe body of Jesus Christ donce for all.
11 And every priest stands daily ministering and aoffering time after time the same sacrifices, which bcan never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice afor sins bfor all time, csat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time auntil His enemies are put as a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has aperfected bfor all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And athe Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
16 “aThis is the covenant that I will make with them
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws upon their heart,
And on their mind I will write them,”
He then says,
17 “aAnd their sins and their lawless deeds
I will remember no more.”
18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.
A New and Living Way
19 Therefore, brothers, since we ahave confidence to benter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by aa new and living way which He inaugurated for us through bthe veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have aa great priest bover the house of God, 22 let us adraw near with a sincere heart in bfull assurance of faith, having our hearts csprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies dwashed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the aconfession of our bhope without wavering, for cHe who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how ato stimulate one another to love and bgood deeds, 25 not forsaking our own aassembling together, as is the habit of some, but bencouraging one another, and all the more as you see cthe day drawing near.
Warning Against Willful Sin
26 For if we go on asinning willfully after receiving bthe knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of ajudgment and bthe fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 aAnyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy by the mouth of two or three witnesses. 29 aHow much worse punishment do you think he will deserve bwho has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded as defiled cthe blood of the covenant dby which he was sanctified, and has einsulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “aVengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “bThe Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a aterrifying thing to fall into the hands of the bliving God.
32 But remember athe former days, when, after being benlightened, you endured a great cconflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being amade a public spectacle through reproaches and afflictions, and partly by becoming bsharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you also ashowed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted with bjoy the seizure of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves ca better and lasting possession. 35 Therefore, do not throw away that aconfidence of yours, which has a great breward. 36 For you have need of aendurance, so that when you have bdone the will of God, you may creceive the promise.
37 aFor yet in a very little while,
bHe who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 aBut My righteous one shall live by faith,
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.