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.
