Christ’s one sacrifice did what innumerable Old Covenant sacrifices could never do
10
📚For the Law was a shadow✭ of good things to come, not the very substance of the things. So with those sacrifices which they offer continually year after year it can never make perfect✭ those who approach it. 2 📚For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because the worshippers once cleansed would no longer have a consciousness of sins✭. 3 📚But in those sacrifices sins are remembered again every year. 4 📚For it is not possible✭ that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.5 📚✭Therefore when he comes into the world, he says,
Sacrifice and offering✭ you did not desire,
but a body you have prepared for me.
6 📚In burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin you have had no pleasure.
7 📚Then said I, See, I come
(in the volume of the book it is written of me)
to do your will, O God.
8 📚Above when he said, “Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you did not desire, and have had no pleasure in them” (which are offered by the Law✭), 9 📚and then said, “See, I come to do your will, O God”. He takes away the first things so that he may establish the second✭.
10 📚By this will we are sanctified✭ through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 📚And every priest stands✭ daily ministering and offering over and over the same sacrifices which can never take away sins✭. 12 📚But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever✭, sat down✭ at the right hand✭ of God. 13 📚From now on he waits expectantly until his enemies are made his footstool✭.
Eternal perfection comes by the New Covenant
14 📚✭For by one offering he has perfected forever✭ those who are sanctified✭.
15 📚Concerning this the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us. For after he first said✭,
16 📚✭“This is the covenant that
I will make with them after those days,
says the Lord,
I will put my laws into their hearts,
and write them in their minds”,
he adds,
17 📚✭“And their sins and lawless deeds
I will remember no more”.
18 📚Now where these have forgiveness, there is no more✭ offering for sin.
The new and living way
19 📚✭Therefore✭, brothers, we have boldness to enter✭ into the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 📚✭by a new and living way that he has consecrated for us through the veil✭, that is to say, his flesh; 21 📚and we have a high priest✭ over the house of God✭. 22 📚So let us draw near✭ with a sincere heart✭ in full assurance of faith✭, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience✭, and our bodies washed with pure water✭.
New Covenant duties
23 📚Let us hold firmly the confession of our faith without wavering (for he is faithful✭ who promised). 24 📚✭And let us consider✭ how to stir each other up to love and good works, 25 📚✭not forsaking our meetings together, as the way of some is, but encouraging each other, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.
FOURTH WARNING: Do not reject the New Covenant and continue in sin
26 📚✭For if we willfully go on sinning✭ after we have received the knowledge of the truth✭, there remains no more sacrifice✭ for sins, 27 📚but only a fearful expectation of judgment✭ and fiery✭ indignation which will consume the adversaries✭. 28 📚✭He who despised Moses’ law died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 📚✭Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought deserving who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 📚For we know him who has said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, The Lord will judge his people.
31 📚✭It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The experience of the Jewish Christians and the necessity of persevering in faith
32 📚✭✭But recall the former days, when, after you were enlightened, you patiently endured a great struggle with sufferings. 33 📚On the one hand, you were made a spectacle by both insults and oppression, and on the other hand, you associated yourselves with those who were so treated. 34 📚For you had compassion on me in my chains, and endured joyfully the plundering of your possessions, because you knew that you have in heaven a better possession and one that lasts. 35 📚Therefore do not cast away your confidence. It involves a great payment of reward✭. 36 📚For you have need of patient endurance✭, so that after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. 37 📚✭For yet a little while and he who is coming will come, and will not delay.
38 📚“Now the righteous will live by faith, but if anyone draws back✭, my soul will have no pleasure in him”.
39 📚But we✭ are not of those who draw back to destruction, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.