1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.[ † ]Exodus 25:8Hebrews 8:2Hebrews 9:11-24 2A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,[ † ]Exodus 26:31-35Exodus 40:3 4containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.[ † ]Leviticus 16:12Exodus 25:10Exodus 16:33Numbers 17:1-10Exodus 25:16Exodus 34:29Deuteronomy 10:2-5 5Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.[ † ]Exodus 25:17-20Leviticus 16:21 Kings 8:7
6When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.[ † ]Numbers 18:2-6Numbers 28:3 7But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.[ † ]Exodus 30:10Leviticus 16:34Hebrews 10:3Hebrews 5:3
8By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.[ † ]John 14:6Hebrews 10:20 9It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.[ † ]Galatians 3:21Hebrews 7:19 10They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.[ † ]Leviticus 11:2Colossians 2:16Numbers 19:7Ephesians 2:15
11But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.[ † ]Ephesians 1:3-11Hebrews 10:1 12He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.[ † ]Hebrews 10:4Isaiah 53:12Ephesians 1:7Zechariah 3:9Daniel 9:24
13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,[ † ]Leviticus 16:14-15Hebrews 9:19Hebrews 10:4Numbers 19:2 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God![ † ]1 John 1:7Hebrews 6:1Luke 1:74
15Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.[ † ]Romans 3:25Hebrews 3:1
16In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it, 17because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.[ † ]Galatians 3:15
18That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.[ † ]Exodus 24:6 19For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,[ † ]Exodus 24:5-6Leviticus 14:4-7Numbers 19:6-18 20saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[ † ]Matthew 26:28Exodus 24:3-8
21In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.[ † ]Exodus 29:12-36 22According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.[ † ]Leviticus 17:11
23So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.[ † ]Hebrews 8:5 24For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.[ † ]Hebrews 6:20Hebrews 8:2Romans 8:34
25Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.[ † ]Hebrews 9:7 26Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,[ † ]Genesis 3:19Ecclesiastes 3:202 Corinthians 5:101 John 4:17 28so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.[ † ]Romans 6:10Isaiah 53:121 Peter 2:24Matthew 26:281 Corinthians 1:7Titus 2:13