1 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and *Ex. 25:8an earthly place of holiness. 2 For *Ex. 26:1a tent*9:2 Or tabernacle; also verses 11, 21 was prepared, the first section, in which were *Ex. 25:31-39;26:35;40:4the lampstand and *Ex. 25:23-29the table and *Ex. 25:30;Lev. 24:5-8the bread of the Presence.*9:2 Greek the presentation of the loaves It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind *Ex. 26:31-33;40:3,21the second curtain was a second section*9:3 Greek tent; also verses 6, 8 called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden *Lev. 16:12,13altar of incense and *Ex. 25:10;26:33;40:3,21;Rev. 11:19the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was *Ex. 16:33,34a golden urn holding the manna, and *Num. 17:10Aaron’s staff that budded, and *Ex. 25:16;40:20;Deut. 10:2,5;1 Kgs. 8:9,21;2 Chr. 5:10the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were *Ex. 25:18-22;[1 Kgs. 8:6,7] the cherubim of glory overshadowing *Lev. 16:2the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 These preparations having thus been made, *[Num. 28:3]the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only *Lev. 16:15,34;[ch. 10:3;Ex. 30:10] the high priest goes, and he but *Lev. 16:15,34;[ch. 10:3;Ex. 30:10] once a year, and not without taking blood, *See ch. 5:3which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the Holy Spirit indicates that *ch. 10:20;[John 14:6]the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age).*9:9 Or which is symbolic for the age then present According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered *See ch. 7:19that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with *See Lev. 11:2food and drink and *Mark 7:4,8;See Lev. 11:25various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest *ch. 10:1of the good things that have come,*9:11 Some manuscripts good things to come then through *[ver. 24; ch. 8:2] the greater and more perfect tent (*See Mark 14:58not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he *ver. 24entered *ch. 7:27;10:10once for all into the holy places, not by means of *ch. 10:4the blood of goats and calves but *See Acts 20:28by means of his own blood, *Job 33:24;[Dan. 9:24;1 Cor. 6:20]thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if *Lev. 16:14-16the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with *Num. 19:2,17,18the ashes of a heifer, sanctify*9:13 Or For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will *ver. 12;1 John 1:7;Rev. 7:14the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit *ch. 7:27;8:3offered himself without blemish to God, *ch. 1:3;10:22purify our*9:14 Some manuscripts your conscience *ch. 6:1from dead works *Rom. 6:13;1 Pet. 4:2to serve the living God.

15 Therefore he is *ch. 8:6;12:24the mediator of a new covenant, so that *[ch. 3:1]; See Rom. 8:28those who are called may *[ch. 10:36;Ex. 32:13] receive the promised eternal inheritance, *Rom. 3:24,25;5:6since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.*9:15 The Greek word means both covenant and will; also verses 16, 1716 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For *[Gal. 3:15]a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated *Ex. 24:6,8without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took *ver. 12the blood of calves and goats, *[Lev. 14:4,7;Num. 19:6,17]with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, *Cited from Ex. 24:8;[Matt. 26:28]"This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you." 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both *[Ex. 29:12,36;Lev. 8:15,19;16:14,16;2 Chr. 29:22]the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and *Lev. 17:11without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

23 Thus it was necessary for *ch. 8:5the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places *ch. 8:2;[ver. 11] made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God *ch. 7:25;See Rom. 8:34on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as *See ver. 7the high priest enters *ch. 10:19the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, *1 John 3:5he has appeared *ver. 12;ch. 7:27;10:10;1 Pet. 3:18once for all *[ch. 1:2;1 Cor. 10:11]at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as *See Gen. 3:19it is appointed for man to die once, and *See Matt. 16:27after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once *Isa. 53:12;1 Pet. 2:24;3:18to bear the sins of *Matt. 20:28;26:28;Mark 10:45;Rev. 5:9many, will appear *Acts 1:11a second time, *See ch. 4:15not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly *Titus 2:13;[Isa. 25:9]waiting for him.