Hebrews 9:1–28

¹ Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. ² A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place. ³ Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, ⁴ containing 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. ⁵ Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. ⁶ When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. ⁷ But 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. ⁸ By 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. ⁹ It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper. ¹⁰ They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform. ¹¹ But 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. ¹² He 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. ¹³ For 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, ¹⁴ how 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! ¹⁵ Therefore 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. ¹⁶ In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive. ¹⁸ That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the bl…