Hebrews 6:13-10:18

New International Version

The Certainty of God’s Promise

¹³ When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,^{(A) 14} saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”^{[a](B) 15} And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.^(C)

¹⁶ People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.^{(D) 17} Because God wanted to make the unchanging^(E) nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised,^(F) he confirmed it with an oath. ¹⁸ God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,^(G) we who have fled to take hold of the hope^(H) set before us may be greatly encouraged. ¹⁹ We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,^{(I) 20} where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.^(J) He has become a high priest^(K) forever, in the order of Melchizedek.^(L)

Melchizedek the Priest

7 This Melchizedek was king of Salem^(M) and priest of God Most High.^(N) He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,^{(O) 2} and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” ³ Without father or mother, without genealogy,^(P) without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God,^(Q) he remains a priest forever.

⁴ Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch^(R) Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!^{(S) 5} Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people^(T)—that is, from their fellow Israelites—even though they also are descended from Abraham. ⁶ This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed^(U) him who had the promises.^{(V) 7} And without doubt the lesser is blessed by the greater. ⁸ In the one case, the tenth is collected by people who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living.^{(W) 9} One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, ¹⁰ because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.

Jesus Like Melchizedek

¹¹ If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood—and indeed the law given to the people^(X) established that priesthood—why was there still need for another priest to come,^(Y) one in the order of Melchizedek,^(Z) not in the order of Aaron? ¹² For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also. ¹³ He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe,^(AA) and no one from that tribe has ever served at the altar.^{(AB) 14} For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah,^(AC) and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. ¹⁵ And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, ¹⁶ one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷ For it is declared:

¹⁸ The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless^{(AE) 19} (for the law made nothing perfect),^(AF) and a better hope^(AG) is introduced, by which we draw near to God.^(AH)

²⁰ And it was not without an oath! Others became priests without any oath, ²¹ but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:

²² Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.^(AK)

²³ Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; ²⁴ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.^{(AL) 25} Therefore he is able to save^(AM) completely^[d] those who come to God^(AN) through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.^(AO)

²⁶ Such a high priest^(AP) truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners,^(AQ) exalted above the heavens.^{(AR) 27} Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices^(AS) day after day, first for his own sins,^(AT) and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all^(AU) when he offered himself.^{(AV) 28} For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness;^(AW) but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son,^(AX) who has been made perfect^(AY) forever.

The High Priest of a New Covenant

8 Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest,^(AZ) who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,^{(BA) 2} and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle^(BB) set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

³ Every high priest^(BC) is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices,^(BD) and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer.^{(BE) 4} If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law.^{(BF) 5} They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy^(BG) and shadow^(BH) of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned^(BI) when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”^{[e](BJ) 6} But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant^(BK) of which he is mediator^(BL) is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.^{(BM) 8} But God found fault with the people and said^[f]:

¹³ By calling this covenant “new,”^(BV) he has made the first one obsolete;^(BW) and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

9 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.^{(BX) 2} A tabernacle^(BY) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand^(BZ) and the table^(CA) with its consecrated bread;^(CB) this was called the Holy Place.^{(CC) 3} Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,^{(CD) 4} which had the golden altar of incense^(CE) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.^(CF) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,^(CG) Aaron’s staff that had budded,^(CH) and the stone tablets of the covenant.^{(CI) 5} Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,^(CJ) overshadowing the atonement cover.^(CK) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

⁶ When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly^(CL) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. ⁷ But only the high priest entered^(CM) the inner room,^(CN) and that only once a year,^(CO) and never without blood,^(CP) which he offered for himself^(CQ) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.^{(CR) 8} The Holy Spirit was showing^(CS) by this that the way^(CT) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. ⁹ This is an illustration^(CU) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered^(CV) were not able to clear the conscience^(CW) of the worshiper. ¹⁰ They are only a matter of food^(CX) and drink^(CY) and various ceremonial washings^(CZ)—external regulations^(DA) applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest^(DB) of the good things that are now already here,^[h](DC) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(DD) that is not made with human hands,^(DE) that is to say, is not a part of this creation. ¹² He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves;^(DF) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(DG) once for all^(DH) by his own blood,^(DI) thus obtaining^[i] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(DJ) and the ashes of a heifer^(DK) sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. ¹⁴ How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit^(DL) offered himself^(DM) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(DN) from acts that lead to death,^[j](DO) so that we may serve the living God!^(DP)

¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator^(DQ) of a new covenant,^(DR) that those who are called^(DS) may receive the promised^(DT) eternal inheritance^(DU)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.^(DV)

¹⁶ In the case of a will,^[k] it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, ¹⁷ because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. ¹⁸ This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.^{(DW) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(DX) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(DY) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(DZ) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[l](EA) 21} In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood,^(EB) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(EC)

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(ED) of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one;^(EE) he entered heaven itself,^(EF) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^{(EG) 25} Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(EH) every year with blood that is not his own.^{(EI) 26} Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(EJ) But he has appeared^(EK) once for all^(EL) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(EM) 27} Just as people are destined to die once,^(EN) and after that to face judgment,^{(EO) 28} so Christ was sacrificed once^(EP) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(EQ) not to bear sin,^(ER) but to bring salvation^(ES) to those who are waiting for him.^(ET)

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow^(EU) of the good things^(EV) that are coming—not the realities themselves.^(EW) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect^(EX) those who draw near to worship.^{(EY) 2} Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.^{(EZ) 3} But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.^{(FA) 4} It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats^(FB) to take away sins.^(FC)

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world,^(FD) he said:

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”^(FH)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”^(FI) He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy^(FJ) through the sacrifice of the body^(FK) of Jesus Christ once for all.^(FL)

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,^(FM) which can never take away sins.^{(FN) 12} But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,^(FO) he sat down at the right hand of God,^{(FP) 13} and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.^{(FQ) 14} For by one sacrifice he has made perfect^(FR) forever those who are being made holy.^(FS)

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies^(FT) to us about this. First he says:

¹⁷ Then he adds:

¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.