Add parallel Print Page Options

19 Therefore, brothers, since through the blood of Jesus we have confidence of entrance into the sanctuary(A) 20 [a]by the new and living way he opened for us through the veil,(B) that is, his flesh, 21 [b](C)and since we have “a great priest over the house of God,” 22 let us approach with a sincere heart and in absolute trust, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience[c] and our bodies washed in pure water.(D)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 10:20 Through the veil, that is, his flesh: the term flesh is used pejoratively. As the temple veil kept people from entering the Holy of Holies (it was rent at Christ’s death, Mk 15:38), so the flesh of Jesus constituted an obstacle to approaching God.
  2. 10:21 The house of God: this refers back to Hb 3:6, “we are his house.”
  3. 10:22 With our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience: as in Hb 9:13 (see note there), the sprinkling motif refers to the Mosaic rite of cleansing from ritual impurity. This could produce only an external purification, whereas sprinkling with the blood of Christ (Hb 9:14) cleanses the conscience. Washed in pure water: baptism is elsewhere referred to as a washing; cf. 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 5:26.