Add parallel Print Page Options

The Law is a Reflection

10 For the Law, being only[a] a reflection[b] of the blessings to come and not their substance, can never make perfect those who come near by the same sacrifices repeatedly offered year after year. Otherwise, would they not have stopped offering them, because the worshipers, cleansed once for all, would no longer be aware of any sins? Instead, through those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year, for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The Messiah Offered One Sacrifice

For this reason, the Scriptures[c] say, when the Messiah[d] was about to come into the world:

“You did not want sacrifices and offerings,
    but you prepared a body for me.
In burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you never took delight.
Then I said, ‘See, I have come to do your will, O God’
    In the volume of the scroll this is written about me.”[e]

In this passage he says, “You never wanted or took delight in sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sin offerings,”[f] which are offered according to the Law. Then he says, “See, I have come to do your will.”[g] He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By God’s will we have been sanctified once and for all through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus, the Messiah.[h]

11 Day after day every priest stands and repeatedly offers the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest[i] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God.”[j] 13 Since that time, he has been waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 The Holy Spirit also assures us of this, for he said:

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them
    after those days, declares the Lord:[k]
I will put my laws in their hearts
    and will write them on their minds,
17 and I will never again remember their sins
    and their lawless deeds.”[l]

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these sins,[m] there is no longer any offering for sin.

How We Should Live

19 Therefore, my brothers, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21 and since we have a great high priest over the household of God, 22 let us continue to come near with sincere hearts in the full assurance that faith provides, because our hearts have been sprinkled clean from a guilty conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us continue to hold firmly to the hope that we confess without wavering, for the one who made the promise is faithful. 24 And let us continue to consider how to motivate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the day of the Lord[n] coming nearer.

26 For if we choose to go on sinning after we have learned the full truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.[o] 28 Anyone who violates the Law of Moses dies without mercy “on the testimony of two or three witnesses.”[p] 29 How much more severe a punishment do you think that person deserves who tramples on God’s Son, treats as common the blood of the covenant by which it[q] was sanctified, and insults the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who said, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will pay them back,”[r] and again, “The Lord[s] will judge his people.”[t] 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

32 But you must continue to remember those earlier days, how after you were enlightened you endured a hard and painful struggle. 33 At times you were made a public spectacle by means of insults and persecutions, while at other times you associated with people who were treated this way. 34 For you sympathized[u] with the prisoners and cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure of your property, because you know that you have a better and more permanent possession.

35 So don’t lose your confidence, since it holds a great reward for you. 36 For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will you can receive what he has promised. 37 For

“in a very little while
    the one who is coming will return—
        he will not delay;
38 but my righteous one will live by faith,
    and if he turns back,
        my soul will take no pleasure in him.”[v]

39 Now, we do not belong to those who turn back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:1 The Gk. lacks only
  2. Hebrews 10:1 Or shadow
  3. Hebrews 10:5 The Gk. lacks the Scriptures
  4. Hebrews 10:5 Lit. when he
  5. Hebrews 10:7 Cf. Ps 40:6-8
  6. Hebrews 10:8 Cf. Ps 40:6
  7. Hebrews 10:9 Cf. Ps 40:7
  8. Hebrews 10:10 Or Christ
  9. Hebrews 10:12 Lit. this one
  10. Hebrews 10:12 Cf. Ps 110:1
  11. Hebrews 10:16 MT source citation reads Lord
  12. Hebrews 10:17 Jer 31:34
  13. Hebrews 10:18 Lit. of these things
  14. Hebrews 10:25 The Gk. lacks of the Lord
  15. Hebrews 10:27 The Gk. lacks of God
  16. Hebrews 10:28 Cf. Deut 17:6
  17. Hebrews 10:29 Or he
  18. Hebrews 10:30 Cf. Deut 32:35
  19. Hebrews 10:30 MT source citation reads Lord
  20. Hebrews 10:30 Cf. Deut 32:36; Ps 135:14
  21. Hebrews 10:34 Or suffered
  22. Hebrews 10:38 Cf. Isa 26:20 (LXX); Hab 2:3-4 (LXX)

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow(A) of the good things(B) that are coming—not the realities themselves.(C) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect(D) those who draw near to worship.(E) 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.(F) But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.(G) It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats(H) to take away sins.(I)

Therefore, when Christ came into the world,(J) he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;(K)
with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll(L)
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”[a](M)

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

11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,(S) which can never take away sins.(T) 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,(U) he sat down at the right hand of God,(V) 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.(W) 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect(X) forever those who are being made holy.(Y)

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

16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”[b](AA)

17 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”[c](AB)

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

A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(AC) to enter the Most Holy Place(AD) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(AE) opened for us through the curtain,(AF) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(AG) over the house of God,(AH) 22 let us draw near to God(AI) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(AJ) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(AK) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(AL) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(AM) we profess,(AN) for he who promised is faithful.(AO) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(AP) 25 not giving up meeting together,(AQ) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(AR)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(AS)

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning(AT) after we have received the knowledge of the truth,(AU) no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire(AV) that will consume the enemies of God. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.(AW) 29 How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God(AX) underfoot,(AY) who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant(AZ) that sanctified them,(BA) and who has insulted the Spirit(BB) of grace?(BC) 30 For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[d](BD) and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”[e](BE) 31 It is a dreadful thing(BF) to fall into the hands(BG) of the living God.(BH)

32 Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,(BI) when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.(BJ) 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;(BK) at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.(BL) 34 You suffered along with those in prison(BM) and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.(BN) 35 So do not throw away your confidence;(BO) it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere(BP) so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.(BQ) 37 For,

“In just a little while,
    he who is coming(BR) will come
    and will not delay.”[f](BS)

38 And,

“But my righteous[g] one will live by faith.(BT)
    And I take no pleasure
    in the one who shrinks back.”[h](BU)

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:7 Psalm 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)
  2. Hebrews 10:16 Jer. 31:33
  3. Hebrews 10:17 Jer. 31:34
  4. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:35
  5. Hebrews 10:30 Deut. 32:36; Psalm 135:14
  6. Hebrews 10:37 Isaiah 26:20; Hab. 2:3
  7. Hebrews 10:38 Some early manuscripts But the righteous
  8. Hebrews 10:38 Hab. 2:4 (see Septuagint)