Agano La Kwanza Na Agano Jipya

Basi hata lile agano la kwanza lilikuwa na kanuni zake za ibada pamoja na mahali pa kuabudia hapa duniani. Hema la kuabu dia liliandaliwa likiwa na chumba cha kwanza ambamo mlikuwa na chombo cha kuwekea taa, na meza na mikate iliyowekwa wakfu. Chumba hiki kiliitwa Patakatifu. Nyuma ya pazia la pili, pali kuwa na chumba kiitwacho Patakatifu pa Patakatifu. Chumba hiki kilikuwa na madhabahu ya dhahabu ya kufukizia uvumba na sanduku la agano ambalo lilifunikwa kwa dhahabu pande zote. Sanduku hili lilikuwa na chombo cha dhahabu chenye ile mana na ile fimbo ya Aroni iliyochipuka, na yale mawe ya agano. Juu ya sanduku kulikuwa na makerubi wa utukufu ambao kivuli chao kilifunika kiti cha rehema. Lakini mambo haya sasa hatuwezi kuyaeleza kwa undani.

Vitu vyote vilipokwisha kupangwa namna hii, makuhani wal iingia mara kwa mara katika kile chumba cha kwanza kutoa huduma yao ya ibada. Lakini ni kuhani mkuu peke yake ambaye aliruhu siwa kuingia katika chumba cha ndani mara moja tu kwa mwaka. Tena ilibidi aingie huko na damu ambayo aliitoa kwa ajili yake mwe nyewe na kwa ajili ya dhambi za watu walizotenda pasipo kujua. Kwa njia hii, Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa akionyesha kwamba maadamu hema ya kwanza ilikuwa bado imesimama, njia ya kuingia katika Patakatifu pa Patakatifu ilikuwa bado haijafunguliwa. Hii ili kuwa ni kielelezo kwa wakati wa sasa, kuonyesha kwamba sadaka na dhabihu zilizotolewa zilikuwa haziwezi kutakasa dhamiri ya mtu anayeabudu. 10 Hizi zilikuwa ni sheria zinazohusu chakula na vinywaji na taratibu mbalimbali za utakaso wa nje, kanuni ambazo zingetumika mpaka wakati wa matayarisho ya utaratibu mpya.

Damu Ya Kristo Husafisha Dhamiri

11 Kristo alipokuja kama kuhani mkuu wa mambo mema ambayo tayari yamekwisha wasili, alipitia kwenye hema ya kuabudia ambayo ni kuu zaidi na bora zaidi na ambayo haikujengwa na binadamu, yaani ambayo si sehemu ya ulimwengu huu ulioumbwa. 12 Yeye aliingia patakatifu pa patakatifu mara moja tu kwa wakati wote, akichukua, si damu ya mbuzi na ndama, bali damu yake mwenyewe, na hivyo kutupatia ukombozi wa milele.

13 Kwa maana ikiwa damu ya mbuzi na mafahali na majivu ya ndama hunyunyizwa juu ya watu wachafu kidini ikawatakasa kwa kuwaondolea uchafu wao wa nje, 14 damu ya Kristo ambaye kwa njia ya Roho wa milele alijitoa mwenyewe kwa Mungu kama sadaka isiyokuwa na doa, itazisafisha dhamiri zetu zaidi sana kutokana na matendo yaletayo kifo, na kutuwezesha kumtumikia Mungu aliye hai.

15 Kwa sababu hii Kristo ni mjumbe wa agano jipya ili wale walioitwa wapokee urithi wa milele ulioahidiwa na Mungu; kwa kuwa alikufa awe fidia itakayowaweka huru na dhambi walizotenda chini ya agano la kwanza.

16 Ili hati ya urithi itambuliwe ni lazima pawepo na uthi bitisho kwamba huyo aliyeiandika amekwisha kufa. 17 Kwa maana hati ya urithi huwa na uzito tu wakati mtu amekwisha kufa; haiwezi kutumika wakati yule aliyeiandika angali hai. 18 Hii ndio maana hata lile agano la kwanza halikuweza kutekelezwa pasipo damu kumwagika. 19 Wakati Musa alipowatangazia watu amri zote za sheria, alichukua damu ya ndama na ya mbuzi, pamoja na maji na sufu nyekundu na hisopo akanyunyizia kitabu cha sheria na watu wote, 20 akasema, “Hii ndio damu ya agano ambalo Mungu amewaamuru kulitii.” 21 Vivyo hivyo akanyunyizia damu hiyo kwe nye lile hema na vifaa vyote vilivyotumika kwa ibada. 22 Hakika katika sheria, karibu kila kitu hutakaswa kwa damu; na pasipo kumwaga damu, hakuna msamaha wa dhambi.

23 Kwa hiyo ilikuwa muhimu vitu hivi ambavyo ni mfano wa vile vya mbinguni vitakaswe kwa njia hizi, lakini vitu halisi vya mbinguni vilihitaji dhabihu bora kuliko hizi. 24 Kwa maana Kristo hakuingia kwenye hema ya kuabudia iliyotengenezwa na bina damu kama mfano wa hema halisi. Yeye aliingia mbinguni penyewe, ambapo sasa anatuwakilisha mbele za Mungu. 25 Wala hakuingia mbinguni kujitoa mwenyewe mara kwa mara, kama kuhani mkuu ain giavyo Patakatifu pa Patakatifu kila mwaka na damu ambayo si yake. 26 Ingekuwa hivyo, ingalimpasa Kristo kuteswa mara nyingi tangu kuumbwa kwa ulimwengu. Lakini ilivyo ni kwamba ametokea mara moja tu kwa wakati wote, katika siku hizi za mwisho, ili atokomeze dhambi kwa kujitoa mwenyewe kuwa dhabihu. 27 Na kama ambavyo mwanadamu ameandikiwa kufa mara moja tu, na baada ya hapo kukabili hukumu; 28 hali kadhalika Kristo alitolewa kama dhabihu mara moja tu ili azichukue dhambi za watu wengi; naye atakuja mara ya pili, si kuchukua dhambi, bali kuwaletea wokovu wale wanaomngojea kwa hamu.

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle

Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.(A) A tabernacle(B) was set up. In its first room were the lampstand(C) and the table(D) with its consecrated bread;(E) this was called the Holy Place.(F) Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,(G) which had the golden altar of incense(H) and the gold-covered ark of the covenant.(I) This ark contained the gold jar of manna,(J) Aaron’s staff that had budded,(K) and the stone tablets of the covenant.(L) Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory,(M) overshadowing the atonement cover.(N) But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly(O) into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered(P) the inner room,(Q) and that only once a year,(R) and never without blood,(S) which he offered for himself(T) and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.(U) The Holy Spirit was showing(V) by this that the way(W) into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. This is an illustration(X) for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered(Y) were not able to clear the conscience(Z) of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food(AA) and drink(AB) and various ceremonial washings(AC)—external regulations(AD) applying until the time of the new order.

The Blood of Christ

11 But when Christ came as high priest(AE) of the good things that are now already here,[a](AF) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle(AG) that is not made with human hands,(AH) 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;(AI) but he entered the Most Holy Place(AJ) once for all(AK) by his own blood,(AL) thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls(AM) and the ashes of a heifer(AN) 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(AO) offered himself(AP) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences(AQ) from acts that lead to death,[c](AR) so that we may serve the living God!(AS)

15 For this reason Christ is the mediator(AT) of a new covenant,(AU) that those who are called(AV) may receive the promised(AW) eternal inheritance(AX)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.(AY)

16 In the case of a will,[d] 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.(AZ) 19 When Moses had proclaimed(BA) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,(BB) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.(BC) 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”[e](BD) 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,(BE) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.(BF)

23 It was necessary, then, for the copies(BG) 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;(BH) he entered heaven itself,(BI) now to appear for us in God’s presence.(BJ) 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place(BK) every year with blood that is not his own.(BL) 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.(BM) But he has appeared(BN) once for all(BO) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.(BP) 27 Just as people are destined to die once,(BQ) and after that to face judgment,(BR) 28 so Christ was sacrificed once(BS) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,(BT) not to bear sin,(BU) but to bring salvation(BV) to those who are waiting for him.(BW)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come
  2. Hebrews 9:12 Or blood, having obtained
  3. Hebrews 9:14 Or from useless rituals
  4. Hebrews 9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17
  5. Hebrews 9:20 Exodus 24:8