Bible Reading Plan – Day 346

₁The first covenant had rules for worship and an earthly place for worship as well. ₂A Tent was put up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place. In it were the lampstand and the table with the bread offered to God. ₃Behind the second curtain was the Tent called the Most Holy Place. ₄In it were the gold altar for the burning of incense and the Covenant Box all covered with gold and containing the gold jar with the manna in it, Aaron's stick that had sprouted leaves, and the two stone tablets with the commandments written on them. ₅Above the Box were the winged creatures representing God's presence, with their wings spread over the place where sins were forgiven. But now is not the time to explain everything in detail.

₆This is how those things have been arranged. The priests go into the outer Tent every day to perform their duties, ₇but only the High Priest goes into the inner Tent, and he does so only once a year. He takes with him blood which he offers to God on behalf of himself and for the sins which the people have committed without knowing they were sinning. ₈The Holy Spirit clearly teaches from all these arrangements that the way into the Most Holy Place has not yet been opened as long as the outer Tent still stands. ₉This is an illustration which points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshipper's heart perfect, ₁₀since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order.

₁₁But Christ has already come as the High Priest of the good things that are already here. The tent in which he serves is greater and more perfect; it is not a tent made by human hands, that is, it is not a part of this created world. ₁₂When Christ went through the tent and entered once and for all into the Most Holy Place, he did not take the blood of goats and bulls to offer as a sacrifice; rather, he took his own blood and obtained eternal salvation for us. ₁₃The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a burnt calf are sprinkled on the people who are ritually unclean, and this purifies them by taking away their ritual impurity. ₁₄Since this is true, how much more is accomplished by the blood of Christ! Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will purify our consciences from useless rituals, so that we may serve the living God.

₁₅For this reason Christ is the one who arranges a new covenant, so that those who have been called by God may receive the eternal blessings that God has promised. This can be done because there has been a death which sets people free from the wrongs they did while the first covenant was in force.

₁₆In the case of a will it is necessary to prove that the person who made it has died, ₁₇for a will means nothing while the person who made it is alive; it comes into effect only after his death. ₁₈That is why even the first covenant came into effect only with the use of blood. ₁₉First, Moses proclaimed to the people all the commandments as set forth in the Law. Then he took the blood of bulls and goats, mixed it with water, and sprinkled it on the book of the Law and all the people, using a sprig of hyssop and some red wool. ₂₀He said, “This is the blood which seals the covenant that God has commanded you to obey.” ₂₁In the same way Moses also sprinkled the blood on the Sacred Tent and over all the things used in worship. ₂₂Indeed, according to the Law almost everything is purified by blood, and sins are forgiven only if blood is poured out.

₂₃Those things, which are copies of the heavenly originals, had to be purified in that way. But the heavenly things themselves require much better sacrifices. ₂₄For Christ did not go into a Holy Place made by human hands, which was a copy of the real one. He went into heaven itself, where he now appears on our behalf in the presence of God. ₂₅The Jewish High Priest goes into the Most Holy Place every year with the blood of an animal. But Christ did not go in to offer himself many times, ₂₆for then he would have had to suffer many times ever since the creation of the world. Instead, now when all ages of time are nearing the end, he has appeared once and for all, to remove sin through the sacrifice of himself. ₂₇Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. ₂₈In the same manner Christ also was offered in sacrifice once to take away the sins of many. He will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are waiting for him.

₁The Jewish Law is not a full and faithful model of the real things; it is only a faint outline of the good things to come. The same sacrifices are offered for ever, year after year. How can the Law, then, by means of these sacrifices make perfect the people who come to God? ₂If the people worshipping God had really been purified from their sins, they would not feel guilty of sin any more, and all sacrifices would stop. ₃As it is, however, the sacrifices serve year after year to remind people of their sins. ₄For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.

₅For this reason, when Christ was about to come into the world, he said to God:

₁₁Every Jewish priest performs his services every day and offers the same sacrifices many times; but these sacrifices can never take away sins. ₁₂Christ, however, offered one sacrifice for sins, an offering that is effective for ever, and then he sat down at the right-hand side of God. ₁₃There he now waits until God puts his enemies as a footstool under his feet. ₁₄With one sacrifice, then, he has made perfect for ever those who are purified from sin.

₁₅And the Holy Spirit also gives us his witness. First he says:

₁₉We have, then, my brothers and sisters, complete freedom to go into the Most Holy Place by means of the death of Jesus. ₂₀He opened for us a new way, a living way, through the curtain — that is, through his own body. ₂₁We have a great priest in charge of the house of God. ₂₂So let us come near to God with a sincere heart and a sure faith, with hearts that have been purified from a guilty conscience and with bodies washed with clean water. ₂₃Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise. ₂₄Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good. ₂₅Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another all the more, since you see that the Day of the Lord is coming nearer.

₂₆For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us. ₂₇Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming Judgement and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God! ₂₈Anyone who disobeys the Law of Moses is put to death without any mercy when judged guilty on the evidence of two or more witnesses. ₂₉What, then, of those who despise the Son of God? who treat as a cheap thing the blood of God's covenant which purified them from sin? who insult the Spirit of grace? Just think how much worse is the punishment they will deserve! ₃₀For we know who said, “I will take revenge, I will repay”; and who also said, “The Lord will judge his people.” ₃₁It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

₃₂Remember how it was with you in the past. In those days, after God's light had shone on you, you suffered many things, yet were not defeated by the struggle. ₃₃You were at times publicly insulted and ill-treated, and at other times you were ready to join those who were being treated in this way. ₃₄You shared the sufferings of prisoners, and when all your belongings were seized, you endured your loss gladly, because you knew that you still possessed something much better, which would last for ever. ₃₅Do not lose your courage, then, because it brings with it a great reward. ₃₆You need to be patient, in order to do the will of God and receive what he promises. ₃₇For, as the scripture says: