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the first covenant also had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up, and in the first room were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the Presence; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain, that part of the tabernacle was called the Holy of Holies. 4 It contained the golden altar of incense and the Ark of the Covenant, overlaid with gold on all sides, in which there was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. We cannot speak of the things right now.
6 When everything had been set up this way, the priests entered regularly into the first part of the tabernacle to perform their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the second room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people that they had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Holy of Holies had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is a symbol for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshipper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink, and of various ceremonial washings, that are imposed until the time of the new order.
11 When Christ came as the high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 He did not enter the Holy of Holies by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are defiled sanctify them for the purification of their flesh. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will is only in force after someone has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is still alive. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed to all the people every commandment according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, together with water, scarlet wool, and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, 20 and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you.” 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship. 22 In fact, according to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 For this reason it was necessary that the copies of the heavenly things 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 hands that was only a copy of the true sanctuary, but into heaven itself, that He might now appear for us in the presence of God. 25 Nor did He do this to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place year after year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages, to remove sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 Just as it is appointed for people to die once, and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to bear the sins of many people. Again He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.