New Testament · Hebrews

Hebrews 10

Messiah’s Perfect Sacrifice

(Psalm 40:1–17)

1For the law^a has but a shadow of the good things to come, not the true form of these realities, and it can never, by the same sacrifices that are offered continually every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins?

3But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year, 4for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Yeshua came into the world, He said, "Sacrifices and offerings you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me;

6in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
7Then I said, 'Behold, I have come — in the scroll of the book^b it is written of me — to do your will^c, O God.'"

8When He said above, "Sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire nor were you pleased with them" — these are offered according to the law — 9then He added, "Behold, I have come to do your will, O God"; He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Yeshua Messiah once for all.

11And every priest stands daily, ministering and offering the same sacrifices repeatedly — sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12But when Messiah had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, 13waiting from that time until His enemies should be made a footstool for His feet. 14For by a single offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

15And the holy^d spirit^e also bears witness to us, for after saying:

16"This is the covenant^f that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws^g on their hearts^h, and write them on their thoughtsⁱ,"

17He then adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawlessnesses no more."^j

18Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

A Call to Persevere

(Jude 1:17–23)

19Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence^k to enter the holy places by the blood of Yeshua, 20by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain — that is, through His flesh^l — 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us draw near with a true heart^m in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23Let us hold fast the confession of our hopeⁿ without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

26For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the complete knowledge of truth^p, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,^o 27but a terrifying expectation of judgment^q, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has regarded the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified as common^r, and has insulted the spirit of grace^s?

30For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord," and again, "The Lord will judge^t His people." 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings, 33sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being companions^u of those so treated. 34For you had compassion on me in my chains, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession in heaven and an abiding one.

35Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37For yet "a little while, just a little, and the one who is coming will come and will not delay,"

38"but the righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul^v has no pleasure in him."

39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their soul.