Hebrews 10

Christ's Perfect Sacrifice

1 The Law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near [ to worship ] . 2 [If it could] , would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once [for all] , [and] would no longer have felt the guilt of [their] sins. 3 Instead, those [sacrifices] [are] an annual reminder of sins, 4 because [it is] impossible [for the] blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when [Christ] came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for me. 6 In burnt offerings and sin [offerings] You took no delight. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in [the] scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’” ▼

▼Psalm 40:6-8

8 [In the passage ] above He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin [offerings] You did not desire, nor did You delight in [them] ” ( [although] [they are] required by [the] Law ). 9 Then He adds, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 [And] by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But [when] this [Priest] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at [the] right hand of God. 13 Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet, 14 because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us {about this} . [First] He says: 16 “This [is] the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares [the] Lord. I will put My Laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.” ▼

▼Jeremiah 31:33

17 [Then He adds] : “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” ▼

▼Jeremiah 31:34

18 And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin [is] no longer [ needed ] .

A Call to Persevere

19 Therefore, brothers, [since] we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by [the] new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, 21 and [since we have] a great High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, {having} our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and [our] bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised [is] faithful. 24 And let us consider how to spur one another {on} to love and good deeds. 25 Let us not neglect meeting together, as some [have made a] habit, but let us encourage [one another] , and all [the] more as you see the Day approaching. 26 [If] we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and raging fire that will consume [all] adversaries. 28 Anyone who rejected [the] Law of Moses died without mercy on [the testimony of] two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished [who] has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance [is] Mine; I will repay,” ▼

▼Deuteronomy 32:35

and again, “ [The] Lord will judge His people.” ▼

▼Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 135:14

31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into [the] hands of [the] living God. 32 Remember the early days that you were in the light, when you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who [were] so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession. 35 So {do} not throw away your confidence; [it] holds a great reward. 36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done God’s will, you will receive what He has promised. 37 For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But My righteous one will live by faith; ▼

▼Habakkuk 2:4; BYZ and TR But the righteous will live by faith

and if he shrinks back, I {will take} no pleasure in him.” ▼

▼Habakkuk 2:4 (See LXX)

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