The Blood of Christ

¹¹ But when Christ came as high priest^(A) of the good things that are now already here,^[a](B) he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle^(C) that is not made with human hands,^(D) 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;^(E) but he entered the Most Holy Place^(F) once for all^(G) by his own blood,^(H) thus obtaining^[b] eternal redemption. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls^(I) and the ashes of a heifer^(J) 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^(K) offered himself^(L) unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences^(M) from acts that lead to death,^[c](N) so that we may serve the living God!^(O)

¹⁵ For this reason Christ is the mediator^(P) of a new covenant,^(Q) that those who are called^(R) may receive the promised^(S) eternal inheritance^(T)—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.^(U)

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.^{(V) 19} When Moses had proclaimed^(W) every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves,^(X) together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.^{(Y) 20} He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”^{[e](Z) 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,^(AA) and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.^(AB)

²³ It was necessary, then, for the copies^(AC) 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;^(AD) he entered heaven itself,^(AE) now to appear for us in God’s presence.^{(AF) 25} Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place^(AG) every year with blood that is not his own.^{(AH) 26} Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world.^(AI) But he has appeared^(AJ) once for all^(AK) at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.^{(AL) 27} Just as people are destined to die once,^(AM) and after that to face judgment,^{(AN) 28} so Christ was sacrificed once^(AO) to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,^(AP) not to bear sin,^(AQ) but to bring salvation^(AR) to those who are waiting for him.^(AS)

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The law is only a shadow^(AT) of the good things^(AU) that are coming—not the realities themselves.^(AV) For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect^(AW) those who draw near to worship.^{(AX) 2} Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.^{(AY) 3} But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.^{(AZ) 4} It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats^(BA) to take away sins.^(BB)

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world,^(BC) he said:

⁸ First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”^(BG)—though they were offered in accordance with the law. ⁹ Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.”^(BH) He sets aside the first to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will, we have been made holy^(BI) through the sacrifice of the body^(BJ) of Jesus Christ once for all.^(BK)

¹¹ Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices,^(BL) which can never take away sins.^{(BM) 12} But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins,^(BN) he sat down at the right hand of God,^{(BO) 13} and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.^{(BP) 14} For by one sacrifice he has made perfect^(BQ) forever those who are being made holy.^(BR)

¹⁵ The Holy Spirit also testifies^(BS) to us about this. First he says:

¹⁷ Then he adds:

¹⁸ And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.