Hebrews 9:1–22

The Earthly Sanctuary

9Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and ^athe earthly sanctuary. ²For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the ¹sanctuary; ^3band behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, ⁴which had the ^cgolden censer and ^dthe ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were ^ethe golden pot that had the manna, ^fAaron’s rod that budded, and ^gthe tablets of the covenant; ⁵and ^habove it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Limitations of the Earthly Service

⁶Now when these things had been thus prepared, ⁱthe priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. ⁷But into the second part the high priest went alone ^jonce a year, not without blood, which he offered for ^khimself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; ⁸the Holy Spirit indicating this, that ^lthe way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. ⁹It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered ^mwhich cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—¹⁰concerned only with ⁿfoods and drinks, ^ovarious ²washings, ^pand fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

¹¹But Christ came as High Priest of ^qthe good things ³to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. ¹²Not ^rwith the blood of goats and calves, but ^swith His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place ^tonce for all, ^uhaving obtained eternal redemption. ¹³For if ^vthe blood of bulls and goats and ^wthe ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, ⁴sanctifies for the ⁵purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without ⁶spot to God, ^xcleanse your conscience from ^ydead works ^zto serve the living God? ¹⁵And for this reason ^aHe is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that ^bthose who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

The Mediator’s Death Necessary

¹⁶For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷For ^ca testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. ^18dTherefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹For when Moses had spoken every ⁷precept to all the people according to the law, ^ehe took the blood of calves and goats, ^fwith water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰saying, ^g“This is the ^hblood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” ²¹Then likewise ⁱhe sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. ²²And according to the law almost all things are ⁸purified with blood, and ^jwithout shedding of blood there is no ⁹remission.