1Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service , and a worldly sanctuary . 2For there was a tabernacle made ; the first , where in was the candlestick , and the table , and the shewbread ; which is called the sanctuary . 3And after the second veil , the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all ; 4Which had the golden censer , and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold , where in was the golden pot that had manna , and Aaron’s rod that budded , and the tables of the covenant ; 5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat ; of which we can not now speak particularly . 6Now when these things were thus ordained , the priests went always into the first tabernacle , accomplishing the service of God . 7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year , not without blood , which he offered for himself , and for the errors of the people : 8The Holy Ghost this signifying , that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest , while as the first tabernacle was yet standing : 9Which was a figure for the time then present , in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices , that could not make him that did the service perfect , as pertaining to the conscience ; 10Which stood only in meats and drinks , and divers washings , and carnal ordinances , imposed on them until the time of reformation .
The Superior Ministry of Christ
11But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come , by a greater and more perfect tabernacle , not made with hands , that is to say , not of this building ; 12Neither by the blood of goats and calves , but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place , having obtained eternal redemption for us . 13For if the blood of bulls and of goats , and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean , sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh : 14How much more shall the blood of Christ , who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God , purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God ? 15And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament , that by means of death , for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament , they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance . 16For where a testament is , there must also of necessity be the death of the testator . 17For a testament is of force after men are dead : otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth . 18Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood . 19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law , he took the blood of calves and of goats , with water , and scarlet wool , and hyssop , and sprinkled both the book , and all the people , 20Saying , This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you . 21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle , and all the vessels of the ministry . 22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood ; and without shedding of blood is no remission .
The New Covenant and Its Implications
23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these ; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these . 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands , which are the figures of the true ; but into heaven itself , now to appear in the presence of God for us : 25Nor yet that he should offer himself often , as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others ; 26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world : but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself . 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die , but after this the judgment : 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many ; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation .