Hebrews 10
1For the Law, having only a shadow of the good things to come and not the actual form of those realities, can never—by means of the same sacrifices that are offered year after year without end—bring those who approach to the intended goal of maturity. 2Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers, having been purified once for all, would no longer have any guilty conscience regarding their sins. 3Instead, in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins. 4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to strip away sins.
5Therefore, when entering the world, he says: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. 6In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you took no pleasure. 7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—in the scroll of the book it is written concerning me—to do your will, O God.’”
8First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you did not desire, nor did you take pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10By that will, we have been set apart as holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11And while every priest stands daily performing his religious service and offering the same sacrifices again and again—which are never able to strip away sins— 12this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. 13From then on, he is waiting until his enemies are made a footstool for his feet. 14For by one offering he has brought to permanent completion those who are being set apart as holy. 15And the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after saying:
16“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws upon their hearts, and I will write them upon their minds,”
17he adds: “And their sins and their lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
19Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus— 20a fresh and living way that he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh— 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts having been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for the one who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good works, 25not abandoning our own meeting 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 willfully after receiving the full knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but only a certain terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that is about to consume those who stand in opposition. 28Anyone who set aside the Law of Moses died 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 the Son of God underfoot, and who has regarded the blood of the covenant by which he was set apart as something common, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know the one who said: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32But remember the former days when, after being enlightened, you endured a great struggle of sufferings. 33On the one hand, you were made a public spectacle through reproaches and afflictions; on the other hand, you became partners with those who were treated this way. 34For you showed compassion to those in prison and you accepted the seizure of your belongings with joy, knowing that you yourselves have a better and lasting possession. 35Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
37“For yet a very, very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay. 38But my just person shall live by faith; and if he shrinks back, my soul takes no pleasure in him.”
39But we are not among those who shrink back to destruction, but among those who have faith for the preservation of the soul.