1The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming, not the real things themselves. That is why the same sacrifices, offered year after year continually, can never make perfect those who come to worship.
2If these sacrifices could make people perfect, wouldn't they have stopped being offered? The worshipers, having been made clean once and for all, would no longer feel guilty about their sins.
3But those sacrifices serve as a yearly reminder of sins.
4Because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “You did not want sacrifices and offerings, but you prepared a body for me.
6You were not pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings.”
7Then I said, “Here I am! I have come to do your will, O God.” (As it is written about me in the scroll of the book.)
8First he said, “You did not want or were not pleased with sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, and sin offerings” (even though these are offered according to the law).
9Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first system of sacrifices to establish the second.
10Because of that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s body, offered once and for all time.
11Every priest stands day after day performing his duties, often offering the same sacrifices, which can never truly take away sins.
12But Jesus, after he offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.
13Since that time, he has been waiting for his enemies to be made a footstool for his feet.
14Because by one offering, he has made those who are being made holy perfect forever.
15The Holy Spirit also tells us this, for after saying,
16“This is the agreement I will make with them: ‘After those days,’ says the Lord, ‘I will put my laws in their hearts and write them on their minds.’ ” Then he says,
17“I will no longer remember their sins and their lawless deeds.”
18Now, where sins are forgiven, there is no longer any need for an offering for sin.
19Therefore, brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter the Most Holy Place because of Jesus’ blood.
20He opened a new and living way for us through the curtain, which is his body.
21And since we have a great priest over God’s house,
22let us come near with a sincere heart and full assurance of faith, with our hearts cleansed from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with clean water.
23Let us hold firmly to the hope we claim, without wavering, for God who promised is faithful.
24Let us think about how to stir up one another to love and good deeds,
25not neglecting to meet together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
26For if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins.
27Instead, there is only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fierce fire that will consume God’s enemies.
28Anyone who disobeyed the Law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
29How much worse punishment do you think someone deserves who has walked all over the Son of God, who has treated the blood of the covenant (which made him holy) as if it were common, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30We know that God said, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
31It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32But remember those earlier days, when, after you received the light of truth, you held up under a difficult struggle with suffering.
33Sometimes you were publicly insulted and persecuted, and other times you stood in solidarity with those who were treated this way.
34You showed compassion for me when I was in chains. You also joyfully accepted the seizure of your belongings, because you knew that you had a better, lasting possession in heaven.
35So, don’t lose your confidence, because it will bring a great reward.
36You need to patiently endure, so that after you have done God’s will, you will receive what he has promised.
37“In a very short time, the one who is coming will come and will not delay. He will not wait.”
38“But those who are right with God will live by faith. If they turn back, I will not be pleased with them.”
39But we are not people who shrink back and are destroyed. Instead, we are people who have faith and are saved.