1The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming. It is not the real form of those things. So it can never make perfect those who come to worship, no matter how long they keep offering the same sacrifices year after year.
2If it could, would they not have stopped offering them? For the worshippers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.
3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
4For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5So when he comes into the world, he says, "You did not want sacrifice and offering, but you have prepared a body for me."
6"You have taken no pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin."
7"Then I said, 'Look, I have come to do your will, O God. It is written about me in the scroll of the book.'"
8First he said, "You did not want sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin, and you took no pleasure in them." These are the ones offered under the law.
9Then he said, "Look, I have come to do your will, O God." He takes away the first in order to set up the second.
10By that will we are made holy, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11Every priest stands day after day doing his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12But this man offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, and then sat down at the right hand of God.
13From that time he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.
14For by one offering he has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy.
15The Holy Spirit is also a witness to us about this. For first he says,
16"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws into their hearts, and I will write them in their minds."
17Then he adds, "And I will remember their sins and their evil deeds no more."
18Now where these are forgiven, there is no longer any offering for sin.
19So, brothers and sisters, we have boldness to enter the holiest place by the blood of Jesus.
20He opened for us a new and living way through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.
21And we have a great priest over the house of God.
22So let us come near with a true heart, in the full assurance of faith. Our hearts have been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess, without wavering, for the one who promised is faithful.
24And let us think about one another, and stir each other up to love and to good works.
25Let us not stop meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing. Instead, let us encourage one another, all the more as you see the day coming near.
26For if we go on sinning on purpose after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there is no sacrifice for sins left,
27but only a fearful waiting for judgment, and a burning anger that will devour those who oppose God.
28Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the word of two or three witnesses.
29How much worse a punishment do you think someone deserves who has trampled the Son of God under his feet? He has treated the blood of the covenant that made him holy as an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace.
30For we know the one who said, "Vengeance belongs to me, I will repay, says the Lord." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."
31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32But remember the earlier days. After you were given light, you endured a hard struggle with suffering.
33Sometimes you were put on show, insulted and ill-treated in public. At other times you stood beside those who were treated in that way.
34For you felt for me in my chains, and you accepted with joy the seizing of your goods. You knew that you have for yourselves a better and lasting possession in heaven.
35So do not throw away your confidence, which brings a great reward.
36You need patience, so that after you have done the will of God you may receive what he has promised.
37For in just a little while, "He who is coming will come, and will not delay."
38"Now the just shall live by faith. But if anyone draws back, my soul takes no pleasure in him."
39But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed. We are those who believe and are saved.