The Earthly Tabernacle(Exodus 40:1–33;Acts 7:44–47)
1Nowthefirst covenanthadregulationsfor worshipand alsoan earthlysanctuary.2A tabernaclewas prepared.Initsfirst roomwerethelampstand,thetable,andtheconsecratedbread.Thiswas calledthe Holy Place.3Behindthesecondcurtainwas a roomcalledthe Most Holy Place,4containingthe goldenaltar of incenseandthegold-coveredarkof thecovenant.Insidethe arkwere the goldjarofmanna,Aaron’sstaffthathad budded,andthestone tabletsof thecovenant.5Abovethe arkwere the cherubimof glory,overshadowingthemercy seat.But we cannot discussthese thingsindetailnow.
6Wheneverythinghad been preparedin this way,thepriestsenteredregularlyintothefirstroomto performtheirsacred duties.7Butonlythehigh priestenteredthesecond room,and then only oncea year,and neverwithoutblood,whichhe offeredforhimselfandfor thesins the people had committed in ignorance.
8By this arrangementtheHolySpiritwas showingthat thewayinto theMost Holy Placehad not yetbeen disclosedas long as thefirsttabernaclewasstillstanding.9It isan illustrationforthepresenttime,becausethe giftsandsacrificesbeing offeredwere unableto cleansethe conscienceof theworshiper.10They consist onlyinfoodanddrinkandspecialwashings—externalregulationsimposeduntilthe timeof reform.
Redemption through His Blood
11Butwhen Christcame ashigh priestof thegood thingsthat have come,He went throughthegreaterandmore perfecttabernaclethatisnotmade by handsand is nota part of thiscreation.12He did not enterbythe bloodof goatsandcalves,butHe enteredtheMost Holy Placeonce for allbyHisownblood,thus securingeternalredemption.
13Forifthebloodof goatsandbullsandthe ashesof a heifersprinkledon those who areceremonially uncleansanctify themso thattheirbodiesare clean,14how muchmorewill thebloodof Christ,whothroughthe eternalSpiritofferedHimselfunblemishedto God,purifyourconsciencesfromworksof death,so thatwe may servethe livingGod!
15ThereforeChrist isthe mediatorof a newcovenant,so thatthose whoare calledmay receivethepromisedeternalinheritance,now that He has diedtoredeem themfrom thetransgressions committedunderthefirstcovenant.
16In the case ofa will,it is necessaryto establishthe deathof the one whomade it,17becausea willdoes not take effectuntilthe one whomade ithas died;it cannot be executedwhilehe is still alive.
18That is whyeven thefirst covenantwas not put into effectwithoutblood.19For whenMoseshad proclaimedeverycommandmentofthelawto allthepeople,he tookthebloodof calvesandgoats,along withwater,scarletwool,andhyssop,and sprinkledthescrollandallthepeople,20saying,“This isthebloodof thecovenant,whichGodhas commandedyou to keep.”
21In the same way,he sprinkledwithbloodthetabernacleandallthevesselsused inworship.22According tothelaw,in fact,nearlyeverythingmust be purifiedwithblood,andwithoutthe shedding of bloodthere isnoforgiveness.
23Soit was necessaryfor thecopiesof the heavenlythingsto be purifiedwith these sacrifices,buttheheavenly thingsthemselveswith bettersacrificesthanthese.24ForChristdid not entera man-madecopyof theTRUEsanctuary,butHe enteredheavenitself,nowto appearon our behalfin thepresenceof God.
25Nor did He enter heaventoofferHimselfagain and again,asthehigh priestenterstheMost Holy Placeeveryyearwithbloodthat is not his own.26Otherwise,Christwould have hadto sufferrepeatedlysincethe foundationof the world.ButnowHe has appearedonce for allatthe endof theagestodo away withsinbythesacrificeof Himself.
27Justasmanis appointedto dieonce,andafterthatto face judgment,28soalsoChristwas offeredoncetobearthe sinsof many;and He will appeara second time,not to bearsin,but to bringsalvationto those whoeagerly awaitHim.
