6
These preparations having thus been made,
1the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties,
7
but into the second only
2the high priest goes, and he but
3once a year, and not without taking blood,
4which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.
8
By this the Holy Spirit indicates that
5the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing
9
(which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered
6that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,
10
but deal only with
7food and drink and
8various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
Redemption Through the Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest
9of the good things that have come, then through
10the greater and more perfect tent (
11not made with hands, that is, not of this creation)
12
he
12entered
13once for all into the holy places, not by means of
14the blood of goats and calves but
15by means of his own blood,
16thus securing an eternal redemption.
13
For if
17the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with
18the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,
14
how much more will
19the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
20offered himself without blemish to God,
21purify our conscience
22from dead works
23to serve the living God.
15
Therefore he is
24the mediator of a new covenant, so that
25those who are called may
26receive the promised eternal inheritance,
27since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
16
For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established.