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THEN verily the first covenant had
also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For
there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and
the table, and the shewbread; which is called the
sanctuary.
3 And
after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the
Holiest of all;
4 Which
had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant
overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had
manna, and Aaron?s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 And over
it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
6 Now when
these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first
tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
7 But into
the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without
blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8 The Holy
Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made
manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 Which was
a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and
sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining
to the conscience;
10 Which
stood only in meats and drinks, and divers
washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of
reformation.
11 But
Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more
perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
12
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own
blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal
redemption for us.
13 For if
the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an
heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the
purifying of the flesh:
14 How
much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the
living God?
15 And
for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament,
that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were
under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of
eternal inheritance.
16 For
where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the
testator.
17 For a
testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength
at all while the testator liveth.
18 Whereupon
neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
19 For
when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he
took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and
hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
20 Saying,
This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
21 Moreover
he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all
the vessels of the ministry.
22 And
almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of
blood is no remission.
23 It
was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should
be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better
sacrifices than these.
24 For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are
the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us:
25 Nor
yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth
into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26 For
then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now
once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice
of himself.
27 And as
it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
28 So
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for
him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
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