1 The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn't the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices offered year after year. 2 If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices. 3-4 But the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins. It only reminds people of their sins from one year to the next.
5 When Christ came into the world, he said to God,
“Sacrifices and offerings
are not what you want,
but you have given me
my body.
6 No, you are not pleased
with animal sacrifices
and offerings for sin.”
7 Then Christ said,
“And so, my God,
I have come to do
what you want,
as the Scriptures say.”
8 The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9 Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. This is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” 10 So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all.
11 The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God's right side, 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.
15 The Holy Spirit also speaks of this by telling us that the Lord said,
16 “When the time comes,
I will make an agreement
with them.
I will write my laws
on their minds and hearts.
17 Then I will forget
about their sins
and no longer remember
their evil deeds.”
18 When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices.
Encouragement and Warning
19 My friends, the blood of Jesus gives us courage to enter the most holy place 20 by a new way that leads to life! And this way takes us through the curtain that is Christ himself.
21 We have a great high priest who is in charge of God's house. 22 So let's come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let's keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water. 23 We must hold tightly to the hope we say is ours. After all, we can trust the one who made the agreement with us. 24 We should keep on encouraging each other to be thoughtful and to do helpful things. 25 Some people have given up the habit of meeting for worship, but we must not do that. We should keep on encouraging each other, especially since you know that the day of the Lord's coming is getting closer.
26 No sacrifices can be made for people who decide to sin after they find out about the truth. 27 They are God's enemies, and all they can look forward to is a terrible judgment and a furious fire. 28 If two or more witnesses accused someone of breaking the Law of Moses, that person could be put to death. 29 But it is much worse to dishonor God's Son and to disgrace the blood of the promise that made us holy. And it is just as bad to insult the Holy Spirit, who shows us mercy. 30 We know that God has said he will punish and take revenge. We also know that the Scriptures say the Lord will judge his people. 31 It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God!
32 Don't forget all the hard times you went through when you first received the light. 33 Sometimes you were abused and mistreated in public, and at other times you shared in the sufferings of others. 34 You were kind to people in jail. And you gladly let your possessions be taken away, because you knew you had something better, something that would last forever.
35 Keep on being brave! It will bring you great rewards. 36 Learn to be patient, so you will please God and be given what he has promised. 37 As the Scriptures say,
“God is coming soon!
It won't be very long.
38 The people God accepts
will live because
of their faith.
But he isn't pleased
with anyone
who turns back.”
39 We are not like those people who turn back and get destroyed. We will keep on having faith until we are saved.
Kristus upuris – viens uz visiem laikiem
1 Bauslībai ir vienīgi nākamo labumu ēna, bet ne pats lietu tēls; ar vieniem un tiem pašiem kaujamiem upuriem, kas ik gadu pastāvīgi tiek pienesti, tā nespēj darīt pilnīgus tos, kas ar tiem nāk. 2 Jo citādi vai gan upurēšana nebūtu mitējusies, ja upurētāji, reizi par visām reizēm šķīstīti, neapzinātos visus grēkus? 3 Ar šiem upuriem gadu no gada tika atgādināti grēki, 4 bet vēršu un āžu asinis taču nevar atņemt grēku! 5 Tādēļ, ienākdams pasaulē, Kristus saka:
kaujamos upurus un pienesumus tu neesi gribējis,
bet miesu tu man esi sagatavojis,
6 sadedzināmie upuri un upuri par grēkiem tev nav pa prātam.
7 Tad es sacīju:
redzi, Dievs, esmu atnācis –
par mani ir rakstīts grāmatā –
darīt tavu gribu.
8 Vispirms viņš saka: upurus un dāvanas, sadedzināmos upurus un upurus par grēkiem tu neesi gribējis, nedz tie tev ir pa prātam – tie, kas pēc bauslības pienesti.
9 Un tad viņš sacīja: redzi, es esmu atnācis darīt tavu gribu . – Pirmo viņš atceļ, lai iedibinātu otro.
10 Pēc šīs dievišķās gribas caur Jēzus Kristus miesas upuri mēs esam darīti svēti reizi par visām reizēm. 11 Ikviens priesteris nostājas, kalpodams un daudzkārt pienesdams vienus un tos pašus upurus, kuri nekad nespēj deldēt grēkus, 12 bet Jēzus, tikai vienu upuri par grēkiem pienesis, uz visiem laikiem ir nosēdies pie Dieva labās rokas. 13 Un tagad viņš gaida, līdz viņa ienaidnieki tiks nolikti viņam par kājsolu zem viņa kājām. 14 Ar vienu upuri viņš uz visiem laikiem darījis pilnīgus tos, kam jātop svētiem. 15 Arī Svētais Gars mums to apliecina ar sacīto:
16 šī ir tā derība, kuru es slēgšu ar viņiem pēc šīm dienām, saka Kungs, es ielikšu savus baušļus viņu sirdīs un viņu prātos tos ierakstīšu, 17 viņu grēkus un viņu pārkāpumus es vairs nepieminēšu.
18 Bet, kur ir grēku piedošana, tur vairs nav upura par grēkiem.
Aicinājums neatkāpties
19 Tā ka nu mums, brāļi, Jēzus asinīs ir droša pieeja svētnīcai. 20 Tas ir jauns, dzīvs ceļš, ko viņš mums atvēris caur tempļa priekškaru, tas ir, caur savu miesu, 21 un mums ir augstais priesteris pār Dieva namu. 22 Tuvosimies tam ar patiesām sirdīm paļāvīgā ticībā, ar sirdīm, kas šķīstītas no ļaunas apziņas, un miesu mazgājuši šķīstā ūdenī. 23 Nelokāmi paturēsim savas cerības apliecinājumu. Jo uzticams ir tas, kas mums to apsolījis! 24 Būsim uzmanīgi cits pret citu, rosināsim uz mīlestību un labiem darbiem. 25 Nepametīsim savas kopīgās sapulces, kā tas pie dažiem parasts, bet pamudināsim cits citu, vēl jo vairāk, redzot tuvojamies to dienu. 26 Ja mēs tīšuprāt grēkojam, kad esam saņēmuši patiesības atziņu, vairs nav upura par grēkiem, 27 bet ir tikai briesmīga gaidīšana uz tiesu un uguns svelmi, kas aprīs pretiniekus. 28 Ja kāds atmet Mozus bauslību, tas bez žēlastības pēc divu vai trīs liecinieku liecības tiek nokauts. 29 Kā jūs domājat, cik daudz lielāku atmaksu pelnījis tas, kas minis kājām Dieva Dēlu, nav turējis par svētām jaunās derības asinis, ar kurām tas ticis šķīstīts, un aizvainojis žēlastības Garu? 30 Mēs zinām, ka ir sacīts:
man pieder atriebšana, es atmaksāšu!
Un vēl:
Kungs tiesās savu tautu.
31 Briesmīgi ir krist dzīvā Dieva rokās! 32 Atsauciet atmiņā savas pirmās dienas, kurās jūs, tapuši apgaismoti, papilnam izcietāt smagu ciešanu cīņu, 33 gan paši, būdami atklāti izsmieti, saņemot naidu un pāridarījumus, gan arī esot kopā ar tiem, pret kuriem tāpat izturējās. 34 Jūs esat cietuši līdzi ieslodzītajiem un ar prieku esat uzņēmuši to, ka jūsu manta tika nolaupīta, zinādami, ka jums ir labāka un paliekoša manta. 35 Tādēļ neatmetiet savu paļāvību, tai ir liela alga! 36 Bet jums ir vajadzīga izturība, lai, darīdami Dieva gribu, jūs saņemtu to, kas apsolīts. 37 Jo vēl tikai mazliet, mazliet, un tas, kuram jānāk, nāks un nekavēsies, 38 bet mans taisnais no ticības dzīvos, taču, ja viņš atkritīs, manai dvēselei pie viņa nebūs labpatikas.
39 Mēs neesam tie, kas atkrīt uz pazušanu, bet mēs ticam, un mūsu dvēsele būs izglābta.
