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.
1 Jo bauslībai piemīt nākamo labumu ēna, ne pats lietu veids; nekad nevar ik gadus ar tiem pašiem upuriem, ko nepārtraukti atnes, padarīt pilnīgus tos, kas ar tiem tuvojas. 2 Jo vai citādi upurēšana nebūtu mitējusies, tāpēc ka upurētāji, reiz šķīstīti, neapzinātos vairs nekādus grēkus? 3 Bet ar upuriem ik gadus tiek atgādināti grēki, 4 jo vēršu un āžu asinīm nav varas atņemt grēkus. 5 Tāpēc, pasaulē ienākdams, Viņš saka: upurus un dāvanas Tu neesi gribējis, bet miesu Tu Man esi radījis. 6 Dedzināmie upuri un grēku upuri Tev nav patikuši. 7 Tad Es sacīju: raugi, Es nāku, grāmatā par Mani ir rakstīts, Tavu prātu darīt, ak, Dievs! - 8 Iepriekš sacījis: upurus un dāvanas un dedzināmos upurus un grēku upurus, kas pēc bauslības tiek upurēti, Tu neesi gribējis, un tie nav Tev patikuši, - 9 tad Viņš sacīja: raugi, Es nāku Tavu prātu darīt. - Viņš atceļ pirmo, lai nodibinātu otru. 10 Pēc šīs gribas mēs esam ar Jēzus Kristus miesas upuri padarīti svēti pavisam. 11 Un katrs priesteris gan ik dienas stāv kalpodams un bieži tos pašus upurus upurēdams, kas nekad nevar iznīcināt grēkus. 12 Bet Viņš vienu upuri par grēkiem upurējis, uz visiem laikiem ir nosēdies pie Dieva labās rokas, 13 joprojām gaidīdams, kamēr Viņa ienaidnieki tiks likti Viņa kāju pameslam. 14 Jo ar vienu upuri Viņš uz visiem laikiem ir padarījis pilnīgus tos, kas tiek darīti svēti. 15 Bet arī Svētais Gars mums liecina. Pēc tam kad ir teikts: 16 šī ir tā derība, ko Es ar viņiem celšu pēc tām dienām, saka Tas Kungs, Savus baušļus Es došu viņu sirdīs un rakstīšu tos viņu prātā, 17 un viņu grēkus un viņu netaisnības vairs nepieminēšu. - 18 Bet, kur ir grēku piedošana, tur vairs nav upuru par grēku. 19 Tā kā nu mēs, brāļi, droši varam ieiet svētajā vietā Jēzus asiņu dēļ, 20 ko Viņš mums sagatavojis par jaunu un dzīvu ceļu caur priekškaru, tas ir, Viņa miesu, 21 un, tā kā mums ir liels priesteris pār Dieva namu, 22 tad tuvosimies patiesīgu sirdi pilnā ticībā, apslacīti savās sirdīs un atsvabināti no ļaunās apziņas un miesu nomazgājuši ar tīru ūdeni. 23 Turēsimies nešaubīgi pie cerības apliecināšanas, jo uzticams ir Tas, kas apsolījis. 24 Un vērosim cits citu, lai paskubinātu uz mīlestību un labiem darbiem, 25 neatstādami savas sapulces, kā daži paraduši, bet cits citu paskubinādami un jo vairāk, redzot tuvojamies to dienu. 26 Jo, ja mēs pēc patiesības atziņas saņemšanas tīši grēkojam, tad neatliek vairs upuris par grēkiem, 27 bet gan briesmīga tiesas gaidīšana un uguns karstums, kas aprīs pretiniekus. 28 Kas pārkāpis Mozus bauslību, tas mirst bez žēlošanas, diviem vai trīs lieciniekiem liecinot. 29 Cik gan smagāku sodu, jūs domājat, pelnīs tas, kas Dieva Dēlu minis kājām un derības asinis, ar ko viņš svētīts, turējis par nesvētām un žēlastības Garu nievājis. 30 Jo mēs pazīstam To, kas ir sacījis: Man pieder atriebšana, Es atmaksāšu, un atkal: Tas Kungs tiesās Savu tautu. - 31 Briesmīgi ir krist dzīvā Dieva rokā! 32 Bet atcerieties iepriekšējās dienas, kurās jūs, gaismu saņēmuši, esat izcietuši smagu ciešanu cīņu, 33 gan zaimos un mokās paši nodoti atklātam izsmieklam, gan arī kļuvuši par tādā veidā piemeklēto līdzdalībniekiem. 34 Jo jūs esat cietumniekiem līdzi cietuši un ar prieku uzņēmuši savas mantas nolaupīšanu, zinādami, ka jums ir labāka un paliekama manta. 35 Neatmetiet tāpēc savu cerības drosmi, tai ir liela alga! 36 Jo jums vajag pacietības, lai, Dieva prātu darījuši, iemantotu apsolījumu. 37 "Jo vēl mazs brīdis, un Tas, kam jānāk, nāks un nekavēsies. 38 Bet Mans taisnais no ticības dzīvos, bet uz to, kas atkāpjas, Manai dvēselei nav labs prāts." 39 Bet mēs neesam tie, kas atkāpjas uz pazušanu, bet kas tic un iemanto dzīvību.
