The Earthly Tabernacle

(Exodus 25:1-9; Exodus 40:1-33)

1The first therefore also indeed had ordinances of service, and the sanctuary, a worldly one. 2For a tabernacle was set up; the first, in which [were] both the candlestick and the table and the exposition of the loaves, which is called Holy; 3but after the second veil a tabernacle which is called Holy of holies, 4having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant, covered round in every part with gold, in which [were] the golden pot that had the manna, and the rod of Aaron that had sprouted, and the tables of the covenant; 5and above over it the cherubim of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; concerning which it is not now [the time] to speak in detail.

6Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle the priests enter at all times, accomplishing the services; 7but into the second, the high priest only, once a year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people: 8the Holy Spirit shewing this, that the way of the [holy of] holies has not yet been made manifest while as yet the first tabernacle has [its] standing; 9the which [is] an image for the present time, according to which both gifts and sacrifices, unable to perfect as to conscience him that worshipped, are offered, 10[consisting] only of meats and drinks and divers washings, ordinances of flesh, imposed until [the] time of setting things right.

Redemption through His Blood

11But Christ being come high priest of the good things to come, by the better and more perfect tabernacle not made with hand, (that is, not of this creation,) 12nor by blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, has entered in once for all into the [holy of] holies, having found an eternal redemption. 13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and a heifer's ashes sprinkling the defiled, sanctifies for the purity of the flesh, 14how much rather shall the blood of the Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to worship [the] living God?

15And for this reason he is mediator of a new covenant, so that, death having taken place for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, the called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16(For where [there is] a testament, the death of the testator must needs come in. 17For a testament [is] of force when men are dead, since it is in no way of force while the testator is alive.) 18Whence neither the first was inaugurated without blood. 19For every commandment having been spoken according to [the] law by Moses to all the people; having taken the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, he sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying, This [is] the blood of the covenant which God has enjoined to you. 21And the tabernacle too and all the vessels of service he sprinkled in like manner with blood; 22and almost all things are purified with blood according to the law, and without blood-shedding there is no remission.

23[It was] necessary then that the figurative representations of the things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with sacrifices better than these. 24For the Christ is not entered into holy places made with hand, figures of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us: 25nor in order that he should offer himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy places every year with blood not his own; 26since he had [then] been obliged often to suffer from the foundation of the world. But now once in the consummation of the ages he has been manifested for [the] putting away of sin by his sacrifice. 27And forasmuch as it is the portion of men once to die, and after this judgment; 28thus the Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear to those that look for him the second time without sin for salvation.