The New Testament & Psalms Bible Reading Plan
August 1
Hebrews 9
Chapter 9
The Old and the New
1 Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly
sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand
and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.
3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all
sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s
rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of
these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering
the outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,
7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking
blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in
ignorance.
8 The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not
yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing,
9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices
are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,
10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations
for the body imposed until a time of reformation.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered
through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is
to say, not of this creation;
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood,
He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those
who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,
14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve
the living God?
15 For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death
has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed
under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise
of the eternal inheritance.
16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who
made it.
17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while
the one who made it lives.
18 Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood.
19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according
to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet
wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people,
20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.”
21 And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of
the ministry with the blood.
22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with
blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to
be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these.
24 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the
true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the
holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.
26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the
world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to
put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,
28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear
a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await
Him.
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)