Ahora bien, aun el primer pacto tenía ordenanzas de culto^a y el santuario terrenal^b. 2 Porque había un tabernáculo¹ preparado^a en la parte anterior², en el cual estaban el candelabro^b, la mesa^c y los panes consagrados^3d;este se llama el Lugar Santo. 3 Y detrás del segundo velo^a había un tabernáculo llamado el Lugar Santísimo^b, 4 el cual tenía el altar de oro del incienso^1a y el arca del pacto^b cubierta toda de oro, en la cual había una urna de oro^c que contenía el maná y la vara de Aarón^d que retoñó y las tablas del pacto^e; 5 y sobre ella estaban los querubines de gloria^a que daban sombra al propiciatorio^b; pero de estas cosas no se puede hablar ahora en detalle. 6 Así preparadas estas cosas, los sacerdotes entran continuamente^a al primer¹ tabernáculo para oficiar en el culto; 7 pero en el segundo^a,solo entra el sumo sacerdote^b una vez al año^c, no sin llevar sangre^d, la cual ofrece por sí mismo^e y por los pecados del pueblo cometidos en ignorancia^1f. 8 Queriendo el Espíritu Santo^a dar a entender esto: que el camino al Lugar Santísimo^1b aún no había sido revelado en tanto que el primer tabernáculo permaneciera en pie; 9 lo cual es un símbolo para el tiempo presente, según el cual se presentan ofrendas y sacrificios^a que no pueden hacer perfecto^b en su conciencia al que practica ese culto, 10 puesto que tienen que versolo con comidas^a y bebidas^b, y diversas abluciones^1c y ordenanzas para el cuerpo^2d, impuestas hasta el tiempo de reformar las cosas^e.

11 Pero cuando Cristo apareció como Sumo Sacerdote^a de los bienes futuros^1b, a través de² un mayor y más perfecto tabernáculo^c, no hecho con manos^d, es decir, no de esta creación^e, 12 y no por medio de la sangre de machos cabríos y de becerros^a, sino por medio de su propia sangre^b, entró al Lugar Santísimo^c una vez para siempre^d, habiendo obtenido¹ redención eterna^e. 13 Porque si la sangre de los machos cabríos y de los toros^a, y la ceniza de la becerra^b rociada sobre los que se han contaminado¹, santifican para la purificación² de la carne, 14 ¿cuánto más la sangre de Cristo^a, el cual por el Espíritu eterno^1b se ofreció a sí mismo sin mancha a Dios^c, purificará vuestra² conciencia^d de obras muertas^e para servir al Dios vivo^f? 15 Y por eso Él^a es el mediador^b de un nuevo pacto^1c, a fin de que habiendo tenido lugar una muerte para la redención de las transgresiones que se cometieron bajo el primer pacto², los que han sido llamados^d reciban la promesa^e de la herencia eterna^f. 16 Porque donde hay un testamento¹, necesario es que ocurra² la muerte del testador. 17 Pues un testamento¹ es válidosolo en caso de muerte², puesto que no se pone en vigor mientras vive el testador³. 18 Por tanto, ni aun el primer pacto¹ se inauguró sin sangre. 19 Porque cuando Moisés terminó de promulgar¹ todos los mandamientos a todo el pueblo^a, conforme a la ley^b, tomó la sangre de los becerros y de los machos cabríos^c, con agua, lana escarlata e hisopo^d, y roció el libro mismo^e y a todo el pueblo, 20 diciendo: ESTA ES LA SANGRE DEL PACTO QUE DIOS OS ORDENO^1a. 21 Y de la misma manera roció con sangre tanto el tabernáculo^a como todos los utensilios del ministerio. 22 Y según la ley, casi todo^a es purificado con sangre, y sin derramamiento de sangre no hay perdón^b.

23 Por tanto, fue necesario que las representaciones¹ de las cosas en los cielos^a fueran purificadas de esta manera, pero las cosas celestiales mismas^b, con mejores sacrificios queestos. 24 Porque Cristo no entró en un lugar santo^1a hecho por manos, una representación² del verdadero^b, sino en el cielo mismo^c, para presentarse ahora en la presencia de Dios por nosotros^d, 25 y no para ofrecerse a sí mismo muchas veces, como el sumo sacerdote^a entra al Lugar Santísimo^1b cada año con sangre ajena. 26 De otra manera le hubiera sido necesario sufrir muchas veces¹ desde la fundación del mundo^a; pero ahora, una sola vez^b en la consumación de los siglos^c, se ha² manifestado^d para destruir³ el pecado por el sacrificio de sí mismo^4e. 27 Y así como está decretado^1a que los hombres mueran una sola vez, y después de esto, el juicio^b, 28 así también Cristo, habiendo sido ofrecido una vez^a para llevar los pecados de muchos^b, aparecerá por segunda vez^c, sin relación con el pecado^d, para salvación^e de los que ansiosamente le esperan^f.

Now even the first covenant had ^aregulations for divine worship and ^bthe earthly sanctuary. 2 For ^aa ¹tabernacle was equipped, the ²outer sanctuary, in which were ^bthe lampstand, ^cthe table, and ^dthe ³sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind ^athe second veil there was a ¹tabernacle which is called the ^bMost Holy Place, 4 having a golden ^1aaltar of incense and ^bthe ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was ^ca golden jar holding the manna, ^dAaron’s staff which budded, and ^ethe tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the ^acherubim of glory ^bovershadowing the ¹atoning cover; but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests ^aare continually entering the ¹outer ²tabernacle, performing the divine worship, 7 but into ^athe second, only ^bthe high priest enters ^conce a year, ^dnot without taking blood which he ^eoffers for himself and for the ^1fsins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 ^aThe Holy Spirit is signifying this, ^bthat the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the ¹outer tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly ^aboth gifts and sacrifices are offered which ^bcannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to ^afood, ^bdrink, and various ^cwashings, ^dregulations for the ¹body imposed until ^ea time of reformation.

11 But when Christ appeared as a ^ahigh priest of the ^bgood things ¹having come, He entered through ^cthe greater and more perfect ²tabernacle, ^dnot made by hands, that is, ^enot of this creation; 12 and not through ^athe blood of goats and calves, but ^bthrough His own blood, He ^centered the holy place ^donce for all time, ¹having obtained ^eeternal redemption. 13 For if ^athe blood of goats and bulls, and ^bthe ¹ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify for the ²cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will ^athe blood of Christ, who through ^1bthe eternal Spirit ^coffered Himself without blemish to God, ^dcleanse your conscience from ^edead works to serve ^fthe living God?

15 For this reason ^aHe is the ^bmediator of a ^cnew covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the violations that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been ^dcalled may ^ereceive the promise of ^fthe eternal inheritance. 16 For where there is a ¹covenant, there must of necessity ²be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a ¹covenant is valid only when people are dead, ²for 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 ^aspoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, ^bhe took the ^cblood of the calves and the goats, with ^dwater and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both ^ethe book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “^aTHIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU.” 21 And in the same way he ^asprinkled both the ¹tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. 22 And ^aalmost all things are cleansed with blood, according to the Law, and ^bwithout the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the ^acopies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these things, but ^bthe heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ ^adid not enter a holy place made by hands, a mere copy of ^bthe true one, but into ^cheaven itself, now ^dto appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as ^athe high priest enters ^bthe Holy Place ^cyear by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since ^athe foundation of the world; but now ^bonce at ^cthe consummation of the ages He has been ^drevealed to put away sin ^1eby the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as ^ait is destined for people to die once, and after this ^bcomes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been ^aoffered once to ^bbear the sins of many, will appear ^ca second time for ^dsalvation ^ewithout reference to sin, to those who ^feagerly await Him.

Now even the first covenant had ^aregulations for divine worship and for the earthly ^bsanctuary. Ex 25:10-40 2 ^aA tabernacle (sacred tent) was put up, the outer one or first section, in which were ^bthe lampstand and ^cthe table with its loaves of ^dthe sacred showbread; this is called the Holy Place. Lev 24:5, 6 3 Behind ^athe second veil there was another tabernacle the inner one or second section known as the ^bHoly of Holies, Ex 26:31-33 4 ¹having the golden ^aaltar of incense and ^bthe ark of the covenant covered entirely with gold. This contained ^ca golden jar which held the manna, and the ^drod of Aaron that sprouted, and ^ethe two stone tablets of the covenant inscribed with the Ten Commandments; Ex 16:32-34; 30:1-6; Num 17:8-10 5 and above the ark were the golden ^acherubim of glory ^bovershadowing ¹the mercy seat; but we cannot now go into detail about these things.

6 Now when these things have been prepared in this way, the priests ^acontinually enter the outer or first section of the tabernacle that is, the Holy Place performing their ritual acts of the divine worship, 7 but into ^athe second inner tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, only ^bthe high priest enters and then only ^conce a year, and ^dnever without bringing a sacrifice of blood, which he ^eoffers as a substitutionary atonement for himself and for the ^fsins of the people committed in ignorance. Lev 16:15 8 By this ^athe Holy Spirit signifies ^bthat the way into the Holy Place the true Holy of Holies and the presence of God has not yet been disclosed as long as the ¹first or outer tabernacle is still standing that is, as long as the Levitical system of worship remains a recognized institution, 9 for this first or outer tabernacle is a symbol that is, an archetype or paradigm for the present time. Accordingly both ^agifts and sacrifices are offered which ^bare incapable of perfecting the conscience and renewing the inner self of the worshiper. 10 For they the gifts, sacrifices, and ceremonies deal only with clean and unclean ^afood and ^bdrink and various ritual ^cwashings, mere external ^dregulations for the body imposed to help the worshipers until ^ethe time of reformation that is, the time of the new order when Christ will establish the reality of what these things foreshadow—a better covenant.

11 But when Christ appeared as a ^aHigh Priest of the ^bgood things to come that is, true spiritual worship, He entered through ^cthe greater and more perfect tabernacle, ^dnot made with hands, that is to say, ^enot a part of this material creation. 12 He ^awent ^bonce for all into the Holy Place the Holy of Holies of heaven, into the presence of God, and not through ^cthe blood of goats and calves, but through ^dHis own blood, having obtained and secured ^eeternal redemption that is, the salvation of all who personally believe in Him as Savior. 13 For if ^athe sprinkling of ceremonially defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and ^bthe ashes of a burnt heifer is sufficient for the cleansing of the body, Lev 16:6, 16; Num 19:9, 17, 18 14 how much more will ^athe blood of Christ, who through ^bthe eternal Holy Spirit willingly ^coffered Himself unblemished that is, without moral or spiritual imperfection as a sacrifice to God, ^dcleanse your conscience from ^edead works and lifeless observances to serve ^fthe ever living God?

15 For this reason ^aHe is the ^bMediator and Negotiator of a ^cnew covenant that is, an entirely new agreement uniting God and man, so that those who have been ^dcalled by God may ^ereceive the fulfillment of the promised ^feternal inheritance, since a death has taken place as the payment which redeems them from the sins committed under the obsolete first covenant. 16 For where there is a will and ¹testament involved, the death of the one who made it must be established, 17 for a will and testament takes effect only at death, since it is never in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 So even the first covenant was not put in force without the shedding of blood. 19 For when every commandment in the Law had been ^aread by Moses to all the people, ^bhe took the ^cblood of the calves and goats which had been sacrificed, together with ^dwater and scarlet wool and with a bunch of hyssop, and he sprinkled both ^ethe scroll itself and all the people, 20 saying, “^aTHIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT that seals and ratifies the agreement WHICH GOD ORDAINED and COMMANDED me to deliver to YOU.” Ex 24:6-8 21 And in the same way he ^asprinkled both the tabernacle and all the containers and sacred utensils of worship with the blood. 22 In fact under the Law ^aalmost everything is cleansed with blood, and ^bwithout the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment.

23 Therefore it was necessary for the earthly ^acopies of the heavenly things to be cleansed with these, but ^bthe heavenly things themselves required far better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ ^adid not enter into a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of ^bthe true one, but He entered into ^cheaven itself, now ^dto appear in the very presence of God on our behalf; 25 nor did He enter into the heavenly sanctuary to offer Himself again and again, as ^athe high priest enters ^bthe Holy Place ^cevery year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer over and over since ^athe foundation of the world; but now ^bonce for all at ^cthe consummation of the ages He has ^dappeared and been publicly manifested to put away sin ^eby the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And just as ^ait is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this ^bcomes certain judgment, 28 so Christ, having been ^aoffered once and once for all to ^bbear as a burden ¹the sins of many, will appear ^ca second time when he returns to earth, ^dnot to deal with sin, but to bring ^esalvation to those who are ^feagerly and confidently waiting for Him.