10:1 The Law was a shadow, an imperfect image, of better things to come. So it is never able to perfect those who bring the same sacrifices year after year.

10:2 Wouldn’t they have stopped making offerings if it could, since they would have stopped failing?

10:3 Instead, the need for repeated sacrifices reminds people of their failures,

10:4 for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to eliminate them.

10:5 That is why the One who came into the world said: “Sacrifice and offering were not what you wanted; instead, you prepared a body for me.

10:6 You have no pleasure in burnt offerings for failures.

10:7 Then I said, ‘Look! Here I am to do your will, God, as it is written about me in the heading of the book.’”

10:8 So when he said God didn’t want the prescribed sacrifices and offerings,

10:9 and then that he came to do God’s will, he was saying he takes away the first in order to establish the second.

10:10 And we are made holy by means of the offering of Jesus’ body, once for all.

10:11 Every priest performs the sacred service day after day and offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away our failures.

10:12 But this One, after making one final sacrifice, is seated at God’s right hand,

10:13 waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool.

10:14 For by one offering he has finally completed the holy ones.

10:15 This is also affirmed by the Holy Spirit:

10:16 “This is the contract I will make with them after those days,” says the Master. “I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts,

10:17 and I will not remember their failures and lawlessness.”

10:18 Now if these have been acquitted, there is no more need of offerings for failures.

10:19 So then, because of the blood of Jesus we can boldly enter the Holy Place,

10:20 via the new and living path he made so we could go through the curtain— that is, his flesh.

10:21 And since we have such a great Priest over the house of God,

10:22 let us approach him with a true heart in confident faith, with our hearts having been sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies having been bathed in clean water.

10:23 Let us hold tightly to the hope of our agreement without wavering, because the One who officially instructed us is trustworthy.

10:24 And let us think of ways to motivate each other toward love and good deeds.

10:25 Don’t give up meeting together as some have done, but encourage each other— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

10:26 If we choose to keep failing after recognizing the truth, there is no sacrifice left for our failures,

10:27 but only the certain dread of judgment and the insatiable fire that consumes the hostile.

10:28 If anyone who rebelled against the law of Moses was condemned without pity on the basis of two or three witnesses,

10:29 how much worse punishment do you think awaits those who trample on the God-Man and treat the blood of the contract that made them holy as nothing special? This is an outrage to the spirit of favor!

10:30 For we know the One who said, “ ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay’, says the Master,” and again, “The Master will judge his people.”

10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

10:32 Think back to the earlier days when you were first enlightened, how you stood strong through all that was happening to you.

10:33 Sometimes you were put on public display, mocked, and oppressed; other times you suffered along with those who were being treated this way.

10:34 You sympathized with the imprisoned and accepted the confiscation of your property with joy, knowing you have better property that no one can ever take away.

10:35 So then, don’t throw away your boldness, which will bring you great reward.

10:36 You need to endure so that you can do the will of God and be awarded the promise:

10:37 “In a little while, he who is coming will arrive and not delay.

10:38 My just one will live by faith, and if they shrink back in fear I will not be happy with them.”

10:39 But we are not among the cowardly who are destroyed; rather, we can trust that our souls have been purchased.