1 The|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" gave us|strong="G1519" only|strong="G3756" an|strong="G2192" unclear picture of|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3588" good|strong="G0018" things|strong="G3739" coming|strong="G4334" in|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" future|strong="G3195". The|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" is|strong="G3739" not|strong="G3756" a|strong="G2192" perfect|strong="G5048" picture of|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3588" real things|strong="G3739". The|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" tells people|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" offer|strong="G4374" the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G0846" sacrifices|strong="G2378" every|strong="G2596" year|strong="G1763". Those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3739" come|strong="G3195" to|strong="G1519" worship God|strong="G0846" continue to|strong="G1519" offer|strong="G4374" those|strong="G3588" sacrifices|strong="G2378". But|strong="G3551" the|strong="G3588" law|strong="G3551" can|strong="G1410" never|strong="G3756" make|strong="G5048" them|strong="G0846" perfect|strong="G5048".
2 If|strong="G0302" the|strong="G3588" law could|strong="G2192" make|strong="G2511" people|strong="G4374" perfect, those|strong="G3588" sacrifices would|strong="G0302" have|strong="G2192" already stopped|strong="G3973". They|strong="G2192" would|strong="G0302" already be|strong="G2089" clean|strong="G2511" from|strong="G1223" their|strong="G1223" sins|strong="G0266", and|strong="G0266" they|strong="G2192" would|strong="G0302" not|strong="G3756" still|strong="G2089" feel guilty.
3 But|strong="G0235" that’s not|strong="G0235" what|strong="G0235" happens. Their|strong="G0846" sacrifices make them|strong="G0846" remember their|strong="G0846" sins|strong="G0266" every|strong="G2596" year|strong="G1763",
4 because|strong="G1063" it|strong="G2532" is|strong="G2532" not|strong="G2532" possible for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G2532" blood|strong="G0129" of|strong="G0129" bulls|strong="G5022" and|strong="G2532" goats|strong="G5131" to|strong="G2532" take|strong="G0851" away|strong="G0851" sins|strong="G0266".
5 So|strong="G2532" when|strong="G2532" Christ came|strong="G1525" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889" he|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004",
6 You|strong="G2532" are|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3756" pleased|strong="G2106" with|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" sacrifices of|strong="G4012" animals killed and|strong="G2532" burned
7 Then|strong="G5119" I|strong="G1473" said|strong="G3004", ‘Here|strong="G2400" I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1473", God|strong="G2316".
8 Christ first said|strong="G3004", “You|strong="G3754" don’t|strong="G3756" want|strong="G2309" sacrifices|strong="G2378" and|strong="G2532" offerings|strong="G4376". You|strong="G3754" are|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3756" pleased|strong="G2106" with|strong="G2596" animals killed and|strong="G2532" burned or|strong="G3761" with|strong="G2596" sacrifices|strong="G2378" to|strong="G3004" take|strong="G2106" away sin|strong="G0266".” (These|strong="G3748" are|strong="G2532" all|strong="G3761" sacrifices|strong="G2378" that|strong="G3754" the|strong="G2532" law|strong="G3551" commands.)
9 Then|strong="G5119" he|strong="G3004" said|strong="G3004", “Here|strong="G2400" I|strong="G3004" am, God|strong="G3004". I|strong="G3004" have|strong="G4160" come|strong="G2240" to|strong="G2443" do|strong="G4160" what|strong="G3588" you|strong="G4771" want|strong="G2307".” So|strong="G2443" God|strong="G3004" ends that|strong="G2443" first|strong="G4413" system of|strong="G2307" sacrifices and|strong="G2476" starts his|strong="G4160" new way.
10 Jesus|strong="G2424" Christ|strong="G5547" did|strong="G1510" the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G3739" God wanted him|strong="G3739" to|strong="G1722" do|strong="G1510". And|strong="G2424" because|strong="G1223" of|strong="G1223" that|strong="G3739", we|strong="G3739" are|strong="G1510" made holy|strong="G0037" through|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" sacrifice|strong="G4376" of|strong="G1223" Christ’s|strong="G5547" body|strong="G4983". Christ|strong="G5547" made that|strong="G3739" sacrifice|strong="G4376" one|strong="G3739" time|strong="G2178"—enough for|strong="G1223" all|strong="G3588" time|strong="G2178".
11 Every|strong="G3956" day|strong="G2250" the|strong="G3956" priests|strong="G2409" stand|strong="G2476" and|strong="G2532" do|strong="G1410" their|strong="G0846" religious service. Again|strong="G2532" and|strong="G2532" again|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" offer|strong="G4374" the|strong="G3956" same|strong="G0846" sacrifices|strong="G2378", which|strong="G3748" can|strong="G1410" never|strong="G3763" take|strong="G4014" away|strong="G4014" sins|strong="G0266".
12 But|strong="G1161" Christ|strong="G1520" offered|strong="G4374" only one|strong="G1520" sacrifice|strong="G2378" for|strong="G1519" sins|strong="G0266", and|strong="G1161" that|strong="G3778" sacrifice|strong="G2378" is|strong="G2316" good for|strong="G1519" all|strong="G3588" time|strong="G1336". Then|strong="G1161" he|strong="G3778" sat|strong="G2523" down|strong="G2523" at|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" right|strong="G1188" side of|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316".
13 And|strong="G0846" now|strong="G0846" Christ|strong="G0846" waits|strong="G1551" there for|strong="G1551" his|strong="G0846" enemies|strong="G2190" to|strong="G2193" be|strong="G2190" put|strong="G5087" under his|strong="G0846" power.
14 With|strong="G1519" one|strong="G1520" sacrifice|strong="G4376" Christ|strong="G1520" made|strong="G5048" his|strong="G1519" people|strong="G3588" perfect|strong="G5048" forever|strong="G1519". They are|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" ones who|strong="G3588" are|strong="G3588" being made|strong="G5048" holy|strong="G0037".
15 The|strong="G3588" Holy|strong="G0040" Spirit|strong="G4151" also|strong="G2532" tells us|strong="G3004" about|strong="G3588" this|strong="G3588". First he|strong="G2532" says|strong="G3004",
16 “This|strong="G3778" is|strong="G3778" the|strong="G3588" agreement I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G3739" make|strong="G1303"
17 Then|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" says,
18 And|strong="G1161" after|strong="G1161" everything is|strong="G3778" forgiven, there|strong="G3699" is|strong="G3778" no|strong="G3765" more|strong="G3765" need for|strong="G4012" a|strong="G1161" sacrifice|strong="G4376" to|strong="G3778" pay for|strong="G4012" sins|strong="G0266".
19 And|strong="G2424" so|strong="G3767", brothers|strong="G0080" and|strong="G2424" sisters, we|strong="G2192" are|strong="G3588" completely|strong="G1519" free to|strong="G1519" enter|strong="G1529" the|strong="G3588" Most|strong="G0040" Holy|strong="G0040" Place|strong="G0040". We|strong="G2192" can do|strong="G2192" this|strong="G3588" without fear because|strong="G1722" of|strong="G0129" the|strong="G3588" blood|strong="G0129" sacrifice of|strong="G0129" Jesus|strong="G2424".
20 We|strong="G2249" enter through|strong="G1223" a|strong="G1510" new|strong="G4372" way|strong="G3598" that|strong="G3739" Jesus|strong="G0846" opened for|strong="G1223" us. It|strong="G0846" is|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" living|strong="G2198" way|strong="G3598" that|strong="G3739" leads through|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" curtain|strong="G2665"—Christ’s|strong="G0846" body|strong="G4561".
21 And|strong="G2532" we|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532" a|strong="G2532" great|strong="G3173" priest|strong="G2409" who|strong="G3588" rules the|strong="G3588" house|strong="G3624" of|strong="G2316" God|strong="G2316".
22 Sprinkled|strong="G4472" with|strong="G3326" the|strong="G3588" blood of|strong="G0575" Christ, our|strong="G2532" hearts|strong="G2588" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" made free from|strong="G0575" a|strong="G2532" guilty conscience|strong="G4893", and|strong="G2532" our|strong="G2532" bodies|strong="G4983" have|strong="G2532" been|strong="G2532" washed|strong="G3068" with|strong="G3326" pure|strong="G2513" water. So|strong="G2532" come|strong="G4334" near|strong="G4334" to|strong="G2532" God with|strong="G3326" a|strong="G2532" sincere|strong="G0228" heart|strong="G2588", full|strong="G4136" of|strong="G0575" confidence because|strong="G0575" of|strong="G0575" our|strong="G2532" faith|strong="G4102" in|strong="G1722" Christ.
23 We|strong="G2532" must|strong="G3588" hold|strong="G2722" on|strong="G2532" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" hope|strong="G1680" we|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2532", never hesitating to|strong="G2532" tell people|strong="G3588" about|strong="G3588" it|strong="G2532". We|strong="G2532" can trust God|strong="G1861" to|strong="G2532" do|strong="G2532" what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G2532" promised|strong="G1861".
24 We|strong="G2532" should|strong="G2532" think about|strong="G1519" each|strong="G0240" other|strong="G0240" to|strong="G1519" see how|strong="G2657" we|strong="G2532" can encourage each|strong="G0240" other|strong="G0240" to|strong="G1519" show love|strong="G0026" and|strong="G2532" do|strong="G2532" good|strong="G2570" works|strong="G2041".
25 We|strong="G2532" must|strong="G0235" not|strong="G3361" quit meeting together|strong="G1997", as|strong="G2531" some|strong="G5100" are|strong="G3588" doing. No|strong="G3361", we|strong="G2532" need to|strong="G2532" keep|strong="G3361" on|strong="G0991" encouraging|strong="G3870" each|strong="G1438" other|strong="G1438". This|strong="G3588" becomes more|strong="G3123" and|strong="G2532" more|strong="G3123" important as|strong="G2531" you|strong="G2532" see|strong="G0991" the|strong="G3588" Day|strong="G2250" getting closer.
26 If we|strong="G2249" decide to|strong="G3326" continue sinning|strong="G0264" after|strong="G3326" we|strong="G2249" have|strong="G1473" learned the|strong="G3588" truth|strong="G0225", then|strong="G1063" there is|strong="G3588" no|strong="G3765" other sacrifice|strong="G2378" that|strong="G3326" will|strong="G1473" take|strong="G2983" away|strong="G3326" sins|strong="G0266".
27 If|strong="G2532" we|strong="G2532" continue|strong="G2532" sinning, all|strong="G3588" that|strong="G1161" is|strong="G5100" left for|strong="G2532" us is|strong="G5100" a|strong="G2532" fearful|strong="G5398" time of|strong="G5100" waiting for|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" judgment|strong="G2920" and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" angry fire|strong="G4442" that|strong="G1161" will|strong="G3195" destroy those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" live against God.
28 Whoever refused to|strong="G1909" obey the|strong="G1909" Law|strong="G3551" of|strong="G3551" Moses|strong="G3475" was|strong="G3475" found guilty from|strong="G2228" the|strong="G1909" testimony given by|strong="G1909" two|strong="G1417" or|strong="G2228" three|strong="G5140" witnesses|strong="G3144". Such|strong="G5100" people|strong="G5100" were|strong="G5100" not|strong="G3144" forgiven. They|strong="G5100" were|strong="G5100" killed.
29 So|strong="G2532" think|strong="G1380" how|strong="G4214" much|strong="G4214" more punishment|strong="G5098" people|strong="G3588" deserve|strong="G0515" who|strong="G3739" show their|strong="G2532" hate for|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" Son|strong="G5207" of|strong="G5207" God|strong="G2316"—people|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3739" show they|strong="G3739" have|strong="G2532" no respect for|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" blood|strong="G0129" sacrifice that|strong="G3739" began the|strong="G3588" new agreement and|strong="G2532" once made them|strong="G1722" holy|strong="G0037" or|strong="G2532" who|strong="G3739" insult the|strong="G3588" Spirit|strong="G4151" of|strong="G5207" God’s|strong="G2316" grace|strong="G5485".
30 We|strong="G2532" know|strong="G1492" that|strong="G3004" God|strong="G0846" said|strong="G3004", “I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G2962" punish|strong="G1557" people|strong="G2992" for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G3588" wrongs they|strong="G0846" do|strong="G2919"; I|strong="G1473" will|strong="G2962" repay|strong="G0467" them|strong="G0846".” And|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" also|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", “The|strong="G3588" Lord|strong="G2962" will|strong="G2962" judge|strong="G2919" his|strong="G0846" people|strong="G2992".”
31 It|strong="G1519" is|strong="G2316" a|strong="G2316" terrible|strong="G5398" thing|strong="G5398" to|strong="G1519" face punishment from|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" living|strong="G2198" God|strong="G2316".
32 Remember|strong="G0363" the|strong="G3588" days|strong="G2250" when|strong="G1161" you|strong="G3739" first|strong="G4387" learned the|strong="G3588" truth. You|strong="G3739" had|strong="G3739" a|strong="G3739" hard|strong="G4183" struggle with|strong="G1722" much|strong="G4183" suffering|strong="G3804", but|strong="G1161" you|strong="G3739" continued strong.
33 Sometimes people|strong="G3778" said|strong="G1096" hateful things|strong="G3778" to|strong="G2532" you|strong="G3779" and|strong="G2532" mistreated you|strong="G3779" in|strong="G2532" public|strong="G2301". And|strong="G2532" sometimes you|strong="G3779" helped others|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" were|strong="G3778" being|strong="G1096" treated|strong="G0390" that|strong="G3778" same|strong="G3779" way|strong="G3779".
34 Yes|strong="G1063", you|strong="G5210" helped them|strong="G1438" in|strong="G2532" prison and|strong="G2532" shared in|strong="G2532" their|strong="G1438" suffering. And|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210" were|strong="G3588" still happy when|strong="G2532" everything you|strong="G5210" owned|strong="G2192" was|strong="G3588" taken away|strong="G3326" from|strong="G2532" you|strong="G5210". You|strong="G5210" continued to|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" happy, because|strong="G1063" you|strong="G5210" knew|strong="G1097" that|strong="G1097" you|strong="G5210" had|strong="G2192" something much better|strong="G2909"—something that|strong="G1097" would|strong="G2532" continue|strong="G3306" forever.
35 So|strong="G3767" don’t|strong="G3361" lose the|strong="G3588" courage|strong="G3954" that|strong="G3748" you|strong="G5210" had|strong="G2192" in|strong="G2192" the|strong="G3588" past. Your|strong="G2192" courage|strong="G3954" will|strong="G3748" be|strong="G3767" rewarded richly.
36 You|strong="G4160" must|strong="G4160" be|strong="G2316" patient|strong="G5281". After|strong="G1063" you|strong="G4160" have|strong="G2192" done|strong="G4160" what|strong="G3588" God|strong="G2316" wants|strong="G2307", you|strong="G4160" will|strong="G2307" get|strong="G2192" what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G4160" promised|strong="G1860" you|strong="G4160".
37 He|strong="G2532" says,
38 The|strong="G3588" person|strong="G5590" who|strong="G3588" is|strong="G3588" right|strong="G1342" with|strong="G1722" me|strong="G1473"
39 But|strong="G1161" we|strong="G2249" are|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" those|strong="G1161" who|strong="G3756" turn|strong="G1510" back|strong="G1519" and|strong="G1161" are|strong="G1510" lost. No|strong="G3756", we|strong="G2249" are|strong="G1510" the|strong="G1161" people|strong="G5590" who|strong="G3756" have|strong="G1510" faith|strong="G4102" and|strong="G1161" are|strong="G1510" saved.