Hebrews 10
1 Just like a shadow vaguely represents the thing that it is a shadow of, the laws that God [gave Moses] only poorly represent [MET] the good things that were to come later. Those laws were not all the good things themselves that God has promised. So, by offering the same kinds of sacrifices every year, people [PRS] who approach God can never become (perfect/all that God intends them to be).
For the Torah, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.
2 If God had removed the guilt for having sinned of those who brought the sacrifices, they would not feel that they were still guilty. So they would certainly have stopped offering those sacrifices! [RHQ]
Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?
3 But rather, the fact that they offer those sacrifices each year reminds them that they are still guilty for their sins.
But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.
4 The principle is that blood of animals such as bulls or goats can never remove the guilt of those who have sinned.
For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
5 So, as [Christ] was coming into the world, he spoke [to his Father about offering himself as a sacrifice for people’s sin. The Psalmist wrote this that Christ said]: It is not sacrifices and offerings that you [(sg)] have wanted, but you have prepared for me a body [to serve you].
Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “You didn’t desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me.
6 Animals that are completely burned up as sacrifices have not pleased you, and [other sacrifices that atone] for those who have sinned have not pleased you.
You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.
7 Then [because of this], I said, “My God, (listen!/here I am!) I have come [here] in order to do what you want me [to do], [just like] has been written {as they have written} about me in the Scriptures.”
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’”
8 First, [Christ] said, “It is not sacrifices and offerings and animals that [the priests] have completely burned up and other [offerings to atone for] those who have sinned that you have really wanted. They have not pleased you.” [Christ said that even though] those things were offered {they offered all those things} according to the laws [God gave Moses]!
Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the Torah),
9 Then, [concerning his offering himself as a sacrifice to atone for people’s sin], he said, “Listen! I have come [here] to do what you want me [to do]!” In that way Christ got rid of the first [way of atoning for sin], in order to establish the second [way of atoning for] sin.
then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,
10 Because of Jesus Christ [doing what God] wanted him to do, we have been dedicated to {[he] has set us apart for} God by his offering his own body only once [as a sacrifice, a sacrifice that will not need to be repeated].
by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Yeshua the Messiah once for all.
11 As every [Jewish] priest stands daily [in front of the altar], he performs rituals and offers the same kind of sacrifices that could never remove [the guilt from anyone who] sinned [MTY].
Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins,
12 But [Christ] offered a sacrifice that [will be adequate] forever, and he offered it only one time! Then he sat down [to rule] with God at the place of highest honor [MTY].
but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God,
13 From now on, he is waiting for [God] to completely subdue [all] Christ’s enemies [MTY].
from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.
14 By offering himself once, he has provided that those whom [God] has set apart will be eternally made (perfect/all that God intends them to be).
For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
15 The Holy Spirit also confirms to us [that this is true]. First the Lord says:
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
16 When the time [MTY] [when the first covenant that God made] with my people has ended, I will make a new covenant with them [MTY]. I will do like this for them: I will cause them to understand my laws and I will cause them to obey them (OR, enable them to know them sincerely).
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;” then he says,
17 Then [the Lord said]: [I will forgive them for] their [DOU] sins, and I will [consider] that they are no longer [guilty for] having sinned.
“I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”
18 When [God] has forgiven someone’s sins, that person does not [need to make] any more offerings [to atone for his sin]!
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 So, my fellow believers, because we [trust in what Jesus accomplished when] his own blood [flowed for us], we can confidently go into [God’s very presence] that was [symbolized] by the very holy place [in the tent] [MTY].
Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Yeshua,
20 Jesus enabled us to go into [God’s presence] by making a new and effective way. [Specifically], he [offered] his body [as a sacrifice] for us [in order that nothing would stop us] from entering [God’s presence, just like] [MET] the curtain [of the very holy place prevented people from entering God’s presence].
by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh,
21 Christ is a great priest [who rules over us, who are] God’s people [MTY].
and having a great priest over God’s house,
22 [Just like the priests] were sprinkled {[as Moses] sprinkled [the priests]} [with blood] [MET] to symbolize that they were no longer guilty for having sinned, we also no longer are [guilty for having done] evil. [Just like the priests ceremonially] washed their bodies with pure water [to prepare themselves to serve God], we are allowing [God] to continually make us pure. So, we [(inc)] must approach [God] sincerely by confidently trusting [in him].
let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water,
23 We must unwaveringly keep holding tight [to what we believe. Since God] faithfully [does all] he promised [to do], we must confidently expect [him to keep doing that].
let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.
24 [Since God] faithfully [does all that] he promised [to do], let us consider how each of us can motivate other believers, in order that [believers] will love each other, and in order that each one will do good things.
Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
25 We must not stop assembling ourselves [to worship the Lord], as some people have done. Instead, each one of us must encourage/exhort other believers. [Let us do that] even more since we know that the day [that the Lord will return] [MTY] is near.
not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
26 [We(inc) must do those things], because if we deliberately and habitually sin after we have known the true [message about Christ], no other sacrifice will remove our guilt for having sinned in that way.
For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,
27 Instead, we must fearfully expect that [God will] judge and angrily [punish] his enemies in a furious fire [MET].
but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.
28 Everyone who rejected the laws [that God gave] Moses was mercilessly killed when [at least] two or three people testified that they had done that.
A man who disregards the Torah of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
29 [That was severe punishment]. But [Christ] is (God’s Son/the man who is also God). His blood, by means of which [he put into effect] the new covenant, is sacred. Because of [Christ’s] [MTY] blood [flowing for us when he died], [God] freed us from our guilt. So, you can be sure [RHQ] that anyone who shows contempt for [those truths] and who insults the Spirit of God, the one who acts with kindness toward us in a way we do not deserve, deserves to be punished even worse than [those Israelis were punished] [MET]!
How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 [We can be sure of that] (OR, [need to think about that carefully]) since we know that God said, “I myself will get revenge on those who sinned, and I will punish them as they deserve [DOU].” [Moses wrote], “The Lord will judge his people.”
For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay,” says the Lord. Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
31 It will be a terrible thing if God who is all-powerful [MTY] seizes and punishes you [IDM]!
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 Recall previous times when you [first] understood [MET] [the message about Christ]. You endured a hard struggle, but you [continued to trust him] when you suffered [because you believed in Christ].
But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
33 At times you were publicly insulted {people publicly insulted you} and you suffered {people persecuted you}. But you showed great concern for those who were treated like that.
partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions, and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.
34 You not only were kind to those who were in prison [because they believed in Christ], but you also accepted it joyfully when [unbelievers] took away your possessions. You accepted it because you yourselves knew very well that you have eternal possessions [in heaven] that are much better [than those that they took from you]!
For you both had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.
35 So, do not become discouraged [when they cause you to suffer] {[you are persecuted]}, because [if you continue to trust in God], he will greatly reward you.
Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
36 You must patiently continue [to trust in him] in order that, because of your doing what God wants you to do, he will give you what he has promised.
For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
37 [You must do that] since [a prophet wrote] in the Scriptures [that God said about the Messiah], In just a short time the one [I promised] would come will surely come; he will not delay coming.
“In a very little while, he who comes will come and will not wait.
38 But those whom I have summoned, who [act] righteously, must continually live trusting in me, because if they, in a cowardly manner, cease [to trust in me], I (will not be pleased/will be angry) with them.
But the righteous one will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not ones who in a cowardly manner stop [trusting in God], with the result that God will severely punish us. Instead, we are ones who trust in him, with the result that [God] will save us [SYN] eternally.
But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.
