Hebrews 10

The law {that God gave through Moses} is not itself one of the wonderful things that God will give to his people. Rather, it only points to those wonderful things. So, even though the people who go closer to God always present offerings year after year, doing so never enables them to be what God wants them to be.

Suppose that {those offerings} actually purified the people who worship God. {In that case,} they would never feel guilty about their sins, and they would stop presenting offerings.

But {here is what is true about those offerings}: they remind people year after year of their sins.

{Those offerings can only do that,} because blood from animals that someone sacrificed cannot remove people’s sins. \*

That is why, when the Messiah came to earth, he spoke {to his Father}, “You did not want {people to present} offerings. Instead, you made a human body ready for me. 6 You did not enjoy the sacrifices that people present to take away their sins. 7 So, I spoke {these words}: ‘Here I am! Someone wrote about me in the Scriptures. I will do what you want {me to do}, my God.’” \*

Here is what the Messiah said {to God} first: “You did not want or enjoy the offerings {that people present} or the sacrifices that people present to take away their sins.” Those offerings and sacrifices are the ones that the Israelites present {to God} as he required in the laws {that he gave through Moses}.

Then, the Messiah said this second: “Here I am! I will do what you want {me to do}.” He abolishes {what he spoke about} first in order to set up {what he spoke about} second.

Here is what God wanted: Jesus the Messiah presented his body as an offering one time only, and by that {offering}, God set us apart for himself. \*

Now all {earthly} priests have to stand up day after day while they worship God and present many offerings of the same kind. These offerings cannot remove {people’s} sins.

In contrast, the Messiah presented a single offering that is always effective in taking away sins. Then, he went to be with God {the Father}, where he sits {on the throne} and rules.

Right now, he remains {there} until God defeats all of his enemies.

{The Messiah remains there,} because he presented a single offering, by which he always makes the people whom God is setting apart for himself to be what God wants them to be. \*

God’s Spirit too confirms to us {that this is true}. Here is what he said first {in the words that I have already quoted}: 16 “This is the kind of agreement that I will make with them, very soon. Here is what I say: I will enable them to obey and understand my laws.” \*

Then{, God’s Spirit said this second in the words I have already quoted}: “I will never again punish them for the sinful and disobedient things that they have done.”

When God forgives people for the {sinful and disobedient} things that they have done, no one again presents sacrifices to take away sins. \*

So then, fellow believers, we can be totally sure that there is a way into the heavenly Most Holy Place {for us}, because of Jesus’ blood.

Jesus established that new and effective way for us, which passes through the cloth hanging {into the Most Holy Place}. This {cloth hanging figuratively} represents Jesus {while he lived} on earth.

Further, {the Messiah is} a ruling priest {who} works for us, God’s people.

{Because those things are true,} we should go closer {to God}, completely serving him and fully believing in him now that he has purified us on the inside and on the outside so that we no longer feel guilty about evil things {that we have done}. \*

{God,} who promised {these things to us,} will do what he has said. So, we need to persist in fully believing what we say we confidently expect.

Further, we need to think about each other, particularly how to encourage each other to love others and to do what is right.

{We can do that by} always continuing to gather together {to worship God} and encouraging each other, even though some people often do not {do this}. Since we know that Jesus is coming back soon, we should be very eager to do those things. \*

{We should do all those things,} because whenever we intentionally and habitually sin once we have completely understood the true {message about Christ}, no one can present any offering that will take away our sins.

{If we did go on sinning}, all we could do is fearfully wait for God to declare us guilty and, soon after, forcefully punish us as his enemies, {which would be like} flames burning us up. \*

The Israelites would kill any person who completely stopped obeying the laws that God gave through Moses, as long as at least two or three people confirmed that the person had done that. They would not be merciful to that person.

But now consider people who shame God’s Son. They treat his blood as if it were ordinary, even though God used that blood to make his covenant and set them apart for himself. They make fun of God’s Spirit, who acts graciously. God will rightly punish those people more than {he punished anyone who completely stopped obeying the laws that God gave through Moses}. \*

{We know that is true,} because we have encountered God, who spoke, “I am the one who will punish people when they act against me. I will do so in a way that they deserve.” Further, {he} also {spoke}, “I, the Lord, will decide whether my people are guilty or innocent.”

Those who deserve the only real God to punish them should be afraid! \*

On the other hand, I want you to think about what it was like when you first learned about the good news. During that time, you continued {to trust God} while you firmly withstood what you suffered.

In some cases, people publicly insulted and hurt you. In other cases, you helped other people who experienced those same things.

More specifically, you acted compassionately toward those in jail. Also, you rejoiced even when people took away what you owned. {You did that} because you recognized that God has something greater and more lasting for you. \*

Therefore, continue to be confident {that God will do what he has promised}. God greatly rewards those who are confident in this way.

As you can see, you need to continue {to trust God}. That way, once you have done what God desires, you will receive what he has promised {to give to you}.

Here is what a prophet wrote: “Very soon, the person who is going to arrive will arrive. He will not wait a long time. \* 38 Further, those who serve me righteously will trust {in me} while they are alive. But suppose they stop {trusting in me}. Then, they will not please me.”

However, we are not those who stop {trusting in God}, whom he will destroy. Rather, we are those who trust {in God}, so he saves us. \*