Thematic Bible: Insufficiency of
Thematic Bible
Offerings » Insufficiency of
For if that first covenant had been faultless, no place would have been sought for a second. For, finding fault with them, he says: Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will ratify a new covenant for the house of Israel, and for the house of Judah: not like the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: because they continued not in my covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. read more.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, says the Lord; putting my laws into their understanding, I will also write them upon their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people; and they shall not teach, every one his citizen, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more. In saying, A new covenant, he has regarded the first as out of use. Now, that which is out of use, and has become old, is ready to disappear.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, says the Lord; putting my laws into their understanding, I will also write them upon their hearts; and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people; and they shall not teach, every one his citizen, and every one his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more. In saying, A new covenant, he has regarded the first as out of use. Now, that which is out of use, and has become old, is ready to disappear.
Now, the first covenant also had ordinances of worship, and the worldly sanctuary: for a tabernacle was constructed, the first, in which were the candlestick, and the table, and the presence bread; and this tabernacle is called holy. But after the second vail, the tabernacle which is called the holy of holies; read more.
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that held the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over the ark, the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we can not now speak particularly. Now, when these things were thus arranged, the priests went, at all times, into the first tabernacle, discharging the service of God. But into the second, the high priest alone went, once during the year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: the Holy Spirit signifying this, that the way into the most holy was not yet made manifest, while the first tabernacle was still standing, which, as a symbol, remains to the present time, in which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that can not make perfect, as it respects the conscience, him that does the service; since he relies only on meats and drinks and various immersions, ordinances in deed of the flesh, which were imposed till the time of reformation. But Christ, having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, (that is, not of this building,) entered, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, once for all, into the most holy, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, cleanses them as it respects the purity of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works, in order that you may serve the living God? And for this reason, he is the mediator of the new covenant: that, since his death has taken place for the redemption of transgressions that were under the former covenant, those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that held the manna, and the rod of Aaron that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over the ark, the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we can not now speak particularly. Now, when these things were thus arranged, the priests went, at all times, into the first tabernacle, discharging the service of God. But into the second, the high priest alone went, once during the year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: the Holy Spirit signifying this, that the way into the most holy was not yet made manifest, while the first tabernacle was still standing, which, as a symbol, remains to the present time, in which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that can not make perfect, as it respects the conscience, him that does the service; since he relies only on meats and drinks and various immersions, ordinances in deed of the flesh, which were imposed till the time of reformation. But Christ, having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, (that is, not of this building,) entered, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, once for all, into the most holy, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, cleanses them as it respects the purity of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Christ, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works, in order that you may serve the living God? And for this reason, he is the mediator of the new covenant: that, since his death has taken place for the redemption of transgressions that were under the former covenant, those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
For the law, having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, make a perfect expiation for those who come to them: for then, would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshipers, after being once cleansed, would no longer have a consciousness of sins. There is, however, in these sacrifices, a remembrance of sins every year. read more.
For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore, when he comes into the world, he says: Sacrifice and offering thou hast not desired, but a body thou hast prepared me; in whole burnt-offerings and offerings for sin, thou hast had no pleasure. Then, said I, Behold, I come, (in the roll of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, God. After saying above, Thou didst neither desire, nor take pleasure in sacrifice and offering and whole burnt-offerings and offerings for sin, which are offered according to the law, then he said, Behold, I come to do thy will: he takes away the first, that he may establish the second. By which will, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. And every priest stands daily ministering, and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but after offering one sacrifice for sins, he himself sits continually at the right hand of God,
For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore, when he comes into the world, he says: Sacrifice and offering thou hast not desired, but a body thou hast prepared me; in whole burnt-offerings and offerings for sin, thou hast had no pleasure. Then, said I, Behold, I come, (in the roll of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, God. After saying above, Thou didst neither desire, nor take pleasure in sacrifice and offering and whole burnt-offerings and offerings for sin, which are offered according to the law, then he said, Behold, I come to do thy will: he takes away the first, that he may establish the second. By which will, we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. And every priest stands daily ministering, and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but after offering one sacrifice for sins, he himself sits continually at the right hand of God,
Now, where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, confidence to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he has dedicated for us, through the vail, that is, his flesh;