BRS.HEBREWS.09

1 The first Covenant had rules for worship and a place for worship here on earth. 2 This place was inside a Tabernacle (tent). The first area in the tent was called the Set-Apart Place, where the lampstand (menorah) and the table with the special showbread were offered to Alahim. 3 Behind the second veil (curtain) was a room called the Most Set-Apart Place, 4 which had the golden censer and the Ark of the Covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s Rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the Covenant. 5 Above the Ark were the Cherubim (guardian angels) that showed Alahim’s glorious-esteem and majestic splendour. These Cherubim were overshadowing the Mercy Seat, the place of Alahim's compassion. But we'll talk more about that later!

6 Everything in the Tabernacle was made ready in the way I've explained. Then the Priests went into the first area every day to perform their worship duties. 7 But only the High Priest could go into the second area, and even then, he could only go in once a year. Also, he could never enter that room without taking blood with him. He offered that blood to Alahim for himself and for the sins that the people committed in ignorance.

8 YAHUSHA'S Spirit uses those two separate areas to teach us that the way into the Most Set-Apart Place was not open and made manifest while the first Tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an example and symbol for us today. It shows that the gifts and sacrifices the Priests offer to Alahim are not able to make the consciences of anyone perfect. 10 These gifts and sacrifices are only about food and drink and special washings, and are only rules about the flesh, which Alahim gave for His people to follow until the time of His Restoration.

11 But YAHUSHA has already come to be the High Priest. He is the High Priest of the good things we now have. But our Messiah does not serve in a place like the physical Tabernacle that those other Priests served in. He serves in a much better place. Unlike that tent, this one is completely perfect, not made by human hands, that is, not of this creation at all! 12 And YAHUSHA entered the Most Set-Apart Place only one time—enough for all time, an eternal redemption. He entered the Most Set-Apart Place by using His own perfect blood, not the blood of goats or young bulls. He entered there and made us free from sin forever.

13 For the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer were sprinkled on those who were no longer pure enough to enter the place of worship. The blood and ashes made them pure again—but only their physical bodies. 14 So surely the blood sacrifice of YAHUSHA can do much more. For Messiah offered Himself through the eternal Spirit as a perfect sacrifice to Alahim. His blood will make us completely clean from the evil we have done. It will give us clear consciences from all dead works and behaviours, so that we can truly worship the living Alahim.

15 So Messiah brings a New Covenant from Alahim to His people. He brings this Covenant so that those who are chosen by Alahim can have the blessings He promised, blessings that last forever. This can happen only because YAHUSHA died to free people from sins committed against the commands of the first Covenant.

16 When someone dies and leaves a will (a testament), there must be proof that the one who wrote the will is dead. 17 A will means nothing while the one who wrote it is still living. It can be used only after that person’s death. 18 That is why blood was needed to lift and dedicate the first Covenant between Alahim and His people. 19 First, Moses told the people every command in the Torah Law. Then he took the blood of young bulls and mixed it with water. He used scarlet wool and a branch of hyssop to sprinkle the blood and water on the book of the Torah Law and on all the people. 20 Then he said, “This is the blood that makes the Covenant legit—the Covenant that Alahim commanded you to follow.” 21 In the same way, Moses sprinkled the blood on the Set-Apart Tabernacle. He sprinkled the blood over everything used in service. 22 The Torah Law says that almost everything must be purified (made clean) by blood. Sins cannot be forgiven without a blood sacrifice.

23 Now don't forget that these things are copies of the real things that are in Heaven. These copies had to be made clean by animal sacrifices. But the real things in Heaven must have much better sacrifices. 24 So YAHUSHA went into the Most Set-Apart Place. But it was not the man-made one, which is only a copy of the real one. He went into Heaven, now appearing in the presence of Alahim (AS ALAHIM) for us.

25 The High Priest enters the Most Set-Apart Place once every year. He takes with him blood to offer. But he does not offer his own blood as YAHUSHA did. Messiah went into Heaven, but not to offer Himself many times like the High Priest offers blood again and again. 26 For if Messiah had offered Himself many times, He would have needed to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But He came to offer Himself only once! And that once is enough for all time. He came at a time when the world is at the end of its age, to take away all sin by offering Himself as a sacrifice.

27 Everyone must die once. Then they are judged. 28 So YAHUSHA was offered as a sacrifice one time to take away the sins of many people. And HHe will come a second time, but not to offer himself for sin. He will come the second time to bring deliverance to those who are waiting for him.

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