Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice
(Psalm 40:1–17)

1For the law, having a shadow of the good things about to be, not the image of the things themselves, every year with the same sacrifices that they offer unto perpetuity, never is able to perfect those coming near. 2Otherwise, would they not have ceased being offered, because of no more having conscience of sins, those serving having been cleansed once?

3But in these is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, coming into the world, He says:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

but a body You prepared for Me.

6In burnt offerings and concerning sin offerings

You were not well pleased.

7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—

in the scroll of the book it has been written about Me—

to do Your will, O God.’”†

8Saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings† and burnt offerings and those for sin You did not desire, nor were You well pleased” (which are offered according to the law), 9then He has said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.†” He takes away the first so that He might establish the second, 10in which act of will, we are having been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11And indeed every priest has stood every day, serving and offering the same sacrifices many times, which never are able to take away sins. 12But this One, having offered one sacrifice for sins unto perpetuity, sat down at the right hand of God, 13as to the rest awaiting until His enemies should be placed as a footstool for His feet. 14For by one offering, He has perfected unto perpetuity those being sanctified.

15And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us. For after having said:

16“This is the covenant that I will make with them

after those days, says the Lord,

giving My laws on their hearts,

and I will inscribe them on their mind,Ӡ

17then He says:

“Their sins and their lawless acts,

I will remember no more.Ӡ

18Now where there is forgiveness of these, no longer is there an offering concerning sin.

A Call to Persevere
(Jude 1:17–23)

19Therefore, brothers, having confidence for entrance to the holy places† in the blood of Jesus, 20by a new† and living way, which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,† 21and having a great priest over the house of God, 22we should come near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, the hearts having been sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and the body having been washed with pure water.

23We should hold fast to the confession of our hope, unwavering; for the One having promised is faithful. 24And we should carefully consider toward stirring up one another to love and to good works, 25not forsaking the assembling together of ourselves, as is the custom with some, but exorting, and so much more as you⁺ see the Day drawing near.

26For if we are sinning willingly after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27but only a fearful expectation of judgment and zeal of fire being about to devour the adversaries. 28Anyone having set aside the law of Moses dies without mercies on the basis of two or three witnesses. 29How much worse punishment do you⁺ think he will be worthy of, the one having trampled upon the Son of God, and having deemed common the blood of the covenant in which he was sanctified, and having insulted the Spirit of grace?

30For we know the One having said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,”† and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”† 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32But recall the former days in which, having been enlightened, you⁺ endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33this indeed, being made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations; now this, having become partners of those being treated thus. 34For you⁺ also sympathized with the prisoners† and you⁺ accepted the plundering of your⁺ possessions with joy, knowing yourselves to have a better and abiding possession.†

35Therefore do not throw away your⁺ confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you⁺ have need of perseverance, so that, having done the will of God, you⁺ may receive the promise. 37For

“Yet in a very little while,

the One coming will come, and will not delay.

38But My righteous one will live by faith;†

and if he might shrink back,

My soul is not well pleased in him.Ӡ

39But we are not of those shrinking back to destruction, but of faith to the preserving of the soul.

Footnotes:

7 Psalm 40:6–8 (see also LXX)
8 BYZ and TR Sacrifice and offering
9 BYZ and TR include O God.
16 Jeremiah 31:33
17 Jeremiah 31:34
19 Or the Most Holy Place
20 Or freshly slain
20 Or through the curtain of His body
30 Deuteronomy 32:35 (see also LXX); BYZ and TR include says the Lord.
30 Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 135:14
34 BYZ and TR with my chains
34 BYZ and TR include in heaven.
38 BYZ and TR But the righteous will live by faith
38 Habakkuk 2:3–4 (see also LXX)