Commentary on Hebrews

1For the law, having the shadow of good things to come, not the very living image of things, can never by the sacrifices which are offered continually every year, sanctify those who come;

2Would they not have otherwise ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, once cleansed, would have no more conscience of sins

3But in these there is a remembrance of sins every year;

4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

5Therefore when coming into the world, he saith, “Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared for me;

6Burnt­offerings and sacrificesfor sin thou hast not approved;

7Then said I, Lo, I am coming (in the volume of the book it is written of me) that I may do, O God, thy will.”

8After having said above, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt­offering and sacrificesfor sin thou wouldest not, nor hast thou approved,” which are offered according to the law;

9Then he said, “Lo, I am coming that I may do, O God, thy will,” —he takes away the first, that he may establish the second;

10By which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once made.

11And every priest stands, indeed, daily to minister and to offer often the same sacrifices which can never take away sins;

12But he, having offered one sacrifice for sins, sits down perpetually at the right hand of God,

13Henceforth waiting until his enemies be made his footstool:

14For by one offering he hath consecrated for ever those who are sanctified.

15. Now the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after having previously said,

16“This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds will I write them,” [he adds,]

17“And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”

18Now, where there is remission of these, there is no more offering for sin.

19Having then, brethren, confidence to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20By a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is, his flesh,

21And having a great priest over the house of God,

22Let us draw near with a sincere heart, in a full assurance of faith, sprinkled in our hearts from an evil conscience, and washed in our body with pure water;

23Let us hold the confession of our hope with out wavering, for faithful is he who has promised;

24And let us consider one another for the purpose of emulation in love and in good works;

25Nor let us neglect the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom with some is; but let us exhort oneanother, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.

26For to those who willingly sin, after having received the knowledge of the truth, there is no more left a sacrifice for sins,

27But a dreadful expectation of judgment, and a fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.

28He who cast aside the law of Moses died without mercy under two or three witnesses: of how much heavier punishment,

29Think ye, shall he be deemed worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and counted unholy the blood of the testament by which he has been sanctified, and has treated scornfully the Spirit of grace?

30For we know who says, “Mine is vengeance, I will repay,” saith the Lord; and again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

31It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32But remember the former days, in which, after being illuminated, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings; partly when ye were exposed to public shame by reproaches and distresses,

33And partly when ye became the companions of those who were thus treated:

34For ye sympathized with me in my bonds, and took the plunder of your goods with joy, knowing that ye have a better and an enduring substance in heaven.

35Cast not then away your confidence which has a great recompense of reward.

36Ye have truly need of patience, so that having done the will of God, ye may obtain the promise:

37For it will yet be a little while, when he who is coming will come, and will not delay.

38But the just, by faith shall he live; and if he draws back, my soul shall have no delight in him.

39But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the salvation of the soul.