Hebrews 10

1 For the law [having a shadow of good things to come] is only a shadow [a poor copy, a vague representation] of the good things [beneficial, divine blessings] to come, not the realities [true image, substance] themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices [repeated offerings, year by year] offered year after year, make perfect [complete, whole, mature] those who draw near [approach, come to worship] to worship. word study 2 If it could [have been possible, have had the power], would not the offerings [sacrifices, acts of worship] have ceased [stopped, come to an end]? For the worshipers [those who minister, serve God] would have been cleansed [purged, purified] once [one time] for all, and would no longer have felt [had conscience of, been aware of] the guilt [consciousness, awareness] of their sins [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards]. word study 3 Instead [on the contrary, but], those sacrifices [offerings, rituals] are an annual [yearly, every year] reminder [memorial, commemoration] of sins [transgressions, missing the mark], word study 4 because it is [totally] impossible [unable, lacking power] for the blood [atonement, life force] of bulls [oxen, male cattle] and goats [he-goats, male goats] to take away [remove, eliminate] sins [guilt, missing the mark]. word study 5 Therefore [for this reason, as a consequence], when Christ [the Messiah, the Anointed One] came into the world [the cosmos, human existence], He said: “Sacrifice [offering, atonement] and offering [gift, presentation] You did not desire [will, want], but a body [physical form, flesh] You prepared [made ready, fashioned] for Me [on My behalf, for My purpose]. word study 6 In burnt offerings [whole, completely consumed sacrifices] and sin offerings [sacrifices for sin, atonement] You took [had, experienced] no [absolutely none] delight [pleasure, joy, to think well of]. word study 7 Then [at that specific point in time] I said, ‘Here I am [behold, I have arrived], it is written [recorded, inscribed] about Me [concerning my person and work] in the scroll [a rolled-up manuscript, the volume of the book]: I have come [to arrive, to be present] to do [to fulfill, to accomplish] Your will [Your desire, Your intention], O God [the one true deity, the supreme Creator].’” word study 8 In the passage above [previously, before this] He says, “Sacrifices [offerings to atone for sin] and offerings [gifts to God], burnt offerings [wholly consumed by fire] and sin offerings [to make amends for wrongdoing] You did not desire [did not will or want], nor did You delight [take pleasure] in them” (although they are offered [presented, given] according to the law [God’s instruction, divine standard]). word study 9 Then He adds, “Here I am [behold, I have arrived], I have come [to be present, to arrive] to do [to make, to accomplish] Your [O God’s] will [desire, intention, God’s pleasure].” He takes away [removes, abolishes] the first [the initial, the former] to establish [to set up, to confirm] the second [the latter, the new]. word study 10 And by that will [God’s desire, divine intention], we have been sanctified [made holy, set apart] through the sacrifice [offering, presentation] of the body [physical person, flesh] of Jesus Christ [the Messiah, God’s anointed] once [at one time, for all time] for all. word study 11 Day after day [daily, every single day] every priest [spiritual leader, one who serves God] stands [is positioned, takes a stand] to minister [serve, attend to the needs of others] and to offer [bring to, present to God] again and again [repeatedly, many times] the same sacrifices [repetitive offerings, identical gifts], which can never [at no time, not ever] take away [remove, eliminate] sins [transgressions, rebellions against God]. word study 12 But when this Priest [the eternal High Priest] had offered [presented, brought to God] for all time [perpetually, forever] one sacrifice [a single offering, once for all] for sins [transgressions, missing the mark], He sat down [took His seat, rested] at the right [position of authority, power] hand of God [the Almighty, Creator]. word study 13 Since that time [from henceforth, as to the rest], He waits [expecting, waiting patiently] for His enemies [those who are hostile, adversaries] to be made [placed, laid] a footstool [a rest for the feet, a symbol of subjection] for His feet [the feet of the victorious King], word study 14 because by a single [one, unique] offering [sacrifice, presentation to God] He has made perfect [complete, whole, fully sanctified] for all time [perpetually, forever] those who are being [in the process of, continually] sanctified [made holy, set apart]. word study 15 The Holy [set apart, sacred] Spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition] also [in addition, furthermore] testifies [to bear witness, give evidence] to us [to bear witness to ourselves] about this [concerning these things]. First [at the beginning, initially] He says [to foretell, proclaim]: word study 16 “This is the covenant [a formal agreement, a divine promise] I will make [establish, ratify] with them after those days [following that time, in the future], declares the Lord [God, the sovereign ruler]. I will put My laws [divine principles, commandments] in their hearts [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions] and inscribe [write, engrave] them on their minds [the faculties of thought, understanding].” word study 17 Then He adds: “Their [iniquities, wickedness] sins [missing the mark, falling short] and lawless acts [unrighteousness, disobedience] I will [no longer, completely] remember [recall to mind, bring to memory] no more [never again, utterly forget].” word study 18 And where [in the location of, at the point of] these [sins, transgressions] have been forgiven [pardoned, set free from debt], an offering [sacrifice, presentation] for sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] is no longer [not anymore, ceased to be] needed [required, necessary]. word study 19 Therefore [thus, in this manner], brothers [fellow believers], since we have [possess, hold] confidence [boldness] to enter [approach, come into] the Most Holy Place [the holiest, the sacred sanctuary] by [through, in] the blood [the atoning sacrifice, the life-giving fluid] of Jesus [God’s salvation, the Christ], word study 20 by the new [recently made, fresh] and living [having life, spiritual] way [road, path] opened [dedicated, inaugurated] for us through the curtain [veil, separation] of His body [flesh, physical form], word study 21 and since we have a great [high, magnificent] priest [one who serves God] over the house [home, family] of God [the one true deity], word study 22 let us draw near [with a true heart, in confidence] with a sincere [genuine, authentic] heart in full [complete, entire] assurance of faith [trust, confidence in God], having our hearts sprinkled [purify] to cleanse us from a guilty [evil, bad] conscience and our bodies washed [bathed, purified] with pure [clean, holy] water. word study 23 Let us hold resolutely [firmly, without wavering] to the hope [expectation, trusting in God’s goodness] we profess [announce, declare], for He who promised [to make a promise] is faithful [trustworthy, reliable, true to His word]. word study 24 And let us consider [to observe carefully, take note of] how to spur [provoke, stir up] one another [mutually, toward each other] on to [toward, into] love [unconditional, divine affection] and [also, in addition to] good [beautiful, noble] deeds [works, actions]. word study 25 Let us not neglect [forsake, abandon] meeting together [assembling, gathering], as some have made a habit [custom, usual practice], but let us encourage [exhort, comfort] one another [each other, mutually], and all the more [so much the more, rather] as you see [perceive, behold] the Day [the end time, the return of the Lord] approaching [drawing near, coming close]. word study 26 If we deliberately [wilfully, with full knowledge] go on sinning [missing the mark, falling short] after we have received [taken, accepted] the knowledge [deep understanding, recognition] of the truth [reality, divine standard], no further [no more, not any more] sacrifice [offering, atonement] for sins [transgressions, rebellions] remains [is left, exists], word study 27 but only a [certain, dreadful] fearful [inspiring awe] expectation [looking forward, waiting] of judgment [divine verdict, decision] and of raging [fiery, violent] fire [flames or God’s wrath] that will consume [devour, eat] all [the, this] adversaries [opposed, enemies, hostile to God]. word study 28 Anyone who rejected [set at nought] the law [regulations, commandments] of Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] died [passed away, stopped living] without [lacking, apart from] mercy [compassion, pity] on the testimony [word, evidence] of two [a pair] or [as an alternative] three [a trio] witnesses [those who testify, provide evidence]. word study 29 How much more severely [to a greater degree, extremely] do you think one deserves to be punished [to suffer vengeance, face judgment] who has trampled on [treated with contempt, rejected] the Son of God [the Messiah, God’s appointed Savior], profaned [desecrated, treated as unholy] the blood of the covenant [the sacred agreement, divine promise] that sanctified [made holy, set apart] him, and insulted [treated with disdain, shown contempt for] the Spirit of grace [the divine influence, God’s unmerited favor]? word study 30 For we know Him [the Lord God, having divine authority] who said, “Vengeance [punishment, retribution] is Mine; I will repay [give back, requite],” and again, “The Lord [the Supreme Ruler, Yehovah] will judge [condemn, evaluate] His people [the chosen nation, His own].” word study 31 It is a fearful [terrifying, awe-inspiring] thing to fall [to be overwhelmed, to come under the power] into the hands [power, control] of the living [who is all-powerful, having life] God [the one true deity, Creator]. word study 32 Remember [call to mind, think about] the early days [former times, previously] that you were in the light [enlightened, illuminated by God]. In those days [previously, in the past], you endured [remained, stood firm] a great conflict [struggle, fight] in the face of suffering [afflictions, hardships, a condition of pain or adversity]. word study 33 Sometimes you were publicly [made a gazingstock] exposed to ridicule and persecution [pressure, tribulation]; at other times you were partners [companions] with those who were so treated [suffering, being insulted]. word study 34 You sympathized [showed compassion, felt deeply for] with those in prison [those bound by chains, persecuted for their faith] and joyfully [with cheerful hearts, gladly] accepted the confiscation [spoiling, plundering] of your property [possessions, earthly goods], knowing [being aware, having confidence] that you yourselves had a better [more excellent, superior] and permanent [enduring, lasting] possession [substance, treasure]. word study 35 So do not [cast away, lose] throw away your [boldness, freedom in speaking] confidence [trust, faith]; it [which you have, that is within you] holds [has, possesses] a great [abundant] reward [recompense, payment for faithfulness]. word study 36 You need to persevere [have patience, endure patiently], so that after you have done [accomplished, fulfilled] the will [desire, intention] of God [the one true deity], you will receive [be repaid, obtain] what He has promised [assured, committed to give]. word study 37 For [as a reason, because of this], “In just a [very] little while [a short time, a brief moment], He who is coming [the one to come] will come [arrive, be present] and will not delay [tarry, linger]. word study 38 But My righteous one [the just, upright man] will live [have spiritual life, exist] by faith [trust, confidence in God]; and if he shrinks back [draws back, withdraws], I will take no pleasure [have no delight, be displeased] in him [my soul, the essence of my being].” word study 39 But we are not of those who [draw back, shrink away] shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have [saving, trusting] faith [confidence in God, trust] and preserve [acquire, obtain salvation for] their souls [the seat of emotions, the breath of life]. word study