Christ’s Sacrifice Is Once and for All Time
1The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming. It is not the real things themselves. The same sacrifices have to be offered over and over again. They must be offered year after year. That’s why the law can never make perfect those who come near to worship. 2If the law could, wouldn’t the sacrifices have stopped being offered? The worshipers would have been made “clean” once and for all time. They would not have felt guilty for their sins anymore. 3But those offerings remind people of their sins every year. 4It isn’t possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5So when Christ came into the world, he said,
“You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings.
Instead, you prepared a body for me.
6You weren’t pleased
with burnt offerings and sin offerings.
7Then I said, ‘Here I am. It is written about me in the book.
I have come to do what you want, my God.’ ” (Psalm 40:6–8)
8First Christ said, “You didn’t want sacrifices and offerings. You didn’t want burnt offerings and sin offerings. You weren’t pleased with them.” He said this even though they were offered in keeping with the law. 9Then he said, “Here I am. I have come to do what you want.” He did away with the shadow of the good things that were coming. He did it to put in place the good things themselves. 10We have been made holy by what God wanted. We have been made holy because Jesus Christ offered his body once and for all time.
11Day after day every priest stands and does his special duties. He offers the same sacrifices again and again. But they can never take away sins. 12Jesus our priest offered one sacrifice for sins for all time. Then he sat down at the right hand of God. 13And since that time, he waits for his enemies to be put under his control. 14By that one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
15The Holy Spirit also speaks to us about this. First he says,
16“This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts.
I will write my laws on their minds.” (Jeremiah 31:33)
17Then he adds,
“I will not remember their sins anymore.
I will not remember the evil things they have done.” (Jeremiah 31:34)
18Where these sins have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer necessary.
An Appeal and Warning to Remain Faithful
19Brothers and sisters, we are not afraid to enter the Most Holy Room. We enter boldly because of the blood of Jesus. 20His way is new because he lives. It has been opened for us through the curtain. I’m talking about his body. 21We also have a great priest over the house of God. 22So let us come near to God with a sincere heart. Let us come near boldly because of our faith. Our hearts have been sprinkled. Our minds have been cleansed from a sense of guilt. Our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23Let us hold firmly to the hope we claim to have. The God who promised is faithful. 24Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. 25And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope. Let us do this even more as you see Christ’s return approaching.
26What if we keep sinning on purpose? What if we do it even after we know the truth? Then there is no offering for our sins. 27All we can do is to wait in fear for God to judge. His blazing fire will burn up his enemies. 28Suppose someone did not obey the law of Moses. And suppose two or three witnesses made charges against them. That person would die without mercy. 29People who deserve even more punishment include those who have hated the Son of God. They include people who have said no to him. They include people who have treated as unholy the blood of the covenant that makes them holy. They also include people who have disrespected the Holy Spirit who brings God’s grace. Don’t you think people like this should be punished more than anyone else? 30We know the God who said, “I am the God who judges people. I will pay them back.” (Deuteronomy 32:35) Scripture also says, “The Lord will judge his people.” (Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 135:14) 31It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32Remember those earlier days after you received the light. You remained strong in a great battle that was full of suffering. 33Sometimes people spoke badly about you in front of others. Sometimes you were treated badly. At other times you stood side by side with people being treated like this. 34You suffered along with people in prison. When your property was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew that God had given you better and more lasting things. 35So don’t throw away your bold faith. It will bring you rich rewards.
36You need to be faithful. Then you will do what God wants. You will receive what he has promised.
37“In just a little while,
he who is coming will come.
He will not wait any longer.”
38And,
“The one who is right with God will live by faith.
And I am not pleased with
the one who pulls back.” (Habakkuk 2:3,4)
39But we don’t belong to the people who pull back and are destroyed. We belong to the people who believe and are saved.
Yesu Nsembe ya Anthu Onse
1Malamulo ndi chithunzithunzi cha zinthu zabwino zimene zikubwera, osati madalitso enieniwo. Pa chifukwa chimenechi sizingatheke konse kuti nsembe zimodzimodzi, zoperekedwa kawirikawiri, kosalekeza ndi chaka ndi chaka, kuti nʼkusandutsa angwiro amene amabwera kudzapembedza. 2Ngati zikanamatero iwowo akanasiya kupereka nsembezo. Pakuti opembedzawo akanamayeretsedwa kamodzi kokha, sibwenzi chikumbumtima chawo chikuwatsutsabe chifukwa cha machimo awo. 3Koma nsembezo zimawakumbutsa anthuwo machimo awo chaka ndi chaka. 4Chifukwa nʼkosatheka kuti magazi angʼombe yayimuna ndi mbuzi yayimuna achotse machimo.
5Nʼchifukwa chake Khristu atabwera pa dziko lapansi anati,
“Simunafune nsembe kapena zopereka,
koma thupi munandikonzera.
6Simunakondwere nazo nsembe zopsereza
ndi nsembe zopereka chifukwa cha tchimo.
7Tsono, Ine ndinati, ‘Ndili pano Ine,
Inu Mulungu, ndabwera kudzachita zimene mukufuna monga zinalembedwa mʼMalemba.’ ”
8Poyamba Iye anati, “Nsembe kapena zopereka zopsereza ndi nsembe zopereka chifukwa cha tchimo, Inu simunazifune kapena kukondwera nazo.” Ngakhale kuti Malamulo ndiye amanena kuti ziperekedwe. 9Pamenepo Iye anati, “Ndili pano Ine, ndabwera kudzachita zimene mukufuna.” Khristu anachotsa nsembe zoyamba zija kuti mʼmalo mwake ayikemo nsembe za mtundu wachiwiri. 10Chifukwa chakuti Yesu Khristu anachita zimene Mulungu anafuna kuti achite, ndife oyeretsedwa ndi nsembe ya thupi lake, limene analipereka kamodzi kokha.
11Wansembe aliyense amayimirira tsiku ndi tsiku nʼkutumikira, ndipo amapereka nsembe imodzimodzi mobwerezabwereza, nsembe zimene sizingathe kuchotsa machimo. 12Koma pamene wansembe uyu anapereka kamodzi kokha nsembe imodzi yokha chifukwa cha machimo, Iye anakhala pansi ku dzanja lamanja la Mulungu. 13Kumeneko akudikira tsono kuti Mulungu asandutse adani ake kukhala chopondapo mapazi ake. 14Chifukwa cha nsembe imodzi Iye anasandutsa angwiro kwamuyaya iwo amene akuwayeretsa.
15Mzimu Woyera nayenso akuchitira umboni za zimenezi kwa ife. Poyamba Iye anati,
16“Ili ndi pangano limene ndidzachita nawo
atapita masiku amenewo,” akutero Yehova.
“Ndidzayika malamulo anga mʼmitima mwawo,
ndipo ndidzawalemba mʼmaganizo mwawo.”
17Ndipo akutinso:
“Sindidzakumbukiranso konse
machimo awo ndi zolakwa zawo.”
18Ndipo pamene machimo akhululukidwa, sipafunikanso nsembe yoperekedwa chifukwa cha machimowo.
Kulimbika Mtima ndi Kupirira pa Chikhulupiriro
19Ndipo tsono abale, molimba mtima timalowa mʼMalo Opatulika kwambiri chifukwa cha magazi a Yesu. 20Iye anatitsekulira njira yatsopano ndi yamoyo kudutsa chinsalu chotchinga, chimene ndi thupi lake. 21Ndiponso tili ndi wansembe wamkulu woyangʼanira nyumba ya Mulungu. 22Tsono tiyeni tiyandikire kwa Mulungu ndi mtima woona ndi wodzaza ndi chikhulupiriro. Popeza mitima yathu yayeretsedwa, ndi yopanda chikumbumtima chotitsutsa, ndiponso matupi athu asambitsidwa ndi madzi woyera. 23Tiyeni tigwiritsitse mosagwedezeka zimene timaziyembekezera ndi kuzivomereza, pakuti amene anatilonjezayo ndi wokhulupirika. 24Tiziganizira mmene tingalimbikitsirane wina ndi mnzake pokondana ndi kuchita ntchito zabwino. 25Tiyeni tisaleke kusonkhana kwathu pamodzi monga mmene ena amachitira, koma tizilimbikitsana makamaka poona kuti tsiku la Ambuye layandikira.
26Ngati ife tipitirira kuchimwa mwadala pamene tikudziwa choona, palibenso nsembe ina imene ingaperekedwe chifukwa cha machimo athuwo. 27Koma kumangodikira kokha ndi mantha chiweruzo ndiponso moto woopsa umene udzawononga adani a Mulungu 28Aliyense amene amakana malamulo a Mose amaphedwa popanda nʼchifundo chomwe, malingana pali mboni ziwiri kapena zitatu. 29Koposa kotani nanga ululu wachilango chimene adzalandire munthu amene amapeputsa Mwana wa Mulungu, amene amayesa magazi a pangano, amene anamuyeretsa, kukhala chinthu chodetsedwa, ndi kunyoza Mzimu wachisomo? 30Pakuti timadziwa amene anati, “Kubwezera chilango nʼkwanga; ndidzawalanga ndine.” Iye anatinso, “Ambuye adzaweruza anthu ake.” 31Nʼchinthu choopsa kugwa mʼmanja a Mulungu wamoyo.
32Kumbukirani masiku akale aja mutangowunikiridwa chatsopano, pa nthawi imeneyi munapirira zowawa zambiri. 33Nthawi zina ankakunyozani pagulu ndi kukuzunzani. Nthawi zina munkamva zowawa pamodzi ndi amene ankasautsidwa chotere. 34Munkawamvera chisoni amene anali mʼndende ndiponso munkalola mokondwera kuti akulandeni katundu wanu chifukwa munkadziwa kuti muli nacho chuma choposa ndi chosatha.
35Tsono musataye kulimbika mtima kwanuko pakuti mudzalandira nako mphotho yayikulu. 36Nʼkofunika kuti mupirire kuti pamene muchita chifuniro cha Mulungu mudzalandire zimene Iye analonjeza. 37Pakuti nʼkanthawi kochepa chabe,
Iye amene akubwera adzabwera ndipo sadzachedwa ayi.
38Koma wolungama wangayo adzakhala ndi moyo mwachikhulupiriro.
Ndipo ngati iye abwerera mʼmbuyo chifukwa cha mantha,
Ine sindidzakondwera naye.
39Koma ife sindife amodzi a iwo obwerera mʼmbuyo mwa mantha ndi owonongedwa, koma ndife amodzi a amene akukhulupirira ndi wopulumutsidwa.
