Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,9:11 Some early manuscripts are to come he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining9:12 Or blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,9:14 Or from useless rituals so that we may serve the living God!
15For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16In the case of a will,9:16 Same Greek word as covenant; also in verse 17 it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”9:20 Exodus 24:8 21In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Ibada Katika Hema La Kidunia
19:1 Kut 25:8Basi agano lile la kwanza lilikuwa na kanuni zake za kuabudu na pia patakatifu pake pa kidunia. 29:2 Kut 26:1; 26:35; 40:4; 25:31; 25:23; Law 24:5Hema ilitengenezwa. Katika sehemu yake ya kwanza kulikuwa na kinara cha taa, meza na mikate iliyowekwa wakfu; hii sehemu iliitwa Mahali Patakatifu. 39:3 Kut 26:31, 33; 40:3, 21; Ebr 6:19Nyuma ya pazia la pili, palikuwa na sehemu iliyoitwa Patakatifu pa Patakatifu, 49:4 Kut 30:1-5; 25:10-22; 16:32, 33; Hes 17:10; Kut 31:18; 32:15ambapo palikuwa na yale madhabahu ya dhahabu ya kufukizia uvumba, na lile Sanduku la Agano lililofunikwa kwa dhahabu. Sanduku hili lilikuwa na gudulia la dhahabu lenye mana, ile fimbo ya Aroni iliyochipuka, na vile vibao vya mawe vya Agano. 59:5 Kut 25:17-19; 25:20-22; 26:34Juu ya lile Sanduku kulikuwa na makerubi ya Utukufu yakitilia kivuli kile kifuniko ambacho ndicho kiti cha rehema. Lakini hatuwezi kueleza vitu hivi kwa undani sasa.
69:6 Hes 28:3Basi vitu hivi vilipokuwa vimepangwa, makuhani waliingia daima katika sehemu ya kwanza ya hema ili kufanya taratibu zao za ibada. 79:7 Law 16:11-19; Ebr 9:2, 3; Law 16:34Lakini ni kuhani mkuu peke yake aliyeingia ndani ya sehemu ya pili ya hema. Tena hii ilikuwa mara moja tu kwa mwaka, na hakuingia kamwe bila damu, ambayo alitoa kwa ajili yake mwenyewe na kwa ajili ya dhambi za watu walizotenda bila kukusudia. 89:8 Ebr 3:7; Yn 14:6; Ebr 10:19, 20Kwa njia hii, Roho Mtakatifu alikuwa anaonyesha kwamba, maadamu ile hema ya kwanza ilikuwa bado imesimama, njia ya kuingia Patakatifu pa Patakafifu ilikuwa bado haijafunguliwa. 99:9 Ebr 10:1; 5:1; 8:3; 7:19Huu ulikuwa mfano kwa ajili ya wakati wa sasa, kuonyesha kwamba sadaka na dhabihu zilizokuwa zikitolewa hazikuweza kusafisha dhamiri ya mtu anayeabudu. 109:10 Law 11:2-23; Hes 6:3; Kol 2:16; Law 11:25, 28, 40; Ebr 7:16Lakini hizi zilishughulika tu na vyakula na vinywaji, pamoja na taratibu mbalimbali za kunawa kwa nje, kanuni kwa ajili ya mwili zilizowekwa hadi wakati utimie wa matengenezo mapya.
Damu Ya Kristo
119:11 Ebr 2:17; 10:1; 9:24; 8:2; Yn 2:19Kristo alipokuja akiwa Kuhani Mkuu wa mambo mema ambayo tayari yameshawasili, alipitia kwenye hema iliyo kuu zaidi na bora zaidi, ambayo haikutengenezwa kwa mikono ya binadamu, hii ni kusema, ambayo si sehemu ya uumbaji huu. 129:12 Ebr 9:19; Law 16:6, 15; Ebr 10:4; 9:24, 26, 28; Rum 3:25Hakuingia kwa njia ya damu ya mbuzi na ya ndama; lakini aliingia Patakatifu pa Patakatifu mara moja tu kwa damu yake mwenyewe, akiisha kupata ukombozi wa milele. 139:13 Ebr 10:4; Hes 19:9, 17, 18Damu ya mbuzi na ya mafahali, na majivu ya mitamba walivyonyunyiziwa wale waliokuwa najisi kwa taratibu za kiibada viliwatakasa, hata kuwaondolea uchafu wa nje. 149:14 1Pet 3:18; Efe 5:2; Za 51:2; 65:3; Yer 33:8; Zek 13:1; Tit 2:14; Mt 16:16Basi ni zaidi aje damu ya Kristo, ambaye kwa Roho wa milele alijitoa nafsi yake kwa Mungu kuwa sadaka isiyo na waa, itatusafisha dhamiri zetu kutokana na matendo yaletayo mauti, ili tupate kumtumikia Mungu aliye hai!
159:15 Gal 3:20; Lk 22:20; Rum 8:28; 11:29; Ebr 6:15; 7:22; Mdo 20:32Kwa sababu hii Kristo ni mpatanishi wa agano jipya, ili kwamba wale walioitwa waweze kupokea ile ahadi ya urithi wa milele: kwa vile yeye alikufa awe ukombozi wao kutoka kwa dhambi walizozitenda chini ya agano la kwanza.
16Kwa habari ya wosia,9:16 Wosia hapa kwa neno la Kiyunani ni agano. ni muhimu kuthibitisha kifo cha yule aliyeutoa, 179:17 Gal 3:15kwa sababu wosia huwa na nguvu tu wakati mtu ameshakufa; kamwe hauwezi kutumika wakati yule aliyeuandika bado yuko hai. 189:18 Kut 24:6-8Hii ndiyo sababu hata lile agano la kwanza halikuweza kutekelezwa pasipo damu. 199:19 Kut 24:5, 6, 8; Law 16:14, 15, 18; 14:4, 6, 7, 49, 51, 52Mose alipotangaza kila amri kwa watu wote, alichukua damu ya ndama na ya mbuzi, pamoja na maji, sufu nyekundu na matawi ya mti wa hisopo, akanyunyizia kile kitabu na watu wote. 209:20 Kut 24:8; Mt 26; 28Alisema, “Hii ndiyo damu ya agano, ambalo Mungu amewaamuru kulitii.” 219:21 Kut 29:12, 36; Law 8:15, 19; 16:1, 15, 16, 18, 19Vivyo hivyo alinyunyizia damu hiyo kwenye ile hema pamoja na kila kifaa kilichotumika ndani yake kwa taratibu za ibada. 229:22 Law 17:11; Kut 29:21; Law 8:15Kwa kweli sheria hudai kwamba, karibu kila kitu kitakaswe kwa damu, wala pasipo kumwaga damu, hakuna msamaha wa dhambi.
239:23 Ebr 8:5Kwa hiyo, ilikuwa muhimu kwa nakala za vitu vile vya mbinguni vitakaswe kwa dhabihu hizi, lakini vitu halisi vya mbinguni vilihitaji dhabihu bora kuliko hizi. 249:24 Ebr 6:20; 8:2; Rum 8:34; Ebr 7:25; 1Yn 2:1Kwa maana Kristo hakuingia kwenye patakatifu palipofanywa kwa mikono ya mwanadamu, ambao ni mfano wa kile kilicho halisi. Yeye aliingia mbinguni penyewe, ili sasa aonekane mbele za Mungu kwa ajili yetu. 259:25 Ebr 9:7; 10:19Wala hakuingia mbinguni ili apate kujitoa mwenyewe mara kwa mara, kama vile kuhani mkuu aingiavyo Patakatifu pa Patakatifu kila mwaka kwa damu ambayo si yake mwenyewe. 269:26 Ebr 9:12; 7:27; 10:10; 1Pet 3:18; 1Kor 10:11; Gal 4:4; Efe 1:10Ingekuwa hivyo, ingempasa Kristo kuteswa mara nyingi tangu kuumbwa kwa ulimwengu. Lakini sasa ametokea mara moja tu katika mwisho wa nyakati aiondoe dhambi kwa kujitoa mwenyewe kuwa dhabihu. 279:27 Mwa 3:19; Mhu 3:20; 2Kor 5:10; Ufu 20:12, 13Kama vile mwanadamu alivyowekewa kufa mara moja tu na baada ya kufa akabili hukumu, 289:28 Rum 6:10; 1Pet 3:18; 2:24; 1Yn 3:5; Mt 26:28; Rum 5:15; Tit 2:13vivyo hivyo Kristo alitolewa mara moja tu kuwa dhabihu ili azichukue dhambi za watu wengi. Naye atakuja mara ya pili, sio kuchukua dhambi, bali kuwaletea wokovu wale wanaomngoja kwa shauku.
