The Earthly Tabernacle (Exodus 40:1–33; Acts 7:44–47)
1 CPDV Certainly, the former also had the justifications of worship and a holy place for that age. BSB BSB: Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
2 CPDV For a tabernacle was made at first, in which were the lampstand, and the table, and the bread of the Presence, which is called Holy. BSB BSB: A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.
3 CPDV Then, beyond the second veil, was the tabernacle, which is called the Holy of Holies, BSB BSB: Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
4 CPDV having a golden censer, and the ark of the testament, covered all around and on every part with gold, in which was a golden urn containing manna, and the rod of Aaron which had blossomed, and the tablets of the testament. BSB BSB: containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
5 CPDV And over the ark were the Cherubim of glory, overshadowing the propitiatory. There is not enough time to speak about each of these things. BSB BSB: Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6 CPDV Yet truly, once such things were placed together, in the first part of the tabernacle, the priests were, indeed, continually entering, so as to carry out the duties of the sacrifices. BSB BSB: When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.
7 CPDV But into the second part, once a year, the high priest alone entered, not without blood, which he offered on behalf of the neglectful offenses of himself and of the people. BSB BSB: But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
8 CPDV In this way, the Holy Spirit is signifying that the way to what is most holy was not yet made manifest, not while the first tabernacle was still standing. BSB BSB: By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.
9 CPDV And this is a parable for the present time. Accordingly, those gifts and sacrifices that are offered are not able, as concerns the conscience, to make perfect those things that serve only as food and drink, BSB BSB: It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.
10 CPDV as well as the various washings and justices of the flesh, which were imposed upon them until the time of correction. BSB BSB: They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.
Redemption through His Blood 11 CPDV But Christ, standing as the High Priest of future good things, through a greater and more perfect tabernacle, one not made by hand, that is, not of this creation, BSB BSB: But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation.
12 CPDV entered once into the Holy of Holies, having obtained eternal redemption, neither by the blood of goats, nor of calves, but by his own blood. BSB BSB: He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.
13 CPDV For if the blood of goats and oxen, and the ashes of a calf, when these are sprinkled, sanctify those who have been defiled, in order to cleanse the flesh, BSB BSB: For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean,
14 CPDV how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the Holy Spirit has offered himself, immaculate, to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, in order to serve the living God? BSB BSB: how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!
15 CPDV And thus he is the Mediator of the new testament, so that, by his death, he intercedes for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former testament, so that those who have been called may receive the promise of an eternal inheritance. BSB BSB: Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
16 CPDV For where there is a testament, it is necessary for the death of the one who testifies to intervene. BSB BSB: In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,
17 CPDV For a testament is confirmed by death. Otherwise, it as yet has no force, as long as the one who testifies lives. BSB BSB: because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive.
18 CPDV Therefore, indeed, the first was not dedicated without blood. BSB BSB: That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
19 CPDV For when every commandment of the law had been read by Moses to the entire people, he took up the blood of calves and goats, with water and with scarlet wool and hyssop, and he sprinkled both the book itself and the entire people, BSB BSB: For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people,
20 CPDV saying: “This is the blood of the testament which God has commanded for you.” BSB BSB: saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”
21 CPDV And even the tabernacle, and all the vessels for the ministry, he similarly sprinkled with blood. BSB BSB: In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.
22 CPDV And nearly everything, according to the law, is to be cleansed with blood. And without the shedding of blood, there is no remission. BSB BSB: According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 CPDV Therefore, it is necessary for the examples of heavenly things to be cleansed, just as, indeed, these things were. Yet the heavenly things are themselves better sacrifices than these. BSB BSB: So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
25 CPDV And he did not enter so as to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters into the Holy of Holies each year, with the blood of another. BSB BSB: Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.
26 CPDV Otherwise, he would need to have suffered repeatedly since the beginning of the world. But now, one time, at the consummation of the ages, he has appeared in order to destroy sin though his own sacrifice. BSB BSB: Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.