The Earthly Tabernacle (Exodus 40:1–33; Acts 7:44–47)
1 UEB Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. BSB BSB: Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
2 UEB For a tabernacle was prepared. The first room, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of the presence, was called the holy place. 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 UEB Behind the second curtain was another room, called the most holy place. BSB BSB: Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
4 UEB It had a golden altar for incense. It also had the ark of the covenant, which was completely overlaid with gold. Inside it was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 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 UEB Above the ark of the covenant, glorious cherubim overshadowed the atonement lid, which we cannot now talk about in detail. BSB BSB: Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6 UEB After these things were prepared, the priests always entered the outer room of the tabernacle to perform their services. BSB BSB: When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.
7 UEB But only the high priest entered the second room once each year, and not without blood that he offered for himself and for the people's unintentional sins. 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 UEB The Holy Spirit showed that the way into the most holy place had not yet appeared as long as 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 UEB This was an illustration for the present time. Both the gifts and sacrifices that are now being offered are not able to perfect the worshiper's conscience. 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 UEB They are only concerned with food and drink and various ceremonial washings, regulations for the body until the time of the new order. 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 UEB Christ came as a high priest of the good things that have come. He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that was not made by human hands, one not belonging to this created world. 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 UEB It was not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood that he entered into the most holy place once for all and secured our eternal redemption. 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 UEB For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes on those who have become unclean sets them apart to God for the cleansing of their 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 UEB how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our conscience from dead works 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 UEB For this reason, he is the mediator of a new covenant. This is so that, since a death has taken place to free those under the first covenant from their sins, those who are called will 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 UEB For where there is a will, the death of the person who made it must be proven. BSB BSB: In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,
17 UEB For a will is only in force when there has been a death, because it has no force while the one who made it is still alive. 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 UEB So not even the first covenant was established without blood. BSB BSB: That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.
19 UEB For when Moses had given every command in the law to all the people, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water, red wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the scroll itself and all the 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 UEB Then he said, "This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded for you." BSB BSB: saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”
21 UEB In the same manner, he sprinkled the blood on the tabernacle and all the containers used in the service. BSB BSB: In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.
22 UEB According to the law, almost everything is cleansed with blood. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 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 UEB Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in heaven should be cleansed with these animal sacrifices. However, the heavenly things themselves had to be cleansed with much better sacrifices. 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 UEB He did not go there in order to offer himself many times, as does the high priest, who enters the most holy place year by 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 UEB If that had been the case, then he would have had to suffer many times since the beginning of the world. But now he has appeared at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 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.