Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today we conclude the epistle of St.
Paul to the Hebrews, reading chapters 9 through
13. Chapter 9 Then indeed, even the first covenant
had ordinances of divine service and an earthly
sanctuary. For a tabernacle was prepared, the
first part in which was the lampstand, the table,
and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary.
And behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle
which is called the holiest of all, which had
the golden censer and the ark of the covenant
overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were
the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod
that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
And above it were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing
the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now
speak in detail. now when these things had been
thus prepared the priests always went into the
first part of the tabernacle performing the services
but into the second part the high priest went
alone once a year not without blood which he
offered for himself and for the people's sins
committed in ignorance the holy spirit indicating
this that the way into the holiest of all was
not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle
was still standing it was symbolic for the present
time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered,
which cannot make him who performed the service
perfect in regard to the conscience, concerned
only with foods and drinks, various washings
and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time
of reformation. But Christ came as High Priest
of the good things to come, with the greater
and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands,
that is, not of this creation, not with the blood
of goats and calves, But with his own blood he
entered the most holy place once for all, having
obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood
of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer
sprinkling the unclean sanctifies for the purifying
of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of
Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered
himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God? And
for this reason he is the mediator of the new
covenant. by means of death, for the redemption
of the transgressions under the first covenant,
that those who are called may receive the promise
of the eternal inheritance. For where there is
a testament, there must also of necessity be
the death of the testator. For a testament is
in force after men are dead, since it has no
power at all while the testator lives. Therefore,
not even the first covenant was dedicated without
blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept
to all the people according to the law, he took
the blood of calves and goats with water, scarlet
wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book
itself and all the people, saying, This is the
blood of the covenant which God has commanded
you. Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both
the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.
And according to the law, almost all things are
purified with blood, and without shedding of
blood there is no remission. Therefore it was
necessary that the copies of the things in the
heavens should be purified with these, but the
heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these. For Christ has not entered the holy
places made with hands, which are copies of the
true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in
the presence of God for us. Not that he should
offer himself often, as the high priest enters
the most holy place every year with blood of
another. He then would have had to suffer often
since the foundation of the world. But now, once
at the end of the ages, he has appeared to put
away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as
it is appointed for men to die once, but after
this the judgment, so Christ was offered once
to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly
wait for him, he will appear a second time, apart
from sin, for salvation. for the law having a
shadow of the good things to come and not the
very image of the things can never with these
same sacrifices which they offer continually
year by year make those who approach perfect
for then would they not have ceased to be offered
for the worshippers once purified would have
had no more consciousness of sins but in those
sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every
year for it is not possible that the blood of
bulls and goats could take away sins therefore
when he came into the world he said sacrifice
and offering you did not desire but a body you
have prepared for me in burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin you had no pleasure then i said behold
i have come in the volume of the book it is written
of me to do your will o god previously saying
sacrifice and offering burnt offerings and offerings
for sin you did not desire nor had pleasure in
them which are offered according to the law then
he said behold i have come to do your will o
god he takes away the first that he may establish
the second by that will we have been sanctified
through the offering of the body of jesus christ
once for all and every priest stands ministering
daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices
which can never take away sins but this man after
he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever
sat down at the right hand of god from that time
waiting till his enemies are made his footstool
for by one offering he has perfected for ever
those who are being sanctified but the holy spirit
also witnesses to us for after he had said before
This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord. I will put my
laws into their hearts, and in their minds I
will write them. Then he adds, Their sins and
their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
Now, where there is remission of these, there
is no longer an offering for sin. Therefore,
brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest
by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way
which he consecrated for us, through the veil
that is his flesh. And having a high priest over
the house of God, let us draw near with a true
heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and
our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold
fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider
one another in order to stir up love and good
works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the manner of some. but exhorting
one another, and so much the more as you see
the day approaching. For if we sin willfully
after we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
but a certain fearful expectation of judgment
and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without
mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Of how much worse punishment do you suppose will
he be thought worthy who has trampled the son
of god under foot counted the blood of the covenant
by which he was sanctified a common thing and
insulted the spirit of grace for we know him
who said vengeance is mine i will repay says
the lord and again the lord will judge his people
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the living God. But recall the former days
in which after you were illuminated, you endured
a great struggle with sufferings, partially while
you were made a spectacle, both by reproaches
and tribulations, and partially while you became
companions of those who were so treated. For
you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully
accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing
that you have a better and an enduring possession
for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast
away your confidence, which has great reward.
For you have need of endurance, so that after
you have done the will of God, you may receive
the promise. For yet a little while, and he who
is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the
just shall live by faith. But if anyone draws
back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we
are not of those who draw back to perdition,
but of those who believe to the saving of the
soul. Chapter 11 Now faith is the substance of
things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed
by the word of God, so that the things which
are seen were not made of things which are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, God testifying
of his gifts. And through it he being dead still
speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that
he did not see death, and was not found because
God had taken him. For before he was taken he
had this testimony that he pleased God. But without
faith it is impossible to please him. For he
who comes to God must believe that he is, and
that he is a rewarder of those who diligently
seek him. By faith Noah, being divinely warned
of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear,
prepared an ark for the saving of his household,
by which he condemned the world and became heir
of the righteousness which is according to faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to
go out to the place which he would receive as
an inheritance, and he went out not knowing where
he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of
promise as in a foreign country. dwelling in
tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him
of the same promise. For he waited for the city
which has foundations, whose builder and maker
is God. By faith Sarah herself also received
strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child
when she was past age, because she judged him
faithful. who had promised. Therefore from one
man and him as good as dead were born as many
as the stars of the sky in multitude, innumerable
as the sand which is by the seashore. These all
died in faith, not having received the promises,
but having seen them afar off, were assured of
them. embraced them and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth for those
who say such things declare plainly that they
seek a homeland and truly if they had called
to mind that country from which they had come
out they would have had opportunity to return
but now they desire a better that is a heavenly
country therefore god is not ashamed to be called
their god for he has prepared a city for them
by faith abraham when he was tested offered up
Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered
up his only begotten son, of whom it was said,
In Isaac your seed shall be called, concluding
that God was able to raise him up even from the
dead, from which he also received him in a figurative
sense. By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau
concerning things to come. By faith, Jacob, when
he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph
and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.
By faith, Joseph, when he was dying, made mention
of the departure of the children of Israel and
gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith,
Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months
by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful
child and they were not afraid of the king's
command. By faith, Moses, when he became of age,
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
choosing rather to suffer affliction with the
people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures
of sin. esteeming the reproach of christ greater
riches than the treasures in egypt for he looked
to the reward by faith he forsook egypt not fearing
the wrath of the king for he endured as seeing
him who is invisible by faith he kept the passover
and the sprinkling of blood lest he who destroyed
the first -born should touch them by faith they
passed through the red sea as by dry land whereas
the egyptians attempting to do so were drowned
By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down after
they were encircled for seven days. By faith,
the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who
did not believe when she had received the spies
with peace. And what more shall I say? For the
time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak
and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel
and the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms,
worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped
the mouths of lions. quenched the violence of
fire, escaped the edge of the sword. Out of weakness
were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned
to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received
their dead, raised to life again. Others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they
might obtain a better resurrection. Still others
had trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, end
of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned,
they were sawn in two, were tempted. Chapter
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded
by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay
aside every weight and the sin which so easily
ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the
race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith, who for
the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God. For consider
him who endured such hostility from sinners against
himself, lest you become weary and discouraged
in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed,
striving against sin, and you have forgotten
the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons.
My son, do not despise the chastening of the
Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked
by him. For whom the Lord loves, he chastens,
and scourges every son whom he receives. if you
endure chastening god deals with you as with
sons for what son is there whom a father does
not chasten but if you are without chastening
of which all have become partakers then you are
illegitimate and not sons furthermore we have
had human fathers who corrected us and we paid
them respect shall we not much more readily be
in subjection to the father of spirits and live
for they indeed for a few days chastened us as
seemed best to them but he for our profit that
we may be partakers of his holiness now no chastening
seems to be joyful for the present but painful
nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable
fruit of righteousness to those who have been
trained by it therefore strengthen the hands
which hang down and the feeble knees and make
straight paths for your feet so that what is
lame may not be dislocated but rather be healed
pursue peace with all people and holiness, without
which no one will see the Lord, looking carefully
lest anyone fall short of the grace of God, lest
any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble.
And by this many become defiled, lest there be
any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who
for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For
you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit
the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no
place for repentance, though he sought it diligently
with tears. For you have not come to the mountain
that you may be touched, and that burned with
fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest.
and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words,
so that those who heard it begged that the word
should not be spoken to them any more, for they
could not endure what was commanded. And if so
much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall
be stoned or shot with an arrow. And so terrifying
was the sight that Moses said, I am exceedingly
afraid and trembling. But you have come to Mount
Zion, and to the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company
of angels, to the general assembly and church
of the firstborn, who are registered in heaven,
to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just
men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of the
new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling
that speaks better things than that of Abel.
see that you do not refuse him who speaks for
if they did not escape who refused him who spoke
on earth much more shall we not escape if we
turn away from him who speaks from heaven whose
voice then shook the earth but now he has promised
saying yet once more i shake not only the earth
but also heaven now this yet once more Chapter
13 Let Brotherly Love Continue do not forget
to entertain strangers for by so doing some have
unwittingly entertained angels remember the prisoners
as if chained with them those who are mistreated
since you yourselves are in the body also marriage
is honourable among all and the bed undefiled
but fornicators and adulterers god will judge
let your conduct be without covetousness be content
with such things as you have for he himself has
said i will never leave you nor forsake you So
we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will
not fear. What can man do to me? Remember those
who rule over you, who have spoken the word of
God to you, whose faith follow, considering the
outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be
carried about with various and strange doctrines,
for it is good that the heart be established
by grace, not with foods which have not profited
those who have been occupied with them. We have
an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle
have no right to eat. For the bodies of those
animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary
by the high priest for sin are burned outside
the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that he might
sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered
outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to
him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For
here we have no continuing city, but we seek
the one to come. Therefore, by him let us continually
offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is,
the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name.
But do not forget to do good and to share, for
with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey
those who rule over you, and be submissive, for
they watch out for your souls, as those who must
give account. Let them do so with joy and not
with grief, for that would be unprofitable for
you. Pray for us, for we are confident that we
have a good conscience in all things desiring
to live honorably. But I especially urge you
to do this, that I may be restored to you the
sooner. Now may the God of peace, who brought
up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd
of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant, make you complete in every good work
to do his will. working in you what is well -pleasing
in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be
glory forever and ever. Amen. And I appeal to
you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation,
for I have written to you in few words. Know
that our brother Timothy has been set free, with
whom I shall see you if he comes shortly. Greet
all those who rule over you and all the saints.
Those from Italy greet you. Grace be with you
all. Amen. I hope you enjoyed today's reading
as much as I did and I look forward to seeing
you again tomorrow to continue on our journey.
God bless you and have a great day.