8. The Holy Spirit used this to show that the way into the most holy place was not open while the tent was still in use.
9. The first part of the tent is an example for the present time. The gifts and sacrifices that were brought there could not give the worshiper a clear conscience.
10. These gifts and sacrifices were meant to be food, drink, and items used in various purification ceremonies. These ceremonies were required for the body until God would establish a new way of doing things.
11. But Christ came as a chief priest of the good things that are now here. Christ went through a better, more perfect tent that was not made by human hands and that is not part of this created world.
12. He used his own blood, not the blood of goats and bulls, for the sacrifice. He went into the most holy place and offered this sacrifice once and for all to free us forever.
13. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of cows sprinkled on unclean people made their bodies holy and clean.
14. The blood of Christ, who had no defect, does even more. Through the eternal Spirit he offered himself to God and cleansed our consciences from the useless things we had done. Now we can serve the living God.
15. Because Christ offered himself to God, he is able to bring a new promise from God. Through his death he paid the price to set people free from the sins they committed under the first promise. He did this so that those who are called can be guaranteed an inheritance that will last forever.
16. In order for a will to take effect, it must be shown that the one who made it has died.
17. A will is used only after a person is dead because it goes into effect only when a person dies.
18. That is why even the first promise was made with blood.
19. As Scripture tells us, Moses told all the people every commandment. Then he took the blood of calves and goats together with some water, red yarn, and hyssop and sprinkled the scroll and all the people.
20. He said, “Here is the blood that seals the promise God has made to you.”
21. In the same way, Moses sprinkled blood on the tent and on everything used in worship.