16. What happens in the case of a will? It is necessary to prove that the person who made the will has died.
17. A will is in effect only when somebody has died. It never takes effect while the one who made it is still living.
18. That's why even the first covenant was not put into effect without the spilling of blood.
19. Moses first announced every commandment of the law to all the people. Then he took the blood of calves. He also took water, bright red wool and branches of a hyssop plant. He sprinkled the scroll. He also sprinkled all of the people.
20. He said, "This is the blood of the covenant God has commanded you to keep." (Exodus 24:8)
21. In the same way, he sprinkled the holy tent with blood. He also sprinkled everything that was used in worship there.
22. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be made clean with blood. Without the spilling of blood, no one can be forgiven.
23. So the copies of the heavenly things had to be made pure with those sacrifices. But the heavenly things themselves had to be made pure with better sacrifices.