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.
24. Christ did not enter a sacred tent made by people. That tent was only a copy of the true one. He entered heaven itself. He did it to stand in front of God for us. He is there right now.
25. The high priest enters the Most Holy Room every year. He enters with blood that is not his own. But Christ did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again.
26. If he had, he would have had to suffer many times since the world was created. But now he has appeared once and for all time. He has come at the end of the ages to do away with sin. He has done that by offering himself.
27. People have to die once. After that, God will judge them.