In its shariah, the Taurat contains a shadow of good things to come, not the reality of those things. The shariah can never with the same sacrifices offered continually year after year, make perfect those who draw near. 2Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins? 3But in those sacrifices there is an annual reminder of sins. 4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats can take away sins. 5Therefore when he comes into the world, he says,
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
But a body you prepared for me;
6In burnt offerings and sin offerings you had no pleasure.
7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come–
In the scroll of Al-Kitab it is written of me–
To do your will, O God.‘”[1]
8First he says, “Sacrifice and offering, and burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, neither had pleasure in them“ (those which are offered in accordance with the shariah). 9Then he says, “Behold, I have come to do your will.“ He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, 10by which “will” we have been cleansed through the offering of the body of ‘Isa al-Masih once for all. 11Every priest indeed stands day after day ministering and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, 12but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of Allah. 13From that time, he waits until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. 14For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being made holy. 15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us. First he says,
16“This is the covenant that I will make with them
After those days, says Allah,
I will put my Taurat on their hearts,
I will also write it on their minds;“[2]
then he says,
17“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.“[3]
18Now where these are forgiven, there is no more offering for sin. 19Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of ‘Isa, 20by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21and having a great priest over the house of Allah, 22let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from a guilty conscience, and having our body washed with pure water, 23let us hold fast the confession of our hope unyieldingly. For he who promised is faithful.
24Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, 25not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but encouraging one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching. 26For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no other sacrifice for sins, 27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries. 28A man who disregards the shariah of Musa dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. 29How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot Ibn Allah , and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was cleansed an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine,“ says the Lord, “I will repay.“[4] Again, “Allah will judge his people.“[5] 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings; 33partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so. 34For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens. 35Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36For you need patience so that, having done the will of Allah, you may receive the promise.
37“In a very little while,
He will surely come, and will not wait.
38But the righteous will live by faith.
If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.“[6]
39But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.
[1] 10:5-7 Quoting the Zabur 40:6-8.
[2] 10:16 Quoting the Taurat, Armiya 31:33.
[3] 10:17 Quoting the Taurat, Armiya 31:34.
[4] 10:30 Quoting the Taurat, Deuteronomy 32:35.
[5] 10:30 Quoting the Zabur 135:14.
[6] 10:37-38 See the Taurat, Habakkuk 2:3-4.