3:1Behold,
I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Sovereign,
whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the
covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes, says Yahweh-Tzva'ot. 3:2But who can abide the day of his coming? And
who shall stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire, and like
fuller's soap: 3:3and he will sit as
a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and
refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer to Yahweh offerings in righteousness.
3:4Then shall the offering of
Yahudah and Yerushalayim be pleasant to Yahweh, as in the days of old, and as
in ancient years.
3:5I
will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the
sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the perjurers, and against
those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and
who turn aside the sojourner from his right, and don't fear me, says
Yahweh-Tzva'ot. 3:6For I, Yahweh,
don't change; therefore you, sons of Ya`akov, are not consumed. 3:7From the days of your fathers you have
turned aside from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I
will return to you, says Yahweh-Tzva'ot. But you say, Wherein shall we return? 3:8Will a man rob the Mighty One? Yet you
rob me. But you say, Wherein have we robbed you? In tithes and offerings. 3:9You are cursed with the curse; for you rob
me, even this whole nation. 3:10Bring
the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house, and prove
me now herewith, says Yahweh-Tzva'ot, if I will not open you the windows of
Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to
receive it. 3:11I will rebuke the
devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground;
neither shall your vine cast its fruit before the time in the field, says
Yahweh-Tzva'ot. 3:12All nations
shall call you happy; for you shall be a delightful land, says Yahweh-Tzva'ot.
3:13Your
words have been stout against me, says Yahweh. Yet you say, What have we spoken
against you? 3:14You have said, It
is vain to serve the Mighty One; and what profit is it that we have kept his
charge, and that we have walked mournfully before Yahweh-Tzva'ot? 3:15Now we call the proud happy; yes, those who
work wickedness are built up; yes, they tempt the Mighty One, and escape. 3:16Then those who feared Yahweh spoke one with
another; and Yahweh listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before
him, for those who feared Yahweh, and that thought on his name. 3:17They shall be my, says Yahweh-Tzva'ot, even
my own possession, in the day that I make; and I will spare them, as a man
spares his own son who serves him. 3:18Then
shall you return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him
who serves the Mighty One and him who doesn't serve him.
4:1For,
behold, the day comes, it burns as a furnace; and all the proud, and all who
work wickedness, shall be stubble; and the day that comes shall burn them up,
says Yahweh-Tzva'ot, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. 4:2But to you who fear my name shall the sun of
righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and you shall go forth, and
gambol as calves of the stall. 4:3You
shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your
feet in the day that I make, says Yahweh-Tzva'ot. 4:4Remember
you the law of Moshe my servant, which I commanded to him in Chorev for all
Yisra'el, even statutes and ordinances. 4:5Behold,
I will send you Eliyah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh
comes. 4:6He shall turn the heart of
the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers;
lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.
It is evident from 3:8-9 that Yisraelites who do not fully and faithfully tithe to Yahweh are in reality ROBBING Yahweh. The tithe belongs to Yahweh, and must be given to the person Yahweh commands that it be given to.
Yahweh Blesses Those Who Faithfully Tithe To Him
3:10-12 shows that Yahweh indeed blesses those who faithfully tithe to him, by returning to him a tenth of what he gives one. He blesses them by ensuring that all of their needs are adequately catered for. He even blesses them by giving them more than their needs.
In assuring the children of Yisrael that he will bless them when they tithe to him Yahweh is simply repeating what he told them in Deuteronomy 26:15. Nevertheless, in Deuteronomy 26:15 he spoke similar words in the context of the tithe of the third year, promising to provide them with their needs. It therefore appears to be a law or principle of Yahweh that when he is fully and faithfully obeyed in the matter of tithing, he indeed blesses the ones who so fully and faithfully obey him. He gives them not only enough for their sustenance, but even more than they need for their sustenance.
How Yahweh's Blessing Reaches His Faithful Children
3:11 shows HOW Yahweh ensures that the blessing he has apportioned to his faithful children reaches them. He does this by rebuking the devourer to prevent the devourer from so preventing this blessing reaching Yahweh's faithful children. It should therefore be evident that the devourer is busy at work to thwart Yahweh's blessings for his children reaching them, doing all in his power to deny them Yahweh's blessings.
Tithing In Yisrael To Remain Applicable At The Time
Just Prior To The Messiah's Return
It should also be noted that the context of Malachi 3 and 4 is the time of the end, the time just prior to the coming of the messenger of the covenant, Yah'shuah the Messiah, coming in power and glory. It should therefore be evident that Yahweh's commands to the children of Yisrael with respect to tithing remain applicable to them at this time just prior to the coming of Yah'shuah the Messiah in power and glory. This is the time when Yahweh sends Eliyah the prophet to turn the hearts of the children of Yisrael to Yahweh their Father, and the hearts of Yahweh and Yah'shuah to the children of Yisrael. It is also, as 4:4 shows, a time when the children of Yisrael should REMEMBER the Torah of Moshe, Yahweh's servant, commanded to him for all Yisrael at Chorev. It should therefore be evident that the Torah of Moshe remains applicable to all the children of Yisrael, even at the time just before Yahweh sends Yah'shuah the Messiah to come in power and glory.
Administration Of Tithing In Yahudah After Return
From Captivity
10:34We
cast lots, the Kohanim, the Levites, and the people, for the wood-offering, to
bring it into the house of our Mighty One, according to our fathers' houses, at
times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of Yahweh our Mighty One,
as it is written in the law; 10:35and
to bring the first-fruits of our ground, and the first-fruits of all fruit of
all manner of trees, year by year, to the house of Yahweh; 10:36also the firstborn of our sons, and of our
cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our
flocks, to bring to the house of our Mighty One, to the Kohanim who minister in
the house of our Mighty One; 10:37and
that we should bring the first-fruits of our dough, and our heave-offerings,
and the fruit of all manner of trees, the new wine and the oil, to the Kohanim,
to the chambers of the house of our Mighty One; and the tithes of our ground to
the Levites; for they, the Levites, take the tithes in all the cities of our
tillage. 10:38The Kohen the son of
Aharon shall be with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites
shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our Mighty One, to the
chambers, into the treasure-house. 10:39For
the children of Yisra'el and the children of Levi shall bring the
heave-offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the chambers,
where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the Kohanim who minister, and the
porters, and the singers: and we will not forsake the house of our Mighty One.
10:37-38 demonstrates how the law of tithing was administered in the
Administration Of Tithing In Yahudah By Nechemyah
13:12Then
brought all Yahudah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the
treasuries. 13:13I made treasurers
over the treasuries, Shelemyahu the Kohen, and Tzadok the Sofer, and of the
Levites, Pedayahu: and next to them was Chanan the son of Zakkur, the son of
Mattanyah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute
to their brothers. 13:14Remember me,
my Mighty One, concerning this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I have
done for the house of my Mighty One, and for the observances of it.
Additional examples of how the law of tithing was administered in the
Administration Of Tithing In Yahudah By Chizkiyahu
31:1Now
when all this was finished, all Yisra'el who were present went out to the
cities of Yahudah, and broke in pieces the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim,
and broke down the high places and the altars out of all Yahudah and Binyamin,
in Efrayim also and Menashshe, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the
children of Yisra'el returned, every man to his possession, into their own
cities. 31:2Chizkiyahu appointed the
courses of the Kohanim and the Levites after their courses, every man according
to his service, both the Kohanim and the Levites, for burnt offerings and for
peace-offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of
the camp of Yahweh. 31:3He appointed
also the king's portion of his substance for the burnt-offerings, to wit, for
the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the
Shabbatot, and for the new moons, and for the set feasts, as it is written in
the law of Yahweh. 31:4Moreover
he commanded the people who lived in Yerushalayim to give the portion of the
Kohanim and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the law of Yahweh.
31:5As
soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Yisra'el gave in abundance
the first-fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the
increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly. 31:6The children of Yisra'el and Yahudah, who
lived in the cities of Yahudah, they also brought in the tithe of oxen and
sheep, and the tithe of dedicated things which were consecrated to Yahweh their
Mighty One, and laid them by heaps. 31:7In
the third month they began to lay the foundation of the heaps, and finished
them in the seventh month.
31:8When
Chizkiyahu and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh, and his
people Yisra'el. 31:9Then Chizkiyahu
questioned the Kohanim and the Levites concerning the heaps. 31:10`Azaryah the chief Kohen, of the house of
Tzadok, answered him and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings
into the house of Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough, and have left plenty:
for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store. 31:11Then Chizkiyahu commanded to prepare
chambers in the house of Yahweh; and they prepared them. 31:12They brought in the offerings and the
tithes and the dedicated things faithfully: and over them Kananyahu the Levite
was ruler, and Shim`i his brother was second. 31:13Yechi'el,
and `Azazyahu, and Nachat, and `Asa'el, and Yerimot, and Yozavad, and Eli'el,
and Yismakhyahu, and Machat, and Benayah, were overseers under the hand of
Kananyahu and Shim`i his brother, by the appointment of Chizkiyahu the king,
and `Azaryah the ruler of the house of the Mighty One.
31:14Kore
the son of Yimnah the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over the
freewill-offerings of the Mighty One, to distribute the offerings of Yahweh,
and the most holy things. 31:15Under
him were `Eden, and Minyamin, and Yeshua, and Shemayahu, Amaryah, and
Shekhanyahu, in the cities of the Kohanim, in their office of trust, to give to
their brothers by courses, as well to the great as to the small: 31:16besides those who were reckoned by
genealogy of males, from three years old and upward, even everyone who entered
into the house of Yahweh, as the duty of every day required, for their service
in their offices according to their courses; 31:17and
those who were reckoned by genealogy of the Kohanim by their fathers' houses,
and the Levites from twenty years old and upward, in their offices by their
courses; 31:18and those who were
reckoned by genealogy of all their little ones, their wives, and their sons,
and their daughters, through all the congregation: for in their office of trust
they sanctified themselves in holiness.
31:19Also
for the sons of Aharon the Kohanim, who were in the fields of the suburbs of
their cities, in every city, there were men who were mentioned by name, to give
portions to all the males among the Kohanim, and to all who were reckoned by
genealogy among the Levites.
31:20Thus
did Chizkiyahu throughout all Yahudah; and he worked that which was good and
right and faithful before Yahweh his Mighty One. 31:21In
every work that he began in the service of the house of the Mighty One, and in
the law, and in the commandments, to seek his Mighty One, he did it with all
his heart, and prospered.
Why Tithes And Offerings Were Given To The Priests
And Levites
31:4 reiterates the PURPOSE of the Kohanim and the Levites being given their portion. "That they might give themselves to the law of Yahweh." In other words, the reason why the Kohanim and the Levites were to be provided for by receipt of the tithes and offerings that Yahweh gave them was to facilitate their serving Yahweh in matters of the law of Yahweh, including service in the tent of meeting.
Tithing To Yahweh Is Goodness, Righteousness And
Faithfulness
31:11-19 clearly shows the administration of the law with respect to tithing and offerings during the days of Chizkiyahu king of Yahudah.
31:20-21 notes that these works of Chizkiyahu were to his credit, for he worked that which was good and right and faithful before Yahweh his Mighty One. And he did these works to seek his Mighty One with all his heart, and he prospered. Chizkiyahu's example is certainly one what we all should emulate.
Tithing Is Not One Of The Weightier Matters Of The
Law
23:23Woe to you, Sofrim and Perushim, hypocrites! For you tithe
mint, dill, and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law -
justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have
left the other undone.
The law of tithing should indeed be held in perspective. It is NOT one of the weightier matters of the law, though it is still a matter of the law that should be adhered to. And seeing that Yah'shuah endorsed the performance of the law of tithing, it should indeed be abided by all those heeding Yah'shuah's words.
Practice Of Tithing Ought To Continue
11:42But woe to you Perushim! For you tithe mint and rue and every
herb, and bypass justice and the love of the Mighty One. You ought to have done
these, and not to leave the other undone.
Tithing as a practice should continue, according to Yah'shuah's words. In addition, those practising tithing should also practice justice and the love of the Mighty One, for these latter practices are more important than tithing.
Temper With Humility Your Observance Of Tithing And
The Rest Of Yahweh's Law
18:9He
spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own
righteousness, and who despised all others. 18:10"Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a
Parush, and the other was a tax collector. 18:11The Parush stood and prayed to himself like this: 'Mighty
One, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortioners,
unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 18:12I fast twice in
the week. I give tithes of all that I get.' 18:13But the tax collector, standing
far away, wouldn't even lift up as his eyes to Heaven, but beat his breast,
saying, 'Mighty One, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 18:14I tell you, this
man went down to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who
exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
When we tithe, we should not get carried away into exaltation by virtue of our tithing. For those who exalt themselves will indeed be abased. We should therefore strive to remain humble in attitude, even when we are adhering to Yahweh's laws, including his law on tithing.
Tithing And Malki-Tzedek As Discussed In The Letter
To The Hebrews
6:1Therefore
leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Messiah, let us press on to
perfection -- not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of
faith toward the Mighty One, 6:2of
the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead,
and of eternal judgment. 6:3This
will we do, if the Mighty One permits. 6:4For
concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and
were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 6:5and
tasted the good word of the Mighty One, and the powers of the age to come, 6:6and then fell away, it is impossible to
renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of the Mighty One
for themselves again, and put him to open shame. 6:7For
the land which has drunk the rain that comes often on it, and brings forth a
crop suitable for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receives blessing from
the Mighty One; 6:8but if it bears
thorns and thistles, it is rejected and near a curse, whose end is to be
burned.
6:9But,
beloved, we are persuaded of better things for you, and things that accompany
salvation, though we speak like this, 6:10for
the Mighty One is not unrighteous, so as to forget your work and the labor of
love which you showed toward his name, in that you served to the holy ones, and
still do serve them. 6:11We desire
that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even
to the end, 6:12that you won't be
sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the
promises. 6:13For when the Mighty
One made a promise to Avraham, since he could swear by none greater, he swore
by himself, 6:14saying, "Most
surely I will bless you, and I will surely multiply you." 6:15Thus, having patiently endured, he obtained
the promise. 6:16For men indeed
swear by a greater one, and in every dispute of theirs the oath is final for
confirmation. 6:17Wherein the Mighty
One, being determined to show more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the
immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; 6:18that by two immutable things, in which it
is impossible for the Mighty One to lie, we may have a strong encouragement,
who have fled for refuge to take hold of the hope set before us, 6:19which we have as an anchor of the soul, a
hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; 6:20where as a forerunner Yah'shuah entered for
us, having become a Kohen Gadol forever after the order of Malki-Tzedek.
7:1For
this Malki-Tzedek, king of Shalem, Kohen of El Elyon, who met Avraham returning
from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 7:2to
whom also Avraham divided a tenth part of all (being first, by interpretation,
King of righteousness, and then also King of Shalem, which is King of shalom; 7:3without father, without mother, without
genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the
Son of the Mighty One), remains a Kohen continually. 7:4Now consider how great this man was, to whom
even Avraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth out of the best spoils. 7:5They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive
the Kohen's office have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to
the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the loins of
Avraham, 7:6but he whose genealogy
is not counted from them has taken tithes of Avraham, and has blessed him who
has the promises. 7:7But without
any dispute the less is blessed of the better. 7:8Here men who die receive tithes, but there one, of whom
it is testified that he lives. 7:9So
to say, through Avraham even Levi, who receives tithes, has paid tithes, 7:10for he was yet in the loins of his father
when Malki-Tzedek met him. 7:11Now
if there was perfection through the Levitical priesthood (for under it have the
people received the law), what further need was there for another Kohen to
arise after the order of Malki-Tzedek, and not be called after the order of
Aharon? 7:12For the priesthood
being changed, there is of necessity a change made also of the law. 7:13For he of whom these things are said belongs
to another tribe, from which no man has given attendance at the altar. 7:14For it is evident that our Master has
sprung out of Yahudah, as to which tribe Moshe spoke nothing concerning
priesthood. 7:15This is yet more
abundantly evident, if after the likeness of Malki-Tzedek there arises another
Kohen, 7:16who has been made, not
after the law of a fleshly commandment, but after the power of an endless life:
7:17for it is testified,
"You are a Kohen forever,
According to the order of Malki-Tzedek."
7:18For
there is an annulling of a foregoing commandment because of its weakness and
uselessness 7:19(for the law
made nothing perfect), and a bringing in thereupon of a better hope, through
which we draw near to the Mighty One. 7:20Inasmuch
as it is not without the taking of an oath, 7:21for
they indeed have been made Kohanim without an oath; but he with an oath by him
that says of him,
"Yahweh swore and will not change his
mind,
'You are a Kohen forever,
According to the order of Malki-Tzedek'".
7:22By
so much has Yah'shuah become the collateral of a better covenant. 7:23Many, indeed, have been made Kohanim,
because they are hindered from continuing by death. 7:24But he, because he lives forever, has his
priesthood unchangeable. 7:25Therefore
he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to the Mighty One
through him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
7:26For
such a Kohen Gadol was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated
from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 7:27who
doesn't need, like those Kohenim Gedolim, to daily offer up sacrifices, first
for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For this he did once for
all, when he offered up himself. 7:28For
the law appoints men Kohenim Gedolim, having infirmity; but the word of the
oath, which was after the law, appoints a Son, perfected forevermore.
8:1Now
in the things which we are saying, the main point is this. We have such a Kohen
Gadol, who sat down on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the
heavens, 8:2a minister of the
sanctuary, and of the true tent, which the Master pitched, not man. 8:3For every Kohen Gadol is appointed to
offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this Kohen
Gadol also has something to offer. 8:4For
if he were on earth, he would not be a Kohen at all, seeing there are Kohanim
who offer the gifts according to the law; 8:5who
serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moshe was warned by the
Mighty One when he was about to make the tent, for, "See," he said,
"that you make all things according to the pattern that was shown you on
the mountain." 8:6But now he
has obtained a more excellent ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator
of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. 8:7For if that first covenant had been
faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8:8For finding fault with them, he said,
"Behold, the days come," says
Yahweh,
"That I will make a new covenant with the
house of Yisra'el and with the house of Yahudah;
8:9Not
according to the covenant that I made with their fathers,
In the day that I took them by the hand to
lead them forth out of the land of Mitzrayim;
For they didn't continue in my covenant,
And I disregarded them," says Yahweh.
8:10"For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Yisra'el.
After those days," says Yahweh;
"I will put my laws into their mind,
I will also write them on their heart.
I will be to them a Mighty One,
And they will be to me a people.
8:11They
will not teach every man his fellow citizen,
Every man his brother, saying, 'Know Yahweh,'
For all will know me,
From the least of them to the greatest of
them.
8:12For
I will be merciful to their unrighteousness.
I will remember their sins and lawless deeds
no more."
8:13In
that he says, "A new covenant," he has made the first old. But that
which is becoming old and grows aged is near to vanishing away.
9:1Now
indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly
sanctuary. 9:2For there was a tent
prepared, the first, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the show
bread; which is called the Holy Place. 9:3After
the second veil, the tent which is called the Holy of Holies, 9:4having a golden altar of incense, and the
ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was a golden pot
holding the manna, Aharon's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 9:5and above it Keruvim of glory overshadowing
the mercy seat, of which things we can't now speak in detail.
9:6Now
these things having been thus prepared, the Kohanim go in continually into the
first tent, accomplishing the services, 9:7but
into the second the Kohen Gadol alone, once in the year, not without blood,
which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people. 9:8The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the
way into the Holy Place has not yet been revealed, while the first tent is yet
standing; 9:9which is an
illustration of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that
are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect; 9:10being only (with meats and drinks and
various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation. 9:11But Messiah having come as a Kohen Gadol of
the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tent, not made
with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 9:12nor
yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered
in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 9:13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and
the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled, sanctify to the
cleanness of the flesh: 9:14how much
more will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without blemish to the Mighty One, cleanse your conscience from dead works to
serve the living Mighty One? 9:15For
this cause he is the mediator of a new covenant, that a death having taken
place for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first
covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal
inheritance. 9:16For where a last
will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him who made it.
9:17For a will is in force where
there has been death, for it is never in force while he who made it lives. 9:18Therefore even the first covenant has not
been dedicated without blood.
9:19For
when every commandment had been spoken by Moshe to all the people according to
the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet
wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 9:20saying, "This is the blood of the
covenant which Yahweh commanded toward you." 9:21Moreover
he sprinkled the tent and all the vessels of the ministry in like manner with
the blood. 9:22According to the law,
nearly everything is cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood
there is no remission. 9:23It was
necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be
cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these. 9:24For Messiah entered
not into a holy place made with hands, similar in pattern to the true, but into
Heaven itself, now to appear before the face of the Mighty One for us; 9:25nor yet that he should offer himself often,
as the Kohen Gadol enters into the holy place year by year with blood not his
own, 9:26or else he must have
suffered often since the foundation of the world. But now once at the end of
the ages, he has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 9:27Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die
once, and after this, judgment, 9:28so
Messiah also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, will appear a
second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for
salvation.
10:1For
the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things,
can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually,
make perfect those who draw near. 10:2Or
else wouldn't they have ceased to be offered, because the worshippers, having
been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins? 10:3But in those sacrifices there is a memory
made of sins year by year. 10:4For
it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. 10:5Therefore when he comes into the world, he
says,
"Sacrifice and offering you didn't
desire,
But a body did you prepare for me;
10:6In
whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no pleasure.
10:7Then
I said, 'Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of me)
To do your will, the Mighty One.'"
10:8Saying
above, "Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices
for sin you didn't desire, neither had pleasure in them" (those which are
offered according to the law), 10:9then
has he said, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He takes away the
first, that he may establish the second, 10:10by
which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of
Yah'shuah the Messiah once for all. 10:11Every
Kohen indeed stands day by day ministering and often offering the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins, 10:12but
he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right
hand of the Mighty One; 10:13henceforth
expecting until his enemies to be made the footstool of his feet. 10:14For by one offering he has perfected
forever those who are sanctified. 10:15The
Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after he has said,
10:16"This
is the covenant that I will make with them:
'After those days,' says Yahweh,
'I will put my laws on their heart,
I will also write them on their mind;'"
then,
10:17"I
will remember their sins and their iniquities no more."
10:18Now
where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 10:19Having therefore, brothers, boldness to
enter into the holy place by the blood of Yah'shuah, 10:20by the way which he dedicated for us, a
new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 10:21and having a great Kohen over the house of
the Mighty One; 10:22let us draw
near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water, 10:23let us hold fast the confession of our
hope unyieldingly. For he who promised is faithful.
10:24Let
us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, 10:25not forsaking our own assembling together,
as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as
you see the Day approaching. 10:26For
if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remains no more a sacrifice for sins, 10:27but
a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will
devour the adversaries. 10:28A man
who has set at nothing Moshe's law dies without compassion on the word of two
or three witnesses. 10:29How much
worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden
under foot the Son of the Mighty One, and has counted the blood of the covenant
wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of
grace? 10:30For we know him who said,
"Vengeance belongs to me," says Yahweh, "I will repay."
Again, "Yahweh will judge his people." 10:31It
is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Mighty One. 10:32But remember the former days, in which,
after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings; 10:33partly, being exposed to both reproaches
and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.
10:34For 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. 10:35Therefore don't
throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. 10:36For you need patience, so that, having
done the will of the Mighty One, you may receive the promise.
10:37"For
yet a very little while,
He who comes will come, and will not wait.
10:38But
the righteous will live by faith.
If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in
him."
10:39But
we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith
to the saving of the soul.
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