Hebrews 9, Page 1

Hebrews 9Introduction:

In Hebrews 8, Paul had made mention of the prophecy of Jeremiah, wherein God said that in those days He was going to make a new covenant with the people, a covenant not written in stone as was the first but a new covenant whose laws would be written on the fleshly tables of the heart. Now, it is evident that if God was going to make a new covenant, He would have to set the old one aside. During the last Seder, Jesus took the cup and said, “This is the cup of a new covenant in my blood, which is shed for the remission of sins” (Luke 22:20). Under the old covenant, on the Day of Atonement the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies to make sacrifice for his own sins and for the sins of the people. Under the new covenant, our great high priest, Jesus Christ, took His own blood and entered into the Holy of Holies in heaven and forever purified those who come to Him in faith. So, the first covenant has been set aside that God might establish a new covenant through Jesus Christ.

As we move on into Chapter 9, Paul carries over his thought from Chapter 9. He is still talking about the new covenant relationship that we have with God and contrasting it with the first covenant that was under the law. The old covenant was predicated upon man’s obedience and ability to keep the law, but it failed, not because the covenant was bad but because the people were not able to do it. It failed because man’s weak and fallen nature would not allow him to live by it. The new covenant, however, is eternal because it is predicated not upon man’s obedience but upon Jesus Christ’s obedience and God’s faithfulness. We know that God is always faithful. Thus, we pick it up in Chapter 9, verse 1.

Hebrews 9:1-28(1) Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

I. Divine service and worldly sanctuary: When God established the first covenant with Moses, he was told to build the tabernacle, the purpose for which was to have sacrifices offered within the tabernacle. This is where also the priests would go to worship before God.

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(2) For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

II. The tabernacle: Though the word “tabernacle” does mean “tent,” if you saw it, it would not appear to be a tent. The tabernacle was 45 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 15 feet tall. It was kind of a box-shaped tent.

As you entered the tabernacle, it was divided into two sections. This first room was 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. There was a table on the right-hand side, which was called the table of shewbread. On this table were 12 loaves of bread, each one representing a tribe of Israel. Directly in front of the veil that separated the next room was the altar of incense, where the priests would come and offer the incense as a representation of the prayers of the people. On the left-hand side of this first room was the menorah, which was a seven-stemmed candlestick with seven cups coming out of one branch, which represented the seven fold or complete work of the Holy Spirit. You have the altar of incense, the candlestick, and the table of shewbread in this first room, which is called the sanctuary, or the holy place.

(3) And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;(4) Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

III. The earthly covenant: Within the ark of the covenant, you would find a preserved jar of manna that God had sent to feed the fathers in the wilderness. You would also find Aaron’s rod that budded, which affirmed Aaron’s family as the high-priestly family and established the Aaronic order. You would also see the two tables of stone, which contained the Ten Commandments.

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This ark was the basis of the covenant of God with the nation of Israel.

(5) And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

IV. The mercyseat: I think it’s interesting when you think about the ark of the covenant containing all the symbols of God’s faithfulness and His word, which no man was able to keep, that every year as the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies, he would place the blood of the sacrifice upon the mercyseat, which was overshadowed by the cherubims. As God looked down into that ark at the covenant that He had made with the people (which they had broken time and time again), He would look through that blood and their sins and transgressions were covered.

a. Jesus’ sacrifice: The blood of bulls and goats, which was poured upon the mercyseat under the old covenant, could only cover the sins of the people. In contrast, when Jesus entered into the heavens and placed His blood upon the mercyseat, it did not cover but it totally removed the sins of the people.

(6) Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

V. The service of God: It was a daily act by the priests to go into the first part of the tent. Once a week they would go in and change the loaves of bread on the table of shewbread. Daily, they would change and fill the oil in the cups and trim the wicks on the menorah because God wanted this light to shine before Him continually. They would also go in and offer prayers of the people.

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There were little golden bowls that contained incense. After they had lit the fires for the sacrifice, which was outside the tent, they would take live coals from this fire and put them in these bowls of incense. When they would go in, they would hold these little bowls, which dangled from chains, as they went in they would swing the bowls with the incense burning, waiving them before the altar, which was a symbol of the prayers of the people ascending before God. This service was also done daily.

There was a number of sacrifices of different “types” that had to be offered on a daily basis, not counting the hundreds of sacrifices which the people would come to have the priests offer on their behalf unto God. So, if you think about it, the priests had a very busy day, and it was a long day in offering these various sacrifices unto the Lord, as well as the different times of prayer where they would go before the Lord.

In the Gospel of Luke, we are told that Zacharius, who was the father of John the Baptist, was a priest. It was his duty at this particular time to offer the prayers and the incense before the Lord. Their usual method of service was for each priest to serve one month out of the year. For the rest of the year, they would go back to their homes to be with their families. As you remember, when Zacharius was there in the temple offering the incense before the altar of the Lord, Gabriel appeared unto him and told him that his wife Elizabeth was to bear a son in her old age and that this son, who would be called John, would be the forerunner of the Messiah. This is just a little more insight about the priestly service to God there within the Holy place, which was outside of the Holy of Holies.

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(7) But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

VI. Holy of Holies or Holiest of all: The Holy of Holies was where man went and met with God. It was off limits to everyone except the high priest. Even he only went in there one day out of the year, which was on the day of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. Just as a side note, there is no more tabernacle or temple. Thus, for the Orthodox Jews, they have changed the day of Yom Kippur from the Day of Atonement to the Day of Reflection. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies twice in one day. In preparation, he would first bathe himself and then he would offer ox for his own sin. He would then go into the Holy of Holies with the blood of this ox that he had offered for his own sins. He sprinkled this blood on the mercyseat in a special order. Seven times in front of the mercyseat he would put it on all corners according to this regular routine.

In Chapter 16 of Leviticus, we are told about this Day of Atonement and all the things that the high priest had to do on that day. Having offered the blood of the ox for his own sins, he would go back outside, bathe, change clothes, and this time, they would take two goats upon which they would cast lots. The goat upon which the lot fell was to be slain and offered to God for the sins of the nation. The other goat was to be led by one of the other priests into the wilderness and turned loose.

They would confess the sins of the nation on these two goats. The one on whom the lot fell would be slain, and the high priest, for the second time, would go into the Holy of Holies and would offer this blood for the sins of the nation.

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As I said previously, the other goat, having had the sins confessed upon it, would be led into the wilderness and set free in order that it might get lost. This is called the “scapegoat.” The whole idea in this sacrifice for sins was the putting away of sins by the sacrifice and actually being separated from our sins. The scapegoat, being turned loose and disappearing into the wilderness, symbolized God putting away our sins—not to be remembered again. The two goats, one being slain and the scapegoat being turned loose into the wilderness, are a great illustration of our sins being separated from us in the sight of God.

Into this second room, which is the Holy of Holies, the high priest went in alone every year with the blood, which he had offered for himself, and then again for the sins of the people.

a. I’ll throw this one in for free: On the hem of the high priest’s garment were little bells. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest, after having gone through his washing rituals, would tie a long rope around one of his ankles before he would enter in to offer the blood on the mercyseat. The reason that he did this was so that when he entered into the Holy of Holies and as he was going through the service of the sacrifice, the other priests would hear the bells tinkling, and they would know that the high priest was okay. However, if the high priest had not done something properly and was struck dead before the ark of the covenant, the other priests, not hearing the tinkling of the bells, would wait a while and if the sound of those tinkling bells did not return, they would take hold of the rope and would drag the lifeless body of the priest out from behind the veil, which separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies because only the high priest, himself, at that particular time, was allowed to enter into the Holy of Holies.

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(8) The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:

VII. The tabernacle still standing: While the tabernacle was still standing, God being approached directly by man was impossible. Having to have a go between, a high priest, bore witness to the fact that not just any man could come directly to God. There was one great obstacle that was a constant reminder of man being separated from God, and that was the veil. It was very heavy. Some have estimated that it was woven to an approximate thickness of two inches. It was very big, very tall, and very heavy, which is why it is of significance that on the day that Jesus was crucified, this veil in the temple, which separated the Holies from the Holy of Holies, but, in reality, separated God from man, was torn completely in two from the top to the bottom.

It has been said that had man been the one who ripped it, it would have been torn from the bottom to the top. Because God was the one who did it, He tore it from the top to the bottom, signifying that the way into the presence of God is now available for all mankind. You and I can now come boldly into the presence of God through Jesus Christ. Because of His glorious sacrifice for our sins, we can now enter ourselves into the very presence of God through His work, which He has done on our behalf. As long as that tabernacle was standing, the Holiest of All was not yet manifested or open to man.

(9) Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;(10) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

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(11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;(12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

VIII. The contrast: What a great contrast there is between the earthly high priest and Jesus. Once every year, the earthly high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies, first to make offering for his own sin and then to offer for the sins of the people. This was done perpetually, year after year after year.

But our great high priest, Jesus, entered once into the tabernacle that was not made with hands but entered into heaven, itself, of which the earthly tabernacle was only a model. When He entered into heaven, itself, He did not go with the blood of goats or calves but with His own blood. He entered into the presence of God, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Entering with His own blood, Jesus was both the sacrifice and the sacrificer. He was both the offering and the One who offered it.

In the earthly tabernacle, you would bring your offering to the priest, and he would offer it for you. However, Jesus became both—the offering, itself, and the One who offered the offering unto God, and entering into heaven, itself, in the presence of God with His own blood, He redeemed all mankind eternally.

(13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:(14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

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IX. The weakness of the sacrifice: Paul points out here that the weakness of sacrifices was in the fact that they could not give us a clear conscience of our sin. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Because the sacrifices were done continually, year after year, and had to be offered, they were, in fact, a reminder of our sins, which made us constantly conscious of our guilt. The superiority of the sacrifice of Jesus is that He has purified our conscience from dead works and sins because after He once entered into the Holiest of All in heaven, our sins were done away with—not just covered, only to be remembered the following year—but completely done away with—never to be remembered again—purifying our conscience and eliminating our guilt once and for all.

Side Note: As I mentioned before, because there is no earthly temple standing, the Jews have changed the Day of Atonement for a Day of Reflection. Because there are no more sacrifices being offered, they now believe that God is simply weighing the good against the bad. Thus, in the weeks preceding Yom Kippur, they go about trying to do as many good deeds as possible I order that they might have a good day on the Day of Reflection as they ponder how many good things they did in contrast to how many evil. Unfortunately, there are many people—not just Jews—who are hoping that their good outweighs their evil, and they will not fair well on the Day of Judgment.

a. The Catholic Mass: The problem with the mass, which is called the Sacrifice of the Mass, is that it is done daily, over and over again. They really believe in their Sacrifice of the Mass that Jesus is being crucified over and over again, which is why on their cross, Jesus is still on it. The scriptures are in total contrast to this. We shall see in Chapter 10 that Jesus should not have suffered many times but now in these last days, He suffered once and for all.

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(15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

X. Jesus the mediator: Jesus said at the last Seder, “This is the cup of the new covenant in my blood, shed for the remission of sin.” The new testament is that by the death of Jesus Christ, He has made redemption for our transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, under the law, that he who has been called then might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. We were told back in verse 12 that we have eternal redemption, and now we are told we have eternal inheritance for all those who are eternally redeemed. How glorious is that?

Peter addressed this inheritance that we have in Jesus Christ, so let’s turn to 1 Peter Chapter 1, and let’s read verses 3-5.

1 Peter 1:3-5(3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,(4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,(5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

a. Kept by God: I am so thankful that my salvation is eternally secure and is not predicated upon anything that I do or do not do but is predicated upon the power of God and is kept by faith alone in Jesus Christ.

(16) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

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(17) For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

XI. Jesus’ last will and testament: When a person makes out a will, they are indicating what they want done with their possessions after they depart from this earth. Those who have a lot of money may make provisions or promises, if you will, that after their death, their wealth will be distributed to certain family members. In many cases, people will have their will made known to those who stand to benefit from it. So, some people may live for many, many years with the hope of a great inherited fortune, but they will never receive it until the one who has made the will dies.

In like manner, Jesus is the One who established the covenant, His last will and testament, if you will. However, all the promises that are contained in the new covenant did not come into force until after Jesus had died. Because Jesus has died, we have now become the beneficiaries of His new testament.

(18) Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.(19) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,(20) Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.(21) Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.(22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

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XII. A blood cleansing/A blood covenant: When Moses established the first covenant, he killed the goats, took the blood, and mixed it with water. He then sprinkled the people, the book, the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry, thereby cleansing it and setting the entire place apart and saying, “This is God’s testament,” and it is now enforced by the blood which was shed. Thus, it was a blood covenant. So, it was through the blood under the old covenant that everything was cleansed.

We are told in the New Testament that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. Thus, in the New Testament, all things are also cleansed by the shedding of blood, but that blood is the blood of Christ. From that moment on, the new covenant has been in force.

Thus, the Orthodox Jews of today, who reject the Messiah, have a great problem because there is no temple, and there has been no sacrifice since Titus destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. They want to believe now that their sins are cleansed by the works of their hands. This is totally against scripture. Paul has just declared that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.

So, if there’s no sacrifice, then there’s no shedding of blood. If there’s no shedding of blood, how are their sins remitted? This is a problem because they are not keeping God’s first covenant that He established with the nation of Israel. In reality, they have a double whammy because they rejected the second covenant, and now they are not even keeping the first. Thus, having set aside the law of God, they teach their traditions of men for doctrine, as they did even in the day of Jesus.

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It’s been almost 2,000 years, and there has been no offering for their sin. During the seven-year period after the church is taken, God begins to do a work again with Israel, and it would appear that their offerings and sacrifices will begin again because in the middle of that seven-year period, the anti-christ will cause the daily oblations and sacrifices to cease. So, they will, again, have a place to worship, and the sacrifices will begin again during that last, final seven-year cycle, which in the Old Testament is called “The Time of Jacob’s trouble,” and in the New Testament “The Great Tribulation.”

(23) It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.(24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

XIII. The model and the true: The tabernacle and all the sacrifices were merely a pattern or a model of the way it really is in heaven. When Jesus offered Himself on the cross, He did not enter into the Holy of Holies, but He entered heaven, itself, to appear in the presence of God for us.

(25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;(26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.(27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:(28) So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

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XIV. Jesus suffered once: Jesus came and offered Himself as a sacrifice, He then entered into heaven, itself, that He might appear before God on our behalf. His sacrifice was totally complete and totally sufficient to take away the sin of man. That is why it only needed to happen once and for all. Thus, it is written, “It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear our sins.”

a. Sacrifice of the mass: As I said before, those who practice the mass believe that Jesus is suffering every day and is repeating His sacrifice endlessly, which is totally contrary to scripture and is an injustice to the spirit of grace and the sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice.