AN EARTHLY SANCTUARY

Hebrews 9:1-10 / Keywords 9:9

This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper.

 9:1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings- -external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

 

1. To explain Jesus’ superiority to the traditional priesthood, the author shifts his attention from the covenant (Heb 8) to the sanctuary. The sanctuary was where the priest carried out his ministry and where God dwelled among the Israelites. The sanctuary was set up in two rooms. The outer room, the Holy Place, was reserved for the priests (6). They entered the Holy Place to give sacrifices and offerings on behalf of their people. The inner room, the Most Holy Place, was reserved only for the high priest who could enter once a year after a purification process (7).

 

2. The Israelites were privileged to have God's presence among them. But their limited access also signified the seriousness of their sin. The food and drink gift and sacrifice paid for sins temporarily, but they did not clear sin away completely (10). The high priest could not enter the inner room without first cleansing known and unknown sins every year. Although the annual ritual did not solve sin, it alludes to a better way to enter God’s presence. Only Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross completed the whole process of cleansing sins so we can stand before God. Jesus cleanses not only our body, but also our soul through his holy blood.

 

Prayer Father, thank you for the privilege we enjoy as we pray and worship you. Please help me to repent my sins before you each day as I remember that you are holy.

One Word Jesus is the completion of the covenant