Hebrews 9

CHAPTER 9

Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle (9:1-10)

1-3 After God had delivered the Jews from bondage in Egypt, He established His first covenant with them (Exodus 24:7-8). Then He commanded them tobuild a sanctuary or tabernacle (Exodus 25:8-9). This tabernacle was a large tent; the tent contained two rooms which were divided by a curtain. One room was called the Holy Place, and the other was called the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:33). In the Holy Place was placed the lampstand (Exodus 25:31), the table (Exodus 25:23), and the consecrated bread (Exodus 25:30).

4-5 In these verses, the writer describes the second room, the Most Holy Place. In this room was the golden altar of incense (Exodus 30:1) and the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10). Inside the ark was placed the gold jar of manna (Exodus 16:31-33), Aaron’s rod that had budded (Numbers 17:1-5,8,10-11), and the two stone tablets of the covenant, on which God had written His law and commandments (Exodus 24:12; 25:16; 31:18). Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory (Exodus 25:18), which were symbols of God’s glory. The place of atonement was actually the lid of the ark, on which the high priest sprinkled the blood of the sacrificed animals offered to atone for the people’s sins (Exodus 25:17,22).

6-7 God appeared in the Most Holy Place once a year to meet with the high priest. Only the high priest could enter into the presence ofGod, and then only on one special day each year, the day of atonement (Leviticus 16:2). At that time the high priest had to first offer a sacrifice to atone for his own sins (Leviticus 16:6). After that he offered a second sacrifice to atone for the sins of all the people (Leviticus 16:9). Thus, each time the high priest entered the Most Holy Place to meet with God, he brought with him the blood of sacrificed animals (Leviticus 16:14-15). The sacrifices of the high priest were not permanently effective, because they had to be repeated every year.

The high priest offered sacrifices only for the sins the people had committed in ignorance (verse 7). According to the Old Testament, there was no sacrifice or forgiveness possible for sins committed knowingly (see Hebrews 10:26 and comment).

8 From what is written above we can see that, except for the high priest, the way into the Most Holy Place—into God’s presence—was closed to the Jews. As long as the first tabernacle was still standing—that is, as long as the old covenant was still in effect—the way into God’s presence remained closed. But when Christ came into the world, He sacrificed His own body and entered God’s presence bringing His own blood (verse 12). By doing this, He atoned for the sins of all believers, and opened the way for them to enter directly into God’s presence.

9-10 The sacrifices and offerings of the old covenant could not purify the heart or clear the conscience of the worshiper. Without a clear conscience, no one can draw near to God. Only through Christ’s sacrifice and through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us can our consciences be cleared, cleansed.

Therefore, these external regulations of the old covenant remained in effect only until the time of the new order (verse 10)—that is, until the time of the new covenant mediated by Jesus Christ. When the new covenant came, the old covenant was no longer needed (see Hebrews 8:13).

The Blood of Christ (9:11-22)

11 Christ came to this world to be the high priest of the good things that are already here—that is, the new covenant (see Hebrews 8:1,6 and comment).

God does not dwell in a sanctuary made by men (Acts 7:48; 17:24). He dwells in a greater and more perfect tabernacle in heaven. Jesus is the high priest of that heavenly tabernacle. When Jesus came to earth He, in a sense, destroyed the man-made Old Testament tabernacle, and in its place prepared a true heavenly tabernacle, where men worship God in spirit and truth (see Mark 14:58; John 4:21,23-24).

12 To enter God’s presence, it is necessary to sprinkle the blood of animals, which have been sacrificed to atone for sin. Therefore, the Jewish high priest brought the blood of goats and calves into the Most Holy Place with him (verse 7). But Jesus entered God’s presence bringing His own blood. Jesus’ sacrifice was perfect; thus it never needs to be repeated. And through His sacrifice, we believers obtain eternal REDEMPTION, or salvation.

13 The blood and ashes of animals cleanse a person only outwardly, or ceremonially. The ashes of a heifer mentioned in this verse is a reference to Numbers 19:9.

The Jews placed great importance on outward cleanliness. But Jesus taught that inward cleanliness was much more important (see Mark 7:20-23). The blood and ashes of animals can never make a person inwardly clean and pure.

14 The blood of Christ, however, can do what the blood ofanimals could never do; it can cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death—that is, from sins. And the reason Christ cleanses us is so that we can serve the living God.

Under the old covenant, God said that the animals sacrificed had to be unblemished. Now under the new covenant, Jesus Christ Himself is the sinless, unblemished sacrifice.

15 Through Christ’s death, believers have been set free from their former sins; they have been forgiven. Because Christ has died, He has become the mediator of a new covenant, through which we who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance. That “eternal inheritance” is forgiveness of sins, salvation, eternal life (see Hebrews 7:27; 8:6 and comments). The old covenant could not set men free from sin. Now through Jesus’ death, we have been set free (see Romans 8:1-2).

16-17 In order for a will¹⁶ to go into effect, the person who made the will has to die. In the same way, it was only after Christ’s death that the new “will” or covenant could go into effect.

18-20 For the old “will” or covenant to go into effect, there also had to be death—the death of an animal (see Exodus 24:8).

The scarlet wool and branches of hyssop¹⁷ mentioned in verse 19 are also mentioned in Numbers 19:6.

21-22 Only by shedding blood could the Jewish high priest make atonement for his own sins and the sins of the people. Thus God had instructed that everything inside the tabernacle be sprinkled with blood (see Leviticus 16:14-16,18-19).

In the same way, under the new covenant, men can receive forgiveness only through the shedding of blood. That is why Christ had to shed His own blood and die in order to cleanse us from sins.

Christ’s Incomparable Sacrifice (9:23-28)

23 The copies of the heavenly things— that is, the earthly tabernacle—were purified with these (animal) sacrifices. But the heavenly tabernacle has been purified with better sacrifices—namely, Christ Himself.

In one way, we believers are this heavenly tabernacle (see Ephesians 2:22; 1 Peter 2:5). We too, being God’s dwelling place, must be purified with better sacrifices. And indeed, we have been purified by Christ’s perfect sacrifice. We have been set free from sin; we have been redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).

24 Here the writer repeats the thoughts of Hebrews 8:1-2.

25-26 Christ’s sacrifice never needs to be repeated. Through His death, Christ has once for all atoned for our sins (verse 26).

27-28 A man dies only once; therefore, it is impossible for Christ to be sacrificed again and again. His one-time sacrifice is sufficient to take away the sins of many people (see John 1:29 and comment).

Man’s death is followed by judgment. Jesus’ death is followed, not by judgment, but by eternal salvation for all who are waiting for him—that is, all believers. Jesus will come again. On that day we shall obtain our full inheritance in heaven, which He has promised to us. Therefore, let us not grow weary, but let us continue to persevere with patience and faith (see Hebrews 6:12).