Hebrews Chapter Nine

(Continued from: "Chapter Eight: God's New Covenant with the Hebrews")

Most of us heard about the tabernacle in Sunday School. It was the official place that God came down in a cloud to meet with the Hebrews. They carried it wherever they went and approached it with fear and trembling –a mistake in following strict regulations could cause the offender to be struck dead immediately!

But there was another tent that was outside the camp before the tabernacle was put into service. It was the "tent of meeting" where "the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend." (Exodus 33:11a) He met there with Moses outside the camp –symbolizing that God was displeased with the rest of the people because of their rebellious ways.

Once the Levitical Priesthood and its Law were put into effect, the tabernacle was built in the center of the camp. That, too, was symbolic. It meant that God was to be the center of their lives. With that reminder, He again dwelled among the people. However, this time there were laws to show them the condition of their hearts.

Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail. (Hebrews 9:1-5)

The Tabernacle as a Picture

Here's a summary view of the tabernacle, with just some of its symbolism, to set our course for the rest of the chapter.

The Tabernacle:

The overall tabernacle was 150 feet by 75 feet. It was separated from the rest of the community by set of curtains that were 7 feet high. On the east side there was a single 30 foot wide entrance. The area within the curtains was called the outer court and it's where sinners brought their sacrifices. The main items listed below were encountered as the high priest traveled westwardly through the entrance.

The Bronze Altar:

The bronze altar was the first item to come upon after entering the tabernacle. It's where the high priest performed laying-on-of-hands –and an innocent life was ceremonially presented to God as a substitute for the sinner.

The Bronze Basin (or Laver):

The next item was the bronze basin where the priests washed their hands and feet –representing cleansing themselves from the contamination of the world that they lived. It was used for ceremonially washing away sin before approaching God in all His holiness.

The Tent:

The tent was 30 feet by 15 feet –and 15 feet high– divided into two parts by the veil. The entry –again on the east side– led first into the Holy Place. It contained a few items of furniture –the golden lampstand, the table of showbread and the golden altar of incense. After passing through the Holy Place (still travelling west), there was the Holy of Holies which contained only the ark and its cover.

The Golden Lampstand (or Menorah):

Within the Holy Place –on the left side– was the lampstand. It had seven lights that were fueled by olive oil. The lampstand was golden to indicate that it was pure (uncorrupted by the world and sin). Its light is the light of the world which the priests use to maneuver in the Holy Place.

The Table of Showbread:

There were twelve (one for each tribe) loaves of showbread on the table to indicate that mankind could fellowship in harmony with God. The table was on the right side of the Holy Place. You might remember from Exodus 24 (in chapter four) that Moses, Aaron and 72 others up on the mountain having a meal –participating in communion– before God.

The Golden Altar of Incense:

The altar of incense was in the middle, toward the west side, of the Holy Place. Incense was offered when the sacrifices were offered –in the morning and evening– and it burned continually as a sweet aroma to God.

The Veil and the Holy of Holies:

The veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. The Holy Place could be entered by the ordinary priest during his time of service. But the Holy of Holies could only be entered by the High Priest –and then only once a year –on the day of Atonement. It's where God came down to meet with the High Priest.

The Ark of the Covenant:

The ark was made of wood and covered in gold. Its contents were the tablets that the Ten Commandments were written on, Aaron's rod that budded, and the golden jar of manna. There was a golden cover that had two angels over it. This was the mercy seat on which the blood of the sacrifice was sprinkled.

Jesus –The Lord's Salvation:

Directional orientation is significant throughout the Bible. East portrays the beginning –and west portrays the end. In Revelation 22:13, Jesus' says "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." And Hebrews 12:2 refers to Jesus as "the author and perfecter of faith." He started and completed everything necessary for salvation. It's all intentionally ordered.

The Tabernacle provides us a picture of salvation. Starting at the entrance on the east –and ending in the Holy of Holies on the west– we can see the sequential order of what Jesus accomplished.

The Bronze Altar –where burnt sacrifices were made– was on a mound of earth; it represents Jesus' altar –the cross– where He was sacrificed up on the hill called Golgotha.

The Bronze Basin was a place of washing. It symbolizes the "baptism of death" that Jesus underwent to remove sin.

The Tent represents His body –the Holy Place foreshadows His time on earth –the Holy of Holies is heaven, where He took His blood and where He lives today.

The Golden Lampstand describes Jesus as the light of men –their salvation. It has seven lights –one for each of the seven millennia during which He has been and will be the light the world (five have occurred, one is coming to a close, and one –the thousand years that He will reign on earth– is yet to come). The oil represents His Holy Spirit.

The Table of Showbread foretold Jesus' ministry with the twelve tribes and also His last Passover meal that he ate with the twelve.

The Golden Altar of Incense depicts Jesus' unceasing prayers of intercession –showing His total reliance on His Father.

The Veil –that once separated unrighteous men from holy God– is gone. Now, all who are saved have free access to God. The reason? Because Jesus –the Son of God– carried His own blood into heaven. The veil was ripped top-down by God Himself to remove the barrier.

The Ark of the Covenant is especially rich in symbolism. The wooden box represents Jesus' earthly body –it was covered in pure gold to show He was also fully God. He was the One who fulfilled the Law (the tablets of stone), who was cut down and then came to life again (Aaron's rod was cut from an almond tree that later sprouted leaves and bore fruit), and who is the daily bread for fellowshipping with God. The bloody cover –the mercy seat– pictures the slab on which He was laid in the tomb. The angels on the mercy seat are those who were folding His grave clothes on Resurrection Sunday morning.

The Two Parts of the Tent

You'll find that sometimes the Bible uses "tabernacle" to refer to the tent (just the Holy Place and Holy of Holies) with its furniture and other times it refers to the whole structure (the outer court with its poles and curtains, the bronze altar, the bronze basin, and the tent). The "tabernacle" was the place where God came to meet and fellowship with man. In this study, I use tabernacle to refer to the whole structure.

Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle [the Holy Place] performing the divine worship, but into the second [the Holy of Holies], only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. (Hebrews 9:6-7)

Just as there are two parts to the tent, there are also two sets of priests. The high priest met directly with God in the Holy of Holies to annually deal with sins. We've read a great deal about that role being fulfilled by Jesus –especially in regard to His entry into the true Holy of Holies. There were also the other priests –descendents of Aaron– who participated in daily worship in the Holy Place. They lived life among the people –yet were separated from them by their service to God.

Let me put this into today's context of the true (spiritual) church –not the physical buildings nor the organizations that meet on particular days of the week. Our High Priest is Jesus –the head of the church –the head of His body (Colossians 1:13-20). The other priests are the church –they are the body of Christ. They know their purpose in life –their reason for living each day– is to be His ambassador to the world (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).

The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation. (Hebrews 9:8-10)

Levitical priests –including the high priest– could only serve using earthly, physical representations of true spiritual counterparts. Their washings were done with water in a basin; their incense was fragrant herbs and spices; their sacrifices were the lives of innocent animals offered on a bronze altar; their mercy seat was a wooden box with a gold covering and topped with angels; their ark contained the manna, the stone tablets, and Aaron's rod that died and bore new life; their table had new bread daily; their lampstand was golden with light fueled by oil; and their tabernacle was made of poles, curtains, coverings and veils.

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:11-14)

The Old Covenant was only "a copy and shadow of the heavenly things" (Hebrews 8:4). The true High Priest –Jesus– now serves in the true Holy of Holies –heaven. He is the living water who has washed sins away; His prayers are the sweet fragrance raised up to His Father; His life was sacrificed on the cross; His mercy seat was the tomb where His blood dripped from His body and where angels folded His grave clothes; He is the ark which contains the bread of life, the fulfillment of the Law, and eternal life after death; He is the table where we join together in holy communion with God; He is the light of mankind shown by the Holy Spirit; and His body is the tabernacle where man and God come together as one. The veil –the required separation from God– has been destroyed forever.

This passage also talks about the conscience. It's where God placed His desires within each one of us. Those of us who have attempted religion remember how we tried to follow our consciences by being good and following Christian traditions: church attendance, water baptism, communion, prayer service, handing out tracts, public witnessing, and the like. But these things don't provide a sense of fulfillment –and they certainly don't attain eternal life. For some, these acts satisfy their need for God; and hence, the very acts that they think lead them closer to Him actually lead them to their death –eternal separation from Him. Only Jesus' acts: His life, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His gift of the Holy Spirit, can satisfy God's desires.

The Three Covenants

Before going any further, let's look at the term "inheritance." In our society, we determine inheritance through one of two ways. The preferred method is through a "last will and testament" (more commonly called a "will") that legally documents the distribution of a person's property when he passes away. The less desirable (and less predictable) method is for the courts to judge. Either way, the judgments state "what" is given, to "whom" it is given, and the "conditions" under which it is given. A typical example would involve a deceased parent who bequeathed his valuables to his children when they reached a responsible age.

Covenants of old are much like "wills" of today. Throughout history people have shown their earnestness concerning a covenant by shedding blood. It's like saying "I will do everything in my power to live up to this agreement –even if I have to give up my life to accomplish it."

There are three significant Hebrew covenants between God and man that help explain Christianity. They are: the Abrahamic Covenant, the Old Covenant, and the New Covenant.

The covenant with Abraham: In chapter seven, we read about the promise that God made to Abraham after his meeting with Melchizedek –he would be given a land, he would have many offspring, and they would inherit the land as their own.

In Abraham's time, when two parties made a covenant, it was customary for them to sacrifice animals and cut them in half. Then both parties would walk together between the halves carrying torches so all could witness. It showed they were both willing to give up their lives if they broke their part of the promise.

Following that tradition, God told Abraham to prepare sacrifices. When everything was ready, Abraham was somehow going to walk with God between the halves; but God put him into a deep sleep and gave him a vision. By Himself –God in all His holiness– carried the torch and walked between the halves. By this, God testified that this promise was one-sided. Abraham could do nothing to affect it. But there would be a substantial amount of time –four hundred years– before the promise was realized (Genesis 15:8-11, Genesis 15:12-13, Genesis 15:17-21).

In summary: The guarantee was the blood of animals. The inheritance was the Promised Land. The heirs were Abraham and his children. The condition was that the inheritance would be delayed.

The Old Covenant: In the New Testament, the Old Covenant is usually called "the Law" or "the Law of Moses." But here in Hebrews it's referred to as the "first covenant."

The period of captivity in Egypt was over. God was leading Abraham's offspring to their inheritance –the Promised Land– as He told Abraham four hundred years earlier. It was on the journey that Moses was overwhelmed by the people's grumbling. They supposedly wanted to know "God's will" for each circumstance in their lives –rather than just trusting Him to do what was best. So He gave them a systematic way of earthly life that foreshadowed His plan of eternal salvation. The significance is this: the promise wasn't canceled when the Law was put into effect (Galatians 3:16-18). In fact, the Old Covenant was temporary. –Its purpose was to show the hardness of the people's hearts.

We read in chapter eight that the Old Covenant would come to a close upon its fulfillment. There are two parts to that fulfillment: Jesus did His part on the cross; people do their part by accepting Him on His terms –trusting that He is the eternal sacrificial Passover Lamb for sins –that He is the One to follow into the Promise.

In summary: The guarantee was the blood of animals. The inheritance was physical life with blessings. The heirs were the Hebrews. The condition was to "fully obey" the Law or die with curses.

The New Covenant: God's plan has always been for man to live forever with Him. It was first pictured with the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. God even paid for the first sin with the blood of one of His treasured creations –and He covered Adam and Eve within its skin. That was a foreshadow of the New Covenant where Jesus died so that mankind could be included in the body of Christ –covered in His righteousness (Galatians 3:26-28).

In summary: The guarantee is the blood of the Son of God. The inheritance is an abundant eternal life in the kingdom of God. The heirs are those He calls –those that answer the door (Revelation 3:19-20) –their names are written in the "Book of Life" (Revelation 20:11-13). The conditions are to follow Jesus. The inheritance is available now to those who follow Him (Christians, including Messianic Jews) –and it's available after the Tribulation for the remainder of the Hebrews.

The New Covenant

Before the New Covenant could go into effect, the Old Covenant had to be fulfilled. For that to happen, Jesus lived the perfect life –both physically and spiritually. He always trusted His Father in every situation. Jesus did and said exactly what His Father told Him to do and say –not necessarily liking everything, but having faith that it was always best. (Remember His struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane recorded in Luke 22:39-47?) The author of that covenant –that will– had to die (Hebrews 2:9-11). His life was the only one qualified to be the final sacrifice.

For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. (Hebrews 9:15-17)

We read in the last chapter that "Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, "See," He says, "that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain." (Hebrews 8:5b) It had to be exactly right because the tabernacle symbolized something greater. It depicted the perfect reunion of God and man. John's vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:1 through 22:8 gives a different view of that glorious reunion. (Pay particular attention to Revelation 21:2 and Revelation 21:9 –they explain what the New Jerusalem portrays.)

Therefore even the first covenant was not inaugurated without blood. For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses 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, saying, "THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU." And in the same way he sprinkled both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry with the blood. (Hebrews 9:18-21)

For mankind, restoring the lost righteous relationship with God boils down to one issue: forgiveness. And that one thing has held Christians hostage since the establishment of the organized church. We are always being reminded to ask for God's forgiveness –before we go to bed at night –before we request something through prayer –before we take part in communion –before making an offering –before we go to church –before we do anything. It's so that there won't be a hindrance in our communications path to God.

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9:22)

What's the matter with all that asking? (I was taught to always ask for God's forgiveness.) We are asking for additional forgiveness and therefore additional shedding of blood –Jesus' blood. According to this verse, there can't be any more forgiveness without more blood. And that means that God's Son has to climb back up on the altar –His cross– to suffer and die again. Or, was once enough for all of the sins –for all mankind?

Then what should we do? Give thanks to Him for His mercy, His grace, His forgiveness. –That's what the Bible says. "Give thanks in everything" (1 Thessalonians 5:14-19). And "give thanks for everything" (Ephesians 5:18-20). The only sin that He has kept track of is: if we have entered His Sabbath rest –His Salvation through Jesus.

The Hebrews offered grain, oil, lives of innocent animals, prayers of apologies, and promises to change their ways. Besides being required by the Law –because it was a shadow of what was coming– what did all of that accomplish in regard to forgiveness? –Nothing!

Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. (Hebrews 9:23-25)

Repeated sacrifices were the way of life for the Old Covenant Hebrews –day-after-day, year-after-year– the same animal sacrifices were offered. As Christians, we only have One sacrifice for sins. He finished it and it's done forever.

The reason that the copies –those of the physical world– needed to be cleansed was to show what happened in the heavenly realm.

Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (Hebrews 9:26-28)

How many times did the Son of God have to be born, live among mankind, and then die for the sins of the world? Verse 27 says it was once. If He isn't coming back to deal with the forgiveness of sins again, what is the purpose of His second coming? He's coming to take us with Him as an adoring groom takes his lovely bride into his arms.

Where Was the Altar of Incense?

I hope you don't mind taking a short diversion from the main path here. One of the things that intrigues me when there is an apparent error in the text of Scripture. Such is the case for chapter nine, verses 3 and 4.

According to the pattern that Moses was to follow so carefully (found in Exodus 40) the golden altar of incense was inside the Holy Place (Exodus 40:1-8, Exodus 40:17-28) –putting it outside the Holy of Holies. The priests (including John the Baptist's father, Zacharias) offered incense on this altar in the morning and evening –at the same times that the burnt sacrifices were being offered outside the tent, on the bronze altar.

Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant . . . (Hebrews 9:3-4a)

Now notice that this Hebrews passage places the golden altar of incense inside the Holy of Holies. That's a big difference! It affects which priests perform the offerings of incense and how often it's offered. The priests could offer it twice a day if the altar was merely in the Holy Place; but if it was in the Holy of Holies, it could only be offered annually by the high priest. Is it an error in the original text of New Testament? I think not.

This is only my opinion: After the rapture of the saints, there will be many, many Bibles left behind –much like the Gideons of today leave Bibles in motel rooms for travelers in hope that a reader will be saved. During the Tribulation period, God will return His focus to the Hebrew people. Then the 144,000 evangelists (12,000 from each tribe of Israel) will begin their ministry (Revelation chapter 7). At that time, the book of Hebrews will "suddenly seem relevant" to a new set of readers –those Hebrew people.

Remember, the incense is symbolic of Jesus' intercessory prayers for His followers. When Moses set up the tabernacle, it was with the altar of incense on the outside of the Holy of Holies. This is representative of Jesus before He went into heaven. However, this Hebrews passage shows Him after He entered heaven where He continues to intercede for His followers. The "picture" that the Hebrews will find in this passage is where the true altar of incense –Jesus– is on the inside, seated at the right hand of His Father! (You can read an awesome example of His prayers in John chapter 17.)

Continue reading: "Chapter Ten: God's New Covenant with Christians"