4/21/20
Tom Lowe
Lesson IE3a: The Imperfection of the Earthly Sanctuary (Heb. 9:1-10)
Scripture: Hebrews 9:1-10 (NIV)
1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4which 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. 5Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7But 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. 8The 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 functioning. 9This 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. 10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
Introduction:
Our subject is the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ who is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Presented to us are two ministries which are in sharp contrast. The Levitical service, the ministry of the Aaronic priesthood, was carried out in an earthly Tabernacle down here. That sanctuary on earth was merely a type of the one which is in heaven, the sanctuary in which the Lord Jesus is serving today. This sanctuary in heaven provides for better worship. A great many people consider the Law from the standpoint of the Ten Commandments, but the Epistle to the Hebrews approaches the Law from the viewpoint of its place of worship and its priesthood. That approach puts the emphasis on the settling of sins, and as the writer will point out, the law never really settled the sin question. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb. 10:4).
We have never seen the heavenly sanctuary. Yet we believe what the Bible tells us about it. We realize that God is not worshipped today in temples made with hands (Acts 7:46-50). There is no special place on earth where God dwells (see Isa 57:15; 66:1-2; John 4:19-24). We may call a local church building a “House of God,” but we know God does not live there. The building is dedicated to God and His service, but it is not His dwelling place.
Hebrews 9 presents a contrast between the Old Covenant Sanctuary (the tabernacle) and the New Covenant heavenly sanctuary where Jesus Christ now ministers. This contrast makes it clear that the New Covenant sanctuary is superior. The New Covenant tells us that vital worship is standing in the presence of God with all our defenses down in order to experience communion with God. Worship is an experience of amazement and unworthiness, and, at times, it is an attempt to probe a mystery and to understand what God did for us in Christ.
Hebrews reminds readers that the regulations and practices in the tabernacle were ordained by God. If there was any inferiority in the tabernacle service, it was not because God had not established the ritual. While the Old Covenant was in force, the ministry of the priests was ordained of God and perfectly proper.
What was it, then, that made the tabernacle inferior? There are five answers to that question (see verses. 1, 2-5, 6-7, 8, 9-10).
Commentary
1Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
An “earthly sanctuary” does not mean earthly as we usually think of it, but it means a sanctuary of this earth; that is; it was made by man (Heb. 9:11) of materials obtained from this earth (Heb. 8:2). It was made so long, so wide, and so high, and there was a ritual the people went through in the sanctuary down here. In that since it was of the earth (our world). The writer is going to further contrast it with the sanctuary that is in heaven.
The Jewish people generously brought their gifts to Moses, and from these materials the tabernacle was constructed. Then God gave spiritual wisdom and skill to Bezalel and Oboliab to do the intricate work of making several parts of the tabernacle and its furnishings (see Ex. 35-36). After the construction was completed, the sanctuary was put in place and dedicated to God (Ex. 40). Even though the glory of God moved into the sanctuary, it was still an earthly building, constructed by humans out of earthly materials.
Since it was an earthly building, it had several weaknesses. For one thing it would need a certain amount of repair. Also, it was limited geography; if it were pitched in one place, it could not be in another place. It had to be dismantled and the various parts carried from place to place. Furthermore, it belonged to the nation of Israel, not to the world.
2A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place.
“A tabernacle was set up (made)” -it was a tent-like structure in which God dwelt among the Israelites from the time of their encampment at Mount Sinai to the building of the temple. Notice that we are not taken back to the temple. There is no reference made to Herod’s temple for the sake of this illustration. Although the third temple was then in existence, when the type is given the writer goes beyond them all to that remarkably simple structure God gave to Moses in the wilderness. “There was a tabernacle made” and it was made of things of this world. It was patterned after the one in heaven, but it was inferior in many ways, as we shall see. There was, first, the outer court of the tabernacle, which was 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. It was covered with a curtain of white linen, symbolizing the wall of holiness that surrounded the presence of God. In this court stood the alter of burnt offerings made of acacia wood sheathed in brass. The sacrifice was laid on that alter where it was slain and burned. There also stood a laver where the priests cleansed themselves before performing their sacred duties.
The tabernacle itself was divided into two compartments. The first was 30 feet long. “This was called the Holy Place” which contained “the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread.” The tabernacle proper was just a big gold box thirty cubits (about forty-five feet) long, ten cubits (about fifteen feet wide), and ten cubits high, in which there were certain articles of furniture, the table with the twelve loaves of show bread {1], and the seven-branched golden lampstand. Since there were no windows in the tabernacle, this lampstand provided the necessary light for the priests’ ministry in the “Holy Place.” The nation of Israel was supposed to be a light to the nations (Isa. 42:6; 49:6). Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Then, in the background was the golden alter, the alter of incense, which speaks of prayer -no sacrifices were ever made there.
The second compartment was the “Holy of Holies,” which is described in verses 3-5.
3Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
4which 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.
5Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
In the “Most Holy Place” (which was separated from the Holy Place by a veil and into which only the high priest entered), there were two articles of furniture. There was the “ark,” which was just a box made of gopher wood and overlaid inside and outside with gold, and on top of the ark was a highly ornamented top called the mercy seat. It was fashioned with “cherubim,” made of pure gold, looking down upon the top of the box. That was where the blood was placed and that was what made it a mercy seat -for “without shedding of blood is no remission” of sins.
“Which had the golden altar of incense.” Notice that a change has been made -we are told that the Golden altar {2] is inside the “Most Holy Place, which was usually called the ”Holy of Holies.” Why has it been moved to the inside? The veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies was made of fine twine Egyptian byssus linen colored blue, purple and scarlet- with the cherubim woven into it, and it spoke of the humanity of the Lord Jesus. When He died on the cross, He gave His life, His human life, and at that time the veil was rent in Twain. So, the veil, which was torn in two has been removed, signifying that the way to God is wide open, because Christ has made a way. He said, “no man, cometh to the Father, but by me” (see John 14: 6). The veil has been rent in twain and we can come right into God's presence today. But what happened to the Golden sensor or the Golden altar? It has been moved inside the Holy of Holies. Aaron on the great Day of Atonement came with the blood to sprinkle upon the mercy seat, taking a sensor filled with coals and with incense in it, and he went inside the Holy of Holies. He was transferring, as it were, the altar of incense to the inside. He took the sensor of burning coals from off the altar with sweet incense on it and took it into the Holy of Holies, but he brought it back out again. And he had to do that again the next year and then again, the next.
However, we have a great High Priest, who is our intercessor always at the Golden Alter making intercession for us. His prayers are heard, by the way. Therefore, the Golden Alter is on the inside, but it is also on the outside, because you and I can come through prayer. That is what Paul meant when he said, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1-2).
The writer mentions the things which were in the ark. “This ark contained the gold jar of manna” -this speaks of the present ministry of Christ. He feeds those who are His own. He feeds them with His Word. He is the Bread of Life. The Bible is God’s bakery, and if you want bread, that is where you will go to get it.
“Aaron’s staff that had budded.” This speaks of the death and resurrection of Christ because it was a dead rod and life came into it.
“And the stone tablets of the covenant” speaks of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled all the law.
“But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.” The writer means he does not have time to dwell upon the tabernacle, because the things which he is emphasizing are not the priesthood and worship. He is concerned about what real worship is and how we are to worship.
6When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry.
7But 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.
“The priests entered regularly into the outer room” -they never finished the job. If they went today, they would be going again tomorrow, and the next day, and on and on and on. I believe it must have become very monotonous over the years for a priest to continually go through this ritual. The very repetition of it meant that it was not sufficient (not enough), that is, that one time would not due. However, we are going to see that Christ went once into the Holy Place -it was necessary for Him to go just one time.
“To carry on their ministry,” that is to say, “accomplishing the worship of God.” This was the goal of it all, that God’s people might worship Him. This is speaking of real worship, not just a church service where an order of service is followed. When real worship takes place, it is a worship that draws us into the presence of Christ where we can adore Him.
To worship means to give someone something of which they are worthy. The Lord Jesus Christ is worthy to receive our praise and adoration. During His temptation in the wilderness, the Lord Jesus answered Satan, “. . . For it is written, ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou worship’” (Matt. 4:10). You will not have to beg and coax and goad people into doing something if they are participating in real worship of Christ -because real worship leads to service. Such worship is possible only through Jesus Christ.
Since the writer is going to contrast Christ’s offering with the offerings of Judaism, he must first describe those which were required by the law. There were many he could choose from, but he selects the most important in the whole legal system, the sacrifice that was offered on the great Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). If he can prove Christ’s work to be superior to that of the high priest on that outstanding day of Israel’s religious calendar, then he has won his point.
We must not get the idea that the Jews assembled in the tabernacle for worship. The priests and Levites were permitted into the tabernacle precincts, but not the people from other tribes. Furthermore, thou the priests ministered in the holy place day after day, only the high priest entered the Holy of Holies, and that was only once a year. When he did, he had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins as well as the sins of the people. In contrast, the heavenly tabernacle is open to all the people of God, and at all times! (Heb. 10:19-25).
The writer of Hebrews stressed the divinity of Christ because he saw a sin which only God could forgive. If sin is only against man, then man can forgive it; but if it is against God, then only God can forgive it. No priest or ritual can do anything more than to announce or symbolize the terms by which God forgives sin. Jesus does more than forgive. He puts sin away (9:26). He cleanses us from “dead works” (9:14), the deeds that bring death, and he brings the renewal of life.
8The 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 functioning.
“The first tabernacle (the outer court; Heb. 9:6) was still functioning,” but only temporarily, for in the future it would be dismantled and replaced by the second. The fact that it was still standing was proof that God’s work of salvation for man had not yet been completed. The outer court stood between the people and the holy of holies! As long as the priests were ministering in the holy place, the way had not been opened into the presence of God. But when Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Matt. 27:50-51) and the way was opened into the holy of holies. There was no longer any more need for either the holy place or the holy of holies, for now believing sinners could come into the presence of God.
9This 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.
10They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The sacrifices offered and the blood applied to the mercy seat could never change the heart or conscience of a worshiper. All the ceremonies associated with the tabernacle had to do with ceremonial purity, not moral purity. They were “carnal ordinances” that pertained to the outer man but could not change the inner man.
Special Notes:
[1} Each sabbath the priests would remove the old loaves and put fresh loaves on the table. The old loaves could be eaten, but only by the priests.
[2} The Golden alter stood in the holy place just in front of the veil that divided the two parts of the tabernacle. The Golden Alter did not stand in the holy of holies, but its ministry pertained to the holy of holies. In what way? On the annual Day of Atonement, the high priest used coals from this alter to burn incense before the mercy seat within the veil (Lev. 16:12-14).
