Hebrews 9:15 -28

Intro

This let’s again open up to and briefly review where we have been in our discussion of the Tabernacle on earth and specifically the furniture and the ceremonies of the HP as they would go about their business and what all that represents for us.

So let’s read 1- 15

the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary;

lampstand - 7 branches, 7 fold ministry of the HS. The only source of light.

The table showbread - 12 loaves, one for each tribe

Golden altar of incense - supposed to be in the Holy Place, before the veil. Representing the prayers of the people.

and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.

The ark of the Covenant, 2 pieces really, the Ark (box) and the Mercy seat ( the lid). It contained the 10 commandments on stones tablets and the bowl of manna and Aarons rod that budded. The MS having the the Golden Cheribim and is where God would meet with the HP.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 9

Once a year on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, it would be the high priest’s privilege to go alone into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat and catch a glimpse of the Shekinah glory of God.

In Jesus’ day, here’s what would transpire: The week before Yom Kippur, the high priest would never leave the temple ground, for every day of that week, he would rehearse what he would do on the Day of Atonement. When that day finally came, arrayed in his high priestly robes, he would sacrifice a bull on the brass altar in the courtyard as a dedicatory offering. That done, he would take off his high priestly garments and put on his linen garments—long underwear, really, covered by a tunic and sash. Then he would sacrifice another bull as a sin offering for himself. At this point, two goats would be chosen by lot and a red scarlet cord would be tied around one, signifying it was the sacrificial goat. The other goat—the scapegoat—would be carried into the wilderness. Why two goats? Because our sins are not only forgiven—they are forgotten, carried away as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).

The priest would then take the coals from the outside altar with two handfuls of incense into the Holy Place. And as he put them on the altar of incense, a cloud would fill the room. Returning to the brass altar, he would carry the blood that had drained from the bull back into the Holy Place, and this time he would go through the veil into the Holy of Holies, where he would sprinkle the blood seven times on the ground and seven times on the mercy seat. After that, he would sacrifice the sacrificial goat and take its blood back into the Holy of Holies, where he would sprinkle it again seven times on the ground and seven times on the mercy seat. Finally, after sacrificing the bull and going into the Holy of Holies, and after sacrificing the goat and going into the Holy of Holies, he would come back out and place his hand upon the living goat, saying, “Bear and be gone.” In other words, “Bear the sin and take it away.”

Then, at last, the priest would stand before the people. With both hands, he would pronounce, “Forgiven,” and the people would begin to hoop and holler and celebrate because if the priest was not purified properly, if he went into the Holy Place presumptuously, his resulting death would signify that they weren’t forgiven. So the people always waited to see if the high priest would make it out of the Holy of Holies. Are we forgiven? they wondered. Did the sacrifices work? Is God pleased? Are we okay?

Don’t you see what happened concerning our High Priest? The whole world was watching—without even knowing for what they were watching. And our Great High Priest, wrapped in white linen, emerged from the Holy of Holies on Easter Sunday. The tomb was the Holy of Holies? Certainly, for when the disciples peeked in that morning, they saw a bench sprinkled with blood—His blood where His body had lain. And we are told by the Gospel writer that on either end of the bench sat an angel. Thus the picture of a blood-sprinkled mercy seat was complete. When Jesus emerged from the tomb on the third day, it was a declaration of forgiveness—not just for a year, but for eternity.

So we learn that the tabernacle is divided into 3 sections: the courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Chapter 9

Here’s the question: Where are you in your walk with the Lord?

Maybe you’re in the courtyard, saying, “I’m saved. The sacrifice was made for me. Praise the Lord, I’m forgiven!” Many of you are in that place, and that’s terrific—but there’s more.…

Move out of the courtyard and into the Holy Place, where you can serve—where you’re trimming the lamps, that is, letting your light shine for others; where you’re changing the showbread, that is, feeding others; where you’re involved in offering incense, that is, praying for others. The outer courtyard is the place of salvation. The Holy Place is the place of service. Most of us in this room have realized and celebrated our salvation and are now engaged in service. But there’s a deeper, better place. It’s called the Holy of Holies—it’s being in the presence of the Lord.

“Tell Mary to come and help me, Lord,” cried Martha.

“Oh, Martha, Mary has chosen the better part—sitting in My presence,” answered Jesus (see Luke 10:40–42).

“What a waste,” complained Judas as Mary anointed Jesus’ head with costly perfume. “That money could have been used to feed the poor.”

“On the contrary,” said Jesus. “What she has done will be spoken of throughout the world for all time” (see Matthew 26:13).

Gang, the highest, deepest, richest place to be is sitting in the presence of the Lord. I believe there may come a day when we as Christians finally understand that it’s not what we’re doing for Him in the Holy Place, but being with Him in the Holy of Holies that matters. There is nothing that more closely approximates heaven than being in the presence of the Lord.

“But there’s a problem,” you might be saying. “When I go into the Holy of Holies, when I spend time in the presence of the Lord, my sin is ever before me. I see huge splotches on the garments I thought were fairly white.”

You’re in good company, for when did Isaiah cry, “Woe is me. I am a man of unclean lips”? When he was in the presence of the Lord (see Isaiah 6). But the good news is this: An awareness of sin ushers in repentance. “Lord, I’m not what I thought I was, and I’m not who I want to be.” You know, I never have those thoughts when I’m playing racquetball. So if I fill my life with enough activity, I never have to deal with the splotches. People immerse themselves in hobbies, recreation, or even ministry because if they stay busy enough, they can walk around feeling pretty clean.

It’s only when I come with you and sit before the Lord or have a quiet time in the morning hour that I say, “I’m dirty.” And conscious repentance results in unconscious holiness. For although we leave the Holy of Holies feeling as though we’re not worthy, as though we’re inadequate, as though we’re inconsistent—others see in us a holiness of which we are not even aware.

When Moses descended from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments, although he didn’t realize it, his face glowed (Exodus 34:29). Likewise, there are young men, older women, middle age guys in this room tonight who will choose to go deeper in the Lord, saying, “I’m not going to be satisfied in the courtyard celebrating salvation. And I’m not even going to be satisfied trimming wicks, changing bread, and offering incense. I’m going to be one who goes into the Holy of Holies.”

If you make that decision, God’s greatness, grace, and glory will cause you to repent and say, “I’m nothing.”

But people around you will say, “Man, you’re glowing. Share with us. Help us.”

Truly, a man who has been in the presence of God will, like Isaiah, say, “Woe is me.” But he’ll be used. He’ll be blessed. He’ll glow because conscious repentance leads to unconscious holiness.

Regarding Vs 13, 14 - Ashes of the red heifer.

 Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD has commanded, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come. 3 You shall give it to Eleazar the priest, that he may take it outside the camp, and it shall be slaughtered before him; 4 and Eleazar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood seven times directly in front of the tabernacle of meeting. 5 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: its hide, its flesh, its blood, and its offal shall be burned. 6 And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and cast them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer. 7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, he shall bathe in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp; the priest shall be unclean until evening. 8 And the one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water, bathe in water, and shall be unclean until evening. 9 Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification;[fn] it is for purifying from sin. 10 And the one who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until evening. It shall be a statute forever to the children of Israel and to the stranger who dwells among them.

Video

So we see that all these things were put in place as God commanded to represent the message of the Gospel to us.

Let’s read 15 - 28

And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death: Jesus’ work as a Mediator is fundamentally accomplished at His death. His heavenly work of mediation looks back to that perfect sacrifice.

For the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant: Jesus’ payment on the cross accomplished redemption for those under the first covenant. Every sin offering made in faith under the Law was an IOU cashed in at the cross.

Vs 16 -22

For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Without shedding of blood there is no remission: This is a foundational principle of God’s dealings with men. Modern people think that sin is remitted (forgiven) by time, by our good works, by our decent lives, or by simply death. But there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood, and there is no perfect forgiveness without a perfect sacrifice.

Blood is a big deal to God. Think of some examples:

Garden of Eden

Cain and Able

Eating of Blood forbidden

Vs 23 -28

Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another; He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Christ’s blood is sufficient, one time for all time. He is the perfect sacrifice. “God will provide “Himself” a lamb.”

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many: Just as certainly as we die once and then face judgment, so Jesus only had to die once (not repeatedly, not continually) to bear our sins.

“A man dies once, and after that everything is fixed and settled, and he answers for his doings at the judgment. One life, one death – then everything is weighed, and the result declared: ‘after this the judgment.’ So Christ comes, and dies once; and after this, for him also the result of what he has done, namely, the salvation of those who look for him. He dies once, and then reaps the fixed result, according to the analogy of the human race, of which he became a member and representative.” (Spurgeon)

Though it was not really the point of the writer to the Hebrews to discuss reincarnation, he certainly and completely denies it here.