Hebrews 9:1-10

Intro John 2:10

Previously

In chapters 1-8, the sermon of Hebrews has described Jesus in many ways. He is better than all of the old laws or distractions. Now, we move into the shorter section describing the New Covenant ministry of Jesus. Without the law, how do we know what to do?

Questions

How many times have you hugged your daughter?

How do you move through a grocery store? Do you have a specific door, path, checkout? Have you ever walked out the back door with a cart full of food?

How can you tell when someone wants to end a conversation?

Introduction to the OT elements

God wants his people to approach him, but there are barriers.

When God gave Moses the Law on Mt. Sinai, that first covenant had many rules for worship. That’s why we call the whole of the pre-Jesus books of the Bible the Old Testament. “Testament” is an old English word for covenant (perpetual agreement between people). So we call the whole of the pre-Jesus writings the Old Covenant, except we kept the old English word for it.

From Wikipedia:

The English word tabernacle is derived from the Latin tabernāculum meaning "tent" or "hut", which in ancient Roman religion was a ritual structure. The Hebrew word mishkan implies "dwell", "rest", or "to live in". In Greek, including the Septuagint, it is translated σκηνή (skēnē), itself a Semitic loanword meaning "tent."

Hebrews 9:1–10 CSB

Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves. Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place. It had the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. The cherubim of glory were above the ark overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now. With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing. This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience. They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.

The first tabernacle is a parable for the present time.

Applications:

God wants to be approached. The Holy God wants to have a face-to-face relationship with you and me.

God is very particular on how he is approached. You can’t dig your way into the back of the tent. God killed two of Aaron’s sons who approached him in the wrong way. God is holy and must be approached in a holy way.

Therefore, we can tell from the OT that there is a specific way to know God. Sincere faith in a false god or religion, is still wrong. We don’t get to find our own path.

There was a rhythm of how priests interacted with God. Israelites interacted with God different ways on different holy days. Just like we interact with our close family in different, yet repeating ways, we also approach God in rhythmic, but not monotonous ways.

1 Peter 2:9–10 CSB

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

5. Just like the the “physical regulations” were “imposed until the time of the new order,” we live now looking forward to seeing God face to face.

6. Just like the Ark of the Covenant held remnants of God’s wonderful works (Aaron’s staff, manna, tablets), so we should carry with us the memories of God’s wonderful works.

In the rest of chapter 9 we will look at how the old tabernacle could not clear our consciences, but Jesus can.