THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY

INTRODUCTION

The main points in The Epistle to the Hebrews are rather simple…

The superiority of Christ - Heb 1:1-7:28

The superiority of the New Covenant - Heb 8:7-10:18

In the transition passage of Heb 8:1-6, we find...

The first point summarized - Heb 8:1

The second point introduced - Heb 8:2-6

In demonstrating the superiority of the New Covenant, three points are made...

The New Covenant is based upon “better promises”

The New Covenant pertains to a “better sanctuary”

The New Covenant provides a “better sacrifice”

In Heb 8:7-13 we read of the “better promises”...

Foretold through the prophet Jeremiah - cf. Jer 31:31-34

In which God promised a closer relationship with His people, made possible by the forgiveness of sin

In chapter nine, our attention is now drawn to the matter of the “better sanctuary” provided by the New Covenant...

To appreciate the author’s argument, we must be acquainted with the sanctuary of the first

Therefore we find a brief discussion concerning “The Earthly Sanctuary” - Heb 9:1-10

We could turn back to the books of Exodus and Leviticus to read about the earthly sanctuary, but in our text we find a helpful and concise summary. Beginning with...

DISCUSSION

THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY: ITS DESCRIPTION (9:1-5)

The Holy Place

Hebrews 9:2 ASV 1901

2 For there was a tabernacle prepared, the first, wherein were the candlestick, and the table, and the showbread; which is called the Holy place.

This was the first part of the tabernacle, in which the priests entered daily

Inside of it were...

The candlestick or lamp stand - cf. Exo 25:31-40; 26:35

Placed next to the south wall of the tabernacle

Made of gold and had seven lamps for burning olive oil

It was never allowed to go out

The table and the showbread - Exo 25:23-30; 26:35; Lev 24:5-9

A table overlaid with gold

On which were kept twelve loaves of bread, in two rows of six

Fresh loaves were brought in each Sabbath, and the old were eaten by the priests - cf. 1 Sam 21:3-6; Mt 12:3,4

The Holiest of All

Hebrews 9:3–5 ASV 1901

3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of holies; 4 having a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was a golden pot holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5 and above it cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy-seat; of which things we cannot now speak severally.

This was the part of the tabernacle behind the veil, also called “The Most Holy” - Exo 26:31-33

This innermost room of the tabernacle, the holiest place in the worship of Israel, had...

The golden altar of incense (golden censor, KJV)

The golden altar of incense was actually in the Holy Place, just on the other side of the veil separating the two rooms - Exo 30:1-10

On this altar sweet spices were continually burned with fire taken from the brazen altar (which was outside the tabernacle)

The morning and evening services were begun by the high priest offering incense on this altar

Once a year, the High Priest would take a censer of burning coals from this altar along with incense into The Most Holy Place - Lev 16:12

2) It is appropriate to say The Most Holy Place “had” the golden altar...

For the smoke of the daily incense would permeate through the veil, and as such be “a perpetual incense before the LORD” - Exo 30:8

The annual ceremony on the Day of Atonement connected in a tangible way the altar of incense with The Most Holy Place - Lev 16:12

The ark of the covenant

A chest made of acacia wood, about four feet long by two and half feet high and wide - Exo 25:10-16

Covered with gold, it was the most sacred thing in the tabernacle

In it contained...

The golden pot that had the manna - Exo 16:32-34

Aaron’s rod that budded - Num 17:1-11

The tablets of the covenant - Deut 10:1-5

Covering the ark was the mercy seat - Exo 25:17-22

This lid, covered with gold, was topped with two cherubim (with wings stretched upward, and their faces “toward each other and toward the mercy seat.”)

The Lord was said to appear in a cloud above the mercy seat - Lev 16:2; Num 7:89; 2 Kin 19:5

As stated by the author himself, “of these things we cannot now speak in detail (NKJ)”. But a little more is now said regarding the ritual of the earthly sanctuary...

THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY: ITS RITUAL (9:6-7)

The Ritual of the Holy Place

Hebrews 9:6 ASV 1901

6 Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services;

Every morning and evening, the priests would go into The Holy Place “accomplishing the services”…

They would trim the lamps on the lamp stand - Exo 27:20-21

They would offer incense on the altar of incense - Exo 30:7-8

On the Sabbath, the priests would replace the show bread - Lev 25:4-9

But none went into The Most Holy Place during these daily services

The Ritual of the Most Holy Place

Hebrews 9:7 ASV 1901

7 but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offereth for himself, and for the errors of the people:

Once a year, only the high priest entered The Most Holy Place - Lev 16:2

On the Day of Atonement

The tenth day of the seventh month - Lev 16:29

The high priest would do three things:

Offer the incense to cloud the mercy seat - Lev 16:12-13

Sprinkle the mercy seat with the blood of a bull, as a sin offering for himself and his family - Lev 16:11, 14

Sprinkle the mercy seat with the blood of a goat, as a sin offering for the people - Lev 16:15

In this way he offered blood for his own sins and those of the people committed in ignorance - Heb 9:7

With this summary of the ritual of the earthly sanctuary, we are reminded of the sort of services rendered under the first covenant.

But what was the true purpose of such service?

And did the sacrifices provide complete redemption?

These questions are addressed in the next verses...

THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY: ITS SYMBOLISM AND LIMITATION (9:8-10)

Hebrews 9:8–10 ASV 1901

8 the Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest, while the first tabernacle is yet standing; 9 which is a figure for the time present; according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect, 10 being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

It was Symbolic

As already stated, the tabernacle and its service was “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things”

Hebrews 8:4–5 ASV 1901

4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve that which is a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount.

Colossians 2:16–17 ASV 1901

16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a feast day or a new moon or a sabbath day: 17 which are a shadow of the things to come; but the body is Christ’s.

Thus it was “figurative for the time present” - Heb 9:9

Symbolizing what eventually would occur when Christ came

Symbolizing what Christ has now done in reality when He entered heaven…

Hebrews 9:11–12 ASV 1901

11 But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:24–26 ASV 1901

24 For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us: 25 nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; 26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

The Holy Spirit was thus indicating that “the way into the holy place hath not yet been made manifest” - Heb 9:8

There were Limitations

The gifts and sacrifices could not make one perfect in regard to the conscience - Heb 9:9; cf. Heb 9:14; 10:1-4

The ceremonies involved “carnal ordinances imposed until the time of reformation” - Heb 9:10

Just as the sanctuary was “earthly”, the ordinances were “fleshly”

In contrast to that which is heavenly, spiritual

Indeed, all of the ritual was designed to impact the physical side of man

I.e., his senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch)

E.g., the burning of incense, the blowing of trumpets, the vestments

Such ordinances were designed to be temporary

Until “the time of reformation”, when changes in worship would be made

Indeed, now God expects “spiritual” worship - cf. Jn 4:21-24

Worship that is more in keeping with God’s true nature (Spirit)

Worship that focuses on the inner man

E.g., singing, where the emphasis is on melody made in the heart - cf. Eph 5:19; Col 3:16

Even in the Lord’s Supper, which has physical elements, the emphasis is on the communion we share in the body of and blood of Jesus as we commemorate His death - cf. 1 Cor 11:23-26; 10:16-17

Therefore we should not be surprised to learn that the early church did not simply institute the fleshly ordinances of the first covenant into their worship

CONCLUSION

The earthly sanctuary and its fleshly ordinances served God’s purpose well...

It revealed the terrible nature and high price of sin

It revealed the need for the shedding of blood to provide the remission of sin

It prepared people for the coming of the ultimate sacrifice and complete redemption

But as useful as it was, it was temporary and symbolic...

A copy and shadow of what was to come

Designed to vanish away when what it represented came to pass

As we shall see more fully in our next study...

Christ has come and entered into “the greater and more perfect tabernacle”

He has “obtained eternal redemption”

He has made it possible to “purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God”

Why would one ever wish to go back to the earthly sanctuary and its fleshly ordinances? Why do some people wish to introduce Old Testament practices into the worship of the Lord’s church?

It can only be a failure to appreciate what we now have in Christ, and the kind of worshippers God now desires. As Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well...

John 4:23–24 ASV 1901

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be his worshippers. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Are we worshipping God the way He desires? Or whatever way that appeals to our fleshly senses and personal desires? Brethren, think on these things...