An Ineffective Antidote for Sin Hebrews 9: vv. 1–10

1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 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; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

I. An Ineffective Sanctuary (vv. 1–5)

1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 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; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

A. The first covenant provided both regulations for worship and a place for worship.

The place for worship was an earthly sanctuary. Earthly did not suggest any feature displeasing to God. It pointed out that the tabernacle was material, imperfect, and temporary. The earthly tabernacle belonged to this world, but Jesus ministered in heaven.

The old tabernacle had two parts. First indicated the room closer to the entrance from the outer courtyard—the Holy Place. A curtain separated the Holy Place from the second part of the old tabernacle—the Most Holy Place . Second distinguished this curtain from the curtain between the outer court and the Holy Place.

Once a year on the Day of Atonement the high priest passed through this curtain into God’s presence. This veil symbolized the barrier between a holy God and sinful people.

B. Restricted access

The Holy Place was approximately thirty feet long, fifteen feet wide, and fifteen feet high. This room contained a lampstand, a table, and the bread of the presence (Exod. 35:10–29). The lampstand illuminated the first tent. The glorious presence of God illuminated the second tent.

The information given about the structure and furnishings of the tabernacle provides a useful prelude to a description of the annual Day of Atonement. In the course of this festival the high priest went beyond the outer tent, where ordinary priests served, into the Holy of Holies.

A heavy curtain kept ordinary priests out of the inner sanctuary. This arrangement would certainly have to be changed to something better if the access was to be made available to all. As long as that division existed between the outer and inner tent, the way was not yet opened.

C. In this Most Holy Place the ark of the covenant represented the dwelling place of God.

Within the ark were Israel’s most treasured possessions: the jar of manna which never spoiled; Aaron’s staff which had sprouted and borne fruit when Aaron’s priesthood had been challenged by the heads of the other tribes, and the actual tables of the law which Moses had brought down from the mountain, written on by the finger of God.

The cherubim situated above the ark symbolized the presence of God. They overshadowed the atonement cover, also called the mercy seat. The high priest sprinkled this part of the ark with blood on the Day of Atonement.

II. . Ineffective Ceremonies (vv. 6–10)

6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

A. Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place.

The priests regularly came into the Holy Place to carry out their ministry. They lighted the lamps daily, replaced the loaves of bread every Sabbath, and burned incense on the golden altar. The daily repetition of these ministries showed that they never resulted in access to God.

the high priest only enter the Most Holy Place, on the Day of Atonement. Leviticus 16:12–16 suggests that he entered twice on that day, once with blood for his own sin and again with blood for the sins of the people.

The use of blood showed that the priest had offered a sacrifice for sin, but the ceremonies of the Day of Atonement did not bring access to God.

B. Under the old covenant, the high priest could only atone for sins … committed in ignorance.

No atonement was available for sins committed willfully. No atonement was offered here for transgressions and offences which were of a deliberate nature. Man was seriously troubled by the fact that he had sinned not only inadvertently, through carelessness or ignorance, but consciously and rebelliously

The fact that the priest offered this sacrifice annually showed that it never succeeded in completely removing sin.

C. What do these details mean?

The existence of the outer sanctuary showed that the Old Testament ceremonies limited access to God’s presence. Once a year the high priest alone could enter the inner sanctuary. But how limited and incomplete all of this was!

Ordinary people had no access to God. Under the new covenant, all believers could enter into the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. Jesus opened access to God. Now all believers at all times had the right to come to God. What a privilege!

If the old sacrifices could not bring common people to God, what good were they? These gifts and sacrifices were imperfect and temporary. God’s people enjoy the privilege of undeserved remission and eternal security. Are sins are remembered no more and are names are enrolled in heaven. This is the staggering message of a better hope, of a new covenant and an eternal redemption. Only Christ can do this.