Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Scripture

Outline

Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken

Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels

Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning

Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory

Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers

Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest

Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses

Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus

Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People

Hebrews 4:14-7:26 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is the Great High Priest

Hebrews 5:1-10 - Jesus is the High Priest After the Order of Melchizedek

Hebrews 5:11-6:20 - Warning and Exhortation

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Failure to Mature

Hebrews 6:1-8 - Pursue Maturity

Hebrews 6:9-12 - Loving Motivation

Hebrews 6:13-20 - The Promise of God’s Word and God’s Oath

Hebrews 7:1-10 - The Greatness of Melchizedek

Hebrews 7:11-19 - Jesus’ Priesthood is Needed

Hebrews 7:20-28 - Jesus Guarantees a Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-10:18 - Jesus is the Greater Covenant

Hebrews 8:1-6 - Jesus Mediates a Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:7-13 - The Promise of the New Covenant

Hebrews 9:1-10 - The Earthly Tabernacle Points to What Would Come

Hebrews 9:1-5 - The Earthly Tabernacle

Hebrews 9:6-10 - The Earthly Tabernacle is Limited

Purpose of Book

Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise

Main Point

The first covenant had regulations for worship in the tabernacle, but those regulations were unable to perfect the conscience of the worshiper

Hebrews 9:1-5 - The Earthly Tabernacle

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.

First covenant

These regulations are detailed in Exodus 25-31; 35-39

The old covenant had specific regulations regarding righteous living

The first covenant had a place for worship (Mosaic tabernacle), but it was earthly, temporary, and had limitations

This sanctuary was in direct contrast to the heavenly sacrifice of Christ that is eternal

For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence.

It is called the Holy Place.

Tent

The tabernacle of the wilderness/exodus generation

The lampstand

The table

The bread of the Presence

It is called the Holy Place

Behind the second curtain was a second section call the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.

Second curtain

Marks the entrance of the inner chamber

Golden altar of incense

The ark of the covenant

Golden urn holding manna

Aaron’s staff that budded

Tablets of the covenant

Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat.

Cherubim of glory

Overshadowing the mercy seat

Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

Much could be said about the significance of the tabernacle furnishings

Hebrews 9:6-10 - The Earthly Tabernacle is Limited

These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.

Regularly into the first section:

Incense offerings

Loaves

Lamps

Sacrifices

Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16) - Once a year

Once a year

Not without blood

Offers for himself

Unintentional sins of the people

By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age).

The tabernacle was a symbol that was temporary, it had much deeper meaning (negative - inadequate) than the Jews could have understood

Ordinary people were unable to point into the inner chamber past the second curtain signifying access to God was closed

As long as the first covenant is in place, the people can only have access to God once a year through a high priest

The tabernacle itself pointed to Christ, but this was unknown until after the work of Christ

According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper,

Gifts and sacrifices

Reference to Leviticus 1-7; 16

The tabernacle sacrifices did not make the conscience of the worshiper complete - There was no full forgiveness of sins

This is why the new covenant, prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34, was necessary

The external law/laws were unable to produce obedience, but the internal does

But deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

The old covenant regulations (food, drink, and various washings) were specifically external and thus could not provide internal cleanses

The author does not disparage the first covenant, instead he places it in light of the salvific storyline understanding that it was temporary and pointing to the new covenant

The new covenant provided corrections/reformations to the old covenant because it was incomplete

Furthermore the old covenant was entirely replaced/made obsolete by the new covenant

Application

The tabernacle/offerings were temporary and pointed to something much, much greater

Now, all those in the new covenant have access to God at any time

Main Point

The first covenant had regulations for worship in the tabernacle, but those regulations were unable to perfect the conscience of the worshiper