Hebrews 9:1-14 - Jesus Has A Better Ministry Than The Temple Hand Under The First Covenant
These Jews had a tendency to place their confidence in three things. They would rest in these things and put their hope in these three things. Because of this many Jews refused the gospel and would not turn to Christ. These Jews trusted in the Levitical Priests and the office that they had, the Tabernacle with all its furniture, and the duties that the priests engaged in as they offered up sacrifices for themselves and for the people.1
These three things (the priestly office, the Tabernacle, and the sacrifices) had to be addressed if these Jewish believers were to cling to Christ solely for their salvation. In chapter 7 the author of Hebrews addressed the fact that Jesus was better than the Levitical Priests. In chapter 8 he addressed the fact that Jesus serves in a better Tabernacle. Now in Hebrews 9 he shows that Jesus’ service and sacrifice is better than those offered under the Old Testament.
Our text this morning can be divided into three sections which we follow as our outline.
Hebrews 9:1-5 speaks of the first covenant regulations for worship and the place of Worship.
Hebrews 9:6-10 speaks of three limitations of the of the Old Covenant Worship: limited access, limited purification, limited pardon.
Hebrews 9:11-14 speaks of the blessings that we have under this New Covenant.
Our text says,
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 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. 3 Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 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. 5 Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7 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. 8 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 9 (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Hebrews 9:1-5: The First Covenant Regulations And The Earthly Place Of Holiness
In Hebrews 8:13the author of Hebrews has just made an astounding statement. He said, “In speaking of the new covenant, He makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”
When God spoke through the prophets about a New Covenant that was to come He showed that the Mosaic Covenant would be replaced. This had to happen because the old covenant was not able to perfect the worshipers. The old covenant could not provide life, righteousness and justification to the people (Galatians 3:21-22). We learned in Hebrews 8 that under that covenant God could not show them mercy and forgive them and remember their sins no more(Hebrews 8:4-12). Because of these things God promised to provide a new covenant and a better covenant. As a result, the old covenant was becoming obsolete, growing old, and was ready to pass away.
Even as these Jewish Christians read this letter the Temple in Jerusalem was in full operation. The Levitical priests were still offering sacrifices daily, they were still performing their duties, once a year the High Priest entered into the Holy of Holies to offer the blood of a sacrifice for the sins of the people.
When Jesus died upon the cross the old covenant with all of its regulations became obsolete and vanished away. New ordinances were established for the people to worship God. However, you may not have recognized that all of this had happened if you simply drew conclusions based upon what you were observing going on all around you.
These things would continue to be done until Jerusalem was conquered and the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. These very events had been predicted by Jesus in passages like Matthew 24:1-2, Luke 21:5-9, Mark 13:1. Until that time the author of Hebrews can accurately describe these things being done at the Temple as if they were still ‘becoming obsolete and growing old and ready to vanish away.’
And yet, as we come to Hebrews 9:1 the author makes it clear that something profound has already happened which only those who are aided by the Holy Spirit can understand from the Scriptures (9:8). He makes it clear that although so many things were still being observed by the Jews that there had already been a change made with the covenant.
To see this let’s consider what he says in verse one, “Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness”. The verb ‘had’ is in the past tense. The author of Hebrews is making clear that the old covenant had passed away. The regulations and ordinances pertaining to worship had become obsolete. And now, these things have been replaced by a New and better covenant.
Many Jews would have asked how God could have annulled a covenant that He had instituted? The author of Hebrews answers this question by showing them that God had instituted the first covenant as a type, a shadow, and as a pattern of the heavenly things (8:5). He has reminded them that these things were to point them to the anti-type when it would arrive. And now that the Christ has come the first covenant has been annulled and replaced with the covenant that God had promised (Hebrews 8).
In Hebrews 9:2-5 we are given a brief description of the ‘earthly place of worship’. Remarkably, the author only spends four verses, 90 words, reviewing these things. I say remarkably because the descriptions of these things in the Old Testament are quite extensive. For example, in the book of Exodus God gives the details concerning these preparations in Exodus 25-40. The LORD spends 15 chapters, or 6,200 words in the ESV, to describe these details to Moses and to His people (Exodus 25-40).
Herman Wirsius once said, “God created the whole world in six days, but He used forty days to instruct Moses about the Tabernacle. Just over one chapter of the Bible was needed to describe the structure of the world (Genesis 1&2), but He uses many more to describe the structure of the Tabernacle.”2
There is much more that can be said about the significance of every detail concerning these things but after giving just a brief description of the tent and the furniture in it the author of Hebrews is ready to move on.
The author of Hebrews spends only enough time on these things to point out that there were two sections to this tent: the holy place and the most holy place; the outer tabernacle and the inner tabernacle. He speaks briefly of some of the items placed in these sections and then the author is ready to make his next point. He does not want to give to many details even if in doing so they would provide grace to the readers.
The author here reminds me of Paul in 2 Corinthians when he says, "When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.” (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)
Similarly, the author of Hebrews does not want to dwell upon these things. He is intent to lead these believers to Christ and so he quickly moves away from these things that may distract them. Therefore he says at the end of Hebrews 9:5, “Of these things we cannot now speak in detail”.
[As I have studied for this sermon I read a lot of commentaries about these verses. Many commentaries spent no more time on these things than the author of Hebrews did. They often warned of trying to be smarter than the author concerning these types and shadows and what they mean. Other commentaries spent a lot of time speaking about the significance of the types and shadows and what they represented. Some I found very encouraging and full of wisdom and grace. The points that they made seemed consistent with Scripture and with redemptive history. Others, however, seemed to stretch the limits of reasonable interpretation beyond what I was comfortable with. Sometimes this is discouraging to see that there are so many conclusions that can be made about these things. At some point you may want to explore these types and shadows for yourself so let me give you six helpful tools to interpreting these things well. 1. Believe that everything in Scripture is inspired and that it is meant to lead us to Christ. 2. Read Scripture devotionally. Pray over it, meditate on it, thank God for it, apply it. 3. Read the Old Covenant in light of the New Testament. 4. Read it as having been fulfilled by Christ. 5. Interpret it simply and ask what is the significance of this passage? 6. Let it instruct you in holiness.]3
Hebrews 9:6-10 Three Limitations Under The Old Covenant
In 2 Corinthians 2:12-13 Paul stated that he took his leave of the people in Troas to go to Mascedonia. He shared the Good News to the people in Troas but then he left because his heart found no rest until he could locate Timothy.
The author of Hebrews has given the readers of this letter so much Good News about Christ already. He wants them to join him in his pursuit of Christ. He wants those who are reading this letter to come with him but some seem to still be reluctant and hesitant to come with him. Their hearts are still inclined to worship the LORD according to the first covenant with its regulations and ordinances.
To change their minds, and to help incline their hearts towards trust in Christ, the author of Hebrews will describe three limitations of the First Covenant in Hebrews 9:6-10. The Old Covenant had limited access, it provided limited cleansing, and it gave limited pardon to the people. Because of these limitations if a person rejects the Good News and chooses to remain under that old, obsolete and vanishing system they would not be blessed and enjoy a close and personal relationship with the LORD.
Before we consider these three things in these verses we should notice that these limitations had nothing to do with the way the things were prepared. The preparations had been made and the Tabernacle and its furnishings were all in place. Hebrews 9:6 begins with the words, “These preparations having thus been made…”. All of the things addressed in Hebrews 9:1-5 were completed and placed in the Tabernacle just as God had commanded. We even discover in Exodus 31:3 that the Holy Spirit enabled chosen individuals to complete the work on the Tabernacle and all of its furnishings just as it had been prescribed. We also read in Exodus 35-36 that the Holy Spirit moved the people who were to contribute to the work of building the Tabernacle and all of its furnishings so that they gave these things freely and willingly.
In Hebrews 8 we saw that the limitations were found in the people. The author of Hebrews spoke of this in Hebrews 8:8 when he wrote, “For finding fault with them (the people)…” (8:8). Then he quotes Jeremiah who prophesied, “Behold the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel...not like the covenant that I made with their fathers...For they did not continue in my covenant.” (8:8-9) We have also often seen that the priests were sinners and they had to continually offer sacrifices for themselves and also for the people (9:7)
Let’s now look at the limitations of the first covenant that can be seen in verses 6-10. First, we see that there was limited access into the presence of God under the Old Covenant. In Verses 6-8 we read, “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...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.”
Secondly, there was limited pardon under the Old Covenant. We are told in verse 7 that these rituals and offerings were offered for the unintentional sins to f the people. We read, “...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.”
Thirdly, there was limited cleansing and purification under the Old Covenant. We see in verses 9-10 that these gifts and sacrifices were not able to perfect the worshiper and their consciences. They were external washings and regulations that were only to be imposed until the time of reformation. We read, “According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.”
Stuart Olyott speaks of two of these three limitations when he says, “Everything in the tabernacle spoke of the need of cleansing, but it never gave it. It spoke all the time of the need and way of access, but never gave access.” Then he makes this powerful point when he says, “Everything connected with the tabernacle would have been worthless and pointless, if it had not all spoken of something to come!”4
Hebrews 9:11-14 Seven Ways That The New Covenant Is Better
Now that the author of Hebrews has shown the limitations of the first covenant, that it could only give limited access, limited pardon, and partial cleansing; these Jewish believers may be ready to cling to Jesus Christ and receive greater blessings through His mediation under the New Covenant. In verses 11-14 we are given seven ‘good things that have come’ when Christ appeared (11). One theologian summarizes these words by saying, “JESUS CHRIST is far superior in giving access to God because His physical work on earth accomplished spiritual and eternal things in heaven.”5 I would simply add some point to this regarding that Christ’s accomplishment which effects His people in a profoundly personal way. It imparts righteousness, life, it sanctifies, and a renewed conscience.
Hebrews 9:11-14 states, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Let me point out these seven good things that are available to all who will come to Christ.
We have a better priest. We read in verse 11, “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come…”.
Under the New Covenant Christ serves in a better sanctuary. We read in verse 11-12, “...then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places…”.
The New Covenant has a better sacrifice offered up for you and I. We read in verse 12, “... not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood…”.
Because of what Christ has done we enjoy a greater redemption which is eternal and secured. We read in verse 12, “...thus securing an eternal redemption.”
Under the New Covenant we have eternal redemption on the basis of one sacrifice. We read in verses 14, “...how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Through the New Covenant we can receive a pure conscience before God on the basis of Christ’s perfect sacrifice. We read in 14, “... how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience…”.
Through the New Covenant we are able to serve the living God. We read in verse 14, “...purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”
Ray Haas always says that sin is our greatest danger. When we sin we often stop serving God because we fail to know how to clear our conscience so that we can serve the LORD. Instead we are burdened down with guilt and condemnation and become unproductive for the LORD.
Today as we come to communion we have so many good things to consider concerning Christ and the sacrifice that He has offered up for us. We have so many blessings that have been granted to us through Christ. We have a great High Priest who mediates for us. Our great High Priest serves in a greater and perfect tent not made by human hands. Christ has offered Himself once and for all to purchase for you and I an eternal redemption and to purify our consciences so that we can serve the living God.
Having considered these things this morning can you say with David in Psalm 42, “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” David then asks, “When shall I come and appear before God?”
Right now you and I can celebrate communion to celebrate that our spiritual need has been fully met in Christ. Our spiritual thirst has been quenched. Our spiritual hunger has been satisfied. We have been given many reasons to hope in God and to praise Him, the God of our salvation (42:11)
1Exposition of Hebrews, A.W. Pink, p. 473.
2Daniel R. Hyde, Understanding The Tabernacle, Lecture 1
3Ibid
4Stuart Olyott, I Wish Someone Would Teach Hebrews To Me!, p.100
5Exposition of Hebrews 9:11-14, David Thompson,
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