Chapter Introduction
If you think back to where you started in this study of Hebrews, you can see that this book continues to build the case for the superiority of Jesus Christ. He is King, sovereign over all. He is eternal, creator and sustainer, Lord of all. He is a Priest, and not just a priest but one of a greater order. He is the Great High Priest. With that said, immediately, in the distance, you can begin to hear the arguments of men. Well, we've always done it this way! Our priest does this! Our religion is sufficient! Our denomination is different, better, older, wiser, etc. We think our sacrifice is more than enough! This list goes on and on.
While most wouldn’t recognize these things as arguments against Jesus, they are, in fact, just that. Each argument is like saying God, I don't like your ways; I'll figure it out myself, or we already have it figured out. And it's only by God's mercy that He doesn't give us what we deserve and strike us dead on the spot when we act like that. And we each have in some way at some time.
The writer of Hebrews is refuting every question he knows they will ask or doubts they will have. As He strengthens his case for the superiority of Christ, he also reinforces that these men should not be running from Jesus but to Him. And that's what we need to take from this. No matter where you are in your faith or life, you need to continue to run to Jesus. There is no circumstance, feeling, emotion, sickness, ailment, situation, outlook, or prognosis that is not improved when it is experienced in the light of Jesus and the Gospel message. That's a bold statement. The Bible upholds that viewpoint and challenges us to live out this promise to prove it is true. As Christians, our lives should be a testimony to the truthfulness of God's promise and the sureness of God's love.
Up to now, in our Hebrews study, we've heard about the High priests and the temple and sacrifices. And we might be saying, okay, God, we got the point because the writer is hitting this from every angle, forming a contrast of what they trusted into what was available. But for these Hebrews, it was so ingrained into them through their culture that they were not as easily convinced as we might be. This temple and priests and sacrifices might be all they knew growing up. Now, someone is telling them they need to abandon that.
We might not be easily convinced either, though. We don't give up our religion or traditions easily. We don't like change. We often hold onto what we perceive as “good enough.
While the writer of Hebrews has gone to great lengths to bring a contrast of ideas between the old and new, it is also important to remember they are closely related. The old prepared the way for the new. The good was ushering in the best. The old was a picture of the new. The new was a fulfillment and completion of what the old started. The good of the law made it evident to men that they needed the best found in Jesus Christ. Chuck Misler always says that the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. The New Testament reveals to us all the mystery we see in the Old Testament.
As you dig into the Old Testament, you will find the gospel message and Christ hidden throughout. In Chapter 9, the writer of Hebrews takes us once again to the Old Testament to show us Jesus. We're going to read the beginning of Chapter 9 and take a tour of the Tabernacle.
Hebrews 9:1-10
While the writer couldn't go into detail of these things, we have the luxury of being able to. For these Hebrews these details were second nature, engrained in them. Just like we look at the church and know certain things happen here, certain things are said and done; that's the way they saw this Tabernacle or temple.
Moses was told in Exodus 25:40:
And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
The things of the temple were made according to a pattern that was shown to Moses on Mt. Sinai. All that Moses had built was a model of the real thing in heaven. These things we'll talk about are models of heavenly things, heavenly ideas, and concepts. If you've never looked into them before, this study may sound a little strange at first. These things are difficult for believers and we need to trust the Lord to help us and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. This whole section can only be discerned spiritually.
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)
If you are an unbeliever, this study will sound downright wacky because you don't have the Holy Spirit in you to help you understand spiritual things.
On the surface, what may appear in man's eyes as a collection of odd furnishings and weird architecture, what may appear as something random and made up, turns out to be a great design with amazing detail, all pointing to Jesus. Every aspect of the temple speaks of Jesus.
We're going to take a quick tour of the Tabernacle. Moses built it in the wilderness. It was where the priests met God on behalf of the people. It was a portable tent-like structure that the Israelites took with them as they made their way to the Promised Land.
As we approach the tabernacle¸, we need to approach it from the East because the entrance always faces the east. This was God's design. From the beginning, the sun made its entrance from the east and moved west. Light came from the East; each new day is born in the East.
When the temple was later built in Jerusalem, it was also built as God directed, facing east. Directly east of the temple is the Mount of Olives, which is where Jesus will set His feet when he returns to this earth. Why is this important? It's God's design, and it goes all the way back to the beginning. Even the Garden of Eden, God's garden of paradise, had one way in: from the east.
For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Matthew 24:27)
Even at the second coming, the grand entrance will be from the east toward the west. Did you know that's why most headstones in cemeteries face East? It was believed that at the resurrection, the dead should be facing east to see the coming of their Lord. They would be looking to the eastern sky for the return of the Lord. Nearly all the old cemeteries are that way. New ones have abandoned the tradition. This probably is more telling of the direction the world is going than the validity of the tradition.
So, there is only one way in this tabernacle, from the east. Jesus said He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life in John 14:6.
(John 10:9)
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
Even at the entrance to the Tabernacle, we see Jesus.
As you approach the Tabernacle, if you look at it, you will see nothing spectacular. There was just nothing special about it. In that, you see Jesus.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men, (Isaiah 53:2-3)
No one came to this temple because it was attractive by the world's standards. No one found outward beauty in it. It fact, in its plainness, it was despised and rejected by men.
As you approach the tabernacle, you see the courtyard area first. This was a 75’ long x 50’ wide area. It was a fenced area; the fence would be linen 7 feet high, supported by wood poles in bronze sockets. The poles of the fence were wood-trimmed in silver. Silver always relates to money in the world. But in the temple, it relates to redemption. It's God buying us back from sin and death. Silver is symbolic of being purchased by His blood.
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Corinthians 6:20)
Remember, Judas took 30 pieces of silver for innocent blood. That transaction took place in the temple. What appeared as the buying and selling of the world was really God's plan being worked out. The silver can easily be related to the blood of Christ that brought redemption to mankind.
The fence surrounding the tabernacle was white linen. White is purity, it's righteousness. In this, we see a fence of righteousness separating the world from God. God is set apart, and as we approach Him, we must also be set apart from the world. This white linen fence of righteousness was hanging on silver hooks in wood poles. These wood poles are symbolic of something that was once alive but will die, rot in corruption, or burn away. These poles stood in Bronze or brass sockets on the ground. Bronze is fire and judgment.
So we have a white linen fence hanging on silver hooks and bands held up by wood poles in brass sockets. This is the picture of our salvation. That which is subject to corruption, the wood poles, us; stands in judgment, the brass sockets; yet because the redemption, this is the silver bands and hooks; we can be covered in righteousness, the white curtain fence. This is our story. By nature, each man stands in judgment, but by the redemption of the Lord, he can be washed clean and be covered in Righteousness. And be on display for all to see as we stand in the presence of the Lord. We bring glory to Him.
There is a fence around this entire courtyard with the entrance on the east end. As we enter the outer court, we are inside that perimeter of white linen, the fence of righteousness that separates you from the world. That which is holy and that which is of God is always set apart from the profane. By definition, this is holiness, being set apart.
The first thing we’d come to in the courtyard was a brass altar with a fire where the offerings were burnt. This altar was where sacrifices were offered and it was where blood was shed. The fire never went out. This tells us there is the constant judgment of sin over sin that never seems to cease. If you and I walked into this, we'd be disgusted. We'd see little lambs being slaughtered, prepared for sacrifice, presented to the Lord, and then offered up. What we would see as gruesome and maybe barbaric should testify to us that sin is ugly. It brings death. It never stops. It's never merciful. It brings shame, pain, suffering, affliction and death. Sin must be dealt with if the sinner is to be reconciled to God. In this, we see our need for Jesus, the lamb of God who took away the sin of the world so that we might be reconciled with Him.
As we enter further into the outer court, we see the brass laver or wash bowl. God called for the ceremonial washing before the priest entered the Holy place. Entering only occurred after washing the hands and feet. So as you and I enter the court and come near the Holy place, you first pass the brazen altar where blood was shed for the atoning of sin. Now, there is washing at the laver. Some see this washing as baptism. But maybe a better understanding is to see it as preparation for continuing on into the holy place. In this, we can see sanctification.
We see forgiveness of sins from the shedding of blood comes first, and then after that, there is sanctification.
He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. (Exodus 38:8)
This was made from mirrors. Think about this now. We already said bronze is symbolic of judgment. If you bent over this laver to wash your hands, you would see your reflection. You'd be reminded of your humanity, your imperfection, and your inability to ever come before a holy God on your own. That’s an important attitude, one of humility, as we approach God. As we approach all that is holy, we understand the ugliness of our own sin, and we comprehend what is in our hearts, and we are reminded of our own humanity; we might be tempted to run away and hide from a God that is known to be an all-consuming fire.
Before we enter further in, we must be washed. As the priests washed daily, we should wash daily in his word. Our cleansing comes from being washed by the word of God. The priest didn't do this when they felt like it or when they had a few extra moments. It was important; it was never missed, and it was being washed and prepared prior to coming into the presence of God. Are you washing in the Word in preparation for your meeting with God?
As we continue east, pressing on toward the holy place, just past the bronze laver, we see a 15’ x 45’ building with a door on the east end. This building is formed from boards that fit into silver sockets. As we look at the entire tabernacle, we see it sits on sockets of silver that hold up the poles. The whole thing has a silver foundation—it's a foundation of redemption and blood.
For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:11)
Jesus is the foundation.
The boards that fit in these silver sockets are covered in gold. As we said, wood speaks of humanity while gold is a deity, the riches of which are fitting of a king. Jesus is both man and God.
The walls of the tabernacle were boards, and then this building was covered with cloth like a tent. There was a cloth of goat's hair. Then, the ram's skin died red, followed by the porpoise's skin.
The building of the Tabernacle is divided into two sections. Still moving to the west, as we enter the tabernacle, the front part is 15’ x 15’ x 30’. This is called the Holy Place When you enter in, you would see some breathtaking things. First, you would see the boards that make up the walls. The walls would appear gold. That's the only place you would see the gold on these boards is in the Holy Place. That is fascinating when you consider the gold represents the deity. The next thing you notice is the Table with showbread. This is a table made with acacia wood and covered in gold. It was made to size and specification by God's design. It had one purpose. Exodus 25:30 says, “And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.”
Bread is life; it's God's provision for man. Right away, we remember what Jesus said in the book of John:
I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:49-51)
Also, as we stand in the holy place, we see the golden Lamp stands to the left. This is many times called the menorah. This was the only source of light in the temple. Imagine what this golden candelabra looked like with Golden walls and the gold table of showbread.
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
This light in the tabernacle was an oil lamp with three branches on each side. It was beat out of a single piece of gold. This is precious and special and beautiful, yet it was beaten and formed and re-formed into a light. Let that soak in a moment. In the branches, we might see ourselves. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. Through these branches flows the oil that brings light to the world. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit.
Now, as we entered into this place that was set apart. We saw the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sins. We saw the washing and sanctification. And now we stand in the holy place, in the light, with God's provision of bread available to us. Yet, we haven't entered all the way in. With the bread on your right and the lamp on your left, you face a veil. This is the door to the Holy of Holies. Near that door is the golden altar of incense. Incense represents prayers.
Psalm 141:1-2 says this:
LORD, I cry out to You;
Make haste to me!
Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.
Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
In the Holy place, in the light of the Lord, as we prepare to enter into his presence, our prayers should be offered.
Do you feel the weight and importance of what is on the other side of that veil? We've come a long way, but we are still so far away. This veil separates the holy place from the Holy of Holies. This veil is thick. There are many layers to it. You could do a study on this veil that separates. It was ornate and specifically made by God's design.
Beyond the veil is a 15’ x 15’ x 15 room called the Holy of Holies. It housed The Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant contained Aaron’s staff (Exodus 25:23-29), a gold jar of Manna (Exodus 26:31-33), and the stone tablets of the law. These 3 things are a study all by them self. Aaron's staff budded as a sign when the Israelites rebelled against Moses. This staff, this budded rod, was God's indication of the leadership He chose. It confirmed Moses as their leader and Aaron as God's choice as High Priest.
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. (Isaiah 11:1)
This is Jesus, the High Priest seen in Aaron's staff.
Also, in the Ark was a jar of Manna. This is God's provision. It's a sign to the future generations. Like Jesus, manna came down from heaven as a gift from God. The people had to go out and get it. To gather it, they knelt down, prostrate. And God provided for His people.
The tablets of the law were also in the Ark. In the law, we see God's Holy and just nature and His perfect standard.
These things were known to be in the ark because that was God's design. Once they were placed there it was faith to know they were there. It wasn't a museum piece for all to see. The Ark was opened in 1 Samuel 6:19 after the Philistines returned it, and 50,000 people died. You can only look upon the law by the shedding of blood. Uzziah died when he put His hand out to steady the Ark. He was struck dead because he violated God's command. He was unfit to touch what was holy. There is only one way that sinful man can be washed clean to stand in the holy of Holies.
The law, the manna, and Aaron's staff were in the Ark. In these 3 things, we find the stories of man's sin, rebellion, and failure. These symbolic things were sealed in the Ark by a golden cover called the Mercy Seat. This was a solid gold top with two Cherubim sculptured with their wings touching
Psalm 99 says:
The LORD reigns;
Let the peoples tremble!
He dwells between the cherubim;
Let the earth be moved!
The presence of God dwelled between the cherubim. On the mercy seat, the priests sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice. This blood covered the sin, rebellion, and failure of mankind until the messiah came and the real sacrifice was made in the real temple. Then, with the new covenant in place by the shed blood of a greater sacrifice offered in the real temple in the heavenlies by the Great High Priest, this old temple, the old covenant, its priests, and its ways have all become obsolete.
As we imagined ourselves standing in the holy place before the veil we might have felt the weighty-ness of it all. We might have felt the presence of a holy God on the other side of the veil. But even as real as that was, it was nothing compared to the real thing that resides in heaven.
Now, let’s go back to Hebrews 9 and start again. If you look at the tabernacle and the work of the priest in detail, the Holy Spirit reveals to you that the way to the Holy of Holies was not yet manifest. That way wasn't yet complete. The veil remained intact until that time came.
Hebrews 9:11-15
We know when that way to the Holy of Holies was made manifest, the veil was torn from top to bottom. The way for men to make their way to God was then complete. The priests serving in the temple sprinkled the blood of goats and calves on the mercy seat. That mercy seat covered the ark of the Covenant. In that ark was Aaron's rod, a jar of manna, and the tablets of the law, all representing sin and failure.
These Hebrews were holding onto their idea of how a temple priest ministered by sprinkling symbolic blood over symbols of rebellion on a seat of mercy. They were being reminded that Christ came as a High Priest of good things to come. What were these “good things?”
- Purification of the conscience (v.14).
- Receipt of an eternal inheritance (v. 15).
- The putting away of sin (v.26, 28).
- And unrestricted access to God (v. 24).
Jesus, the Great High Priest, entered the real Holy Place with His own blood. His blood was payment for the rebellions, sins, and failures of all men. By His blood, He entered and purchased redemption for men.
The ashes of the heifer (Num 19) were mixed with water. This water was used in the ceremonial washing by sprinkling this water on the unclean. Then, the priest who performed that cleansing bathed in that same water. The blood of bulls and goats was then offered up on the altar. That blood was sprinkled to purify the temple and all the furnishings and it was sprinkled on the priests.
If all of these things were considered sanctified by this work in the earthly copy of the Holy place, then imagine how much greater the sanctification was by the blood of Christ. All these other sacrifices were inferior. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He is able to cleanse our conscience from dead works.
Dead works are any work that comes from an unregenerate heart in an effort to appear righteous before God. For any man to trust in anything other than the work of Christ is a dead work. For these Hebrews to consider turning away from Christ to return to the temple, priests were turning from the Living God to the Dead works. For us to call ourselves a Christian, to trust in church attendance, or a denomination, tradition, or anything else is a dead work if those things aren't born out of your being crucified with Christ. The Hebrews couldn't celebrate the temple unless it led them to the cross of Christ.
Every sacrifice made for sin under the Mosaic covenant was like an IOU. The blood of the innocent animal was a marker that God accepted for the time being. It was a kind of placeholder until Jesus came later to pay in full. The Old Testament sacrifice offered in faith was trusting by faith in one that would come. These Hebrews knew Jesus, the long-awaited messiah. They were considering pulling away from Jesus and moving back to the old Priesthood and its dead works.
Why would you go back to offering IOUs when you know the payment had already been made?
Hebrews 9:16-22
An argument might be made that the temple priests are still alive and working while the writer here is saying Christ died, and the work is done. A living priest doing dead works is not better than the Great High Priest who died to complete His work and now lives again. There is no argument, no choice, and no comparison.
You can read about this in Exodus 24. Moses instituted the Mosaic covenant by sprinkling blood. Because everything is touched by sin, everything has to be touched by blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. Death was a pre-requisite for the institution of the Old Covenant, in the same way, it was the death of Christ that instituted the New Covenant.
Hebrews 9:23-28
The Tabernacle and temple were copies of heavenly things. They were purified with the blood of animals. In a similar way, in the original and authentic tabernacle, things were purified with a better sacrifice. Not just any sacrifice was acceptable in the temple. The requirements were very specific and stringently prepared. The blood of the spotless animal used in temple sacrifice pointed to Jesus Christ, just like everything in the temple.
The model of the Tabernacle had these imperfect priests daily unblemished animals for the covering of sin. The fulfillment of all this was the Great High Priest, offering Himself, once for all sin. He appeared at just the right time, on God's time, to put away sin.
The book of John says the word became flesh and dwelt among us. He offered Himself for the sins of many. He has now dealt with sin. The next time He comes, He will come for those who eagerly wait for Him. Are you waiting?
© 2011 Doug Ford, Updated and revised 2019, 2024
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