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Hebrews Chapter Nine

 
The Earthly Sanctuary (9:1-10)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. The main points in the "The Epistle To The Hebrews" are rather 
 simple...
 a. The superiority of Christ - He 1:1-7:28
 b. The superiority of the New Covenant - He 8:7-10:18
 
2. In the "transition passage" of He 8:1-6, we find...
 a. The first point summarized - He 8:1
 b. The second point introduced - He 8:2-6
 
3. In demonstrating the superiority of the New Covenant, three points
 are made...
 a. The New Covenant is based upon "better promises"
 b. The New Covenant pertains to a "better sanctuary"
 c. The New Covenant provides a "better sacrifice"
 
4. In He 8:7-13 we read of the "better promises"...
 a. Foretold through the prophet Jeremiah - cf. Jer 31:31-34
 b. In which God promised a closer relationship with His people, made
 possible by the forgiveness of sin
 
5. In chapter nine, our attention is now drawn to the matter of the 
 "better sanctuary" provided by the New Covenant...
 a. To appreciate the author's argument, we must be acquainted with 
 the sanctuary of the first covenant
 b. Therefore we find a brief discussion concerning "The Earthly 
 Sanctuary" - He 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...]
 
I. THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY:  ITS DESCRIPTION (1-5)
 
 A. THE HOLY PLACE (2)
 1. This was the first part of the tabernacle, in which the 
 priests entered daily
 2. Inside of it were...
 a. The lampstand - cf. Exo 25:31-40; 26:35
 1) Placed next to the south wall of the tabernacle
 2) Made of gold and had seven lamps for burning olive oil
 3) It was never allowed to go out
 b. The table and the showbread - Exo 25:23-30; 26:35; Lev 24:
 5-9
 1) A table overlaid with gold
 2) On which were kept twelve loaves of bread, in two rows
 of six
 3) 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
 
 B. THE HOLIEST OF ALL (3-5)
 1. This was the part of the tabernacle behind the veil, also
 called "The Most Holy" - Exo 26:31-33
 2. This innermost room of the tabernacle, the holiest place in
 the worship of Israel, had...
  a. The golden altar of incense (golden censor, KJV)
 1) 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
 a) On this altar sweet spices were continually burned
 with fire taken from the brazen altar (which was
 outside the tabernacle)
 b) The morning and evening services were begun by the
 high priest offering incense on this altar
 c) Once a year, the High Priest would take a censer of
 burning coals from this altar along with incense into
 the The Most Holy Place - Lev 16:12
 2) It is appropriate to say the The Most Holy Place "had"
 the golden altar...
 a) 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
 b) 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
 b. The ark of the covenant
 1) A chest made of acacia wood, about four feet long by two
 and half feet high and wide - Exo 25:10-16
 2) Covered with gold, it was the most sacred thing in the
 tabernacle
 3) In it contained...
 a) The golden pot that had the manna - Exo 16:32-34
 b) Aaron's rod that budded - Num 17:1-11
 c) The tablets of the covenant - Deu 10:1-5
 4) Covering the ark was the mercy seat - Exo 25:17-22
 a) 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.")
 b) 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". But a little more is now said regarding the ritual of the
earthly sanctuary...]
 
II. THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY: ITS RITUAL (6-7)
 
 A. THE RITUAL OF THE HOLY PLACE (6)
 1. Every morning and evening, the priests would go into The Holy
 Place "performing the services"...
 a. They would trim the lamps on the lampstand - Exo 27:20-21
 b. They would offer incense on the altar of incense - Exo 30:
 7-8
 2. On the Sabbath, the priests would replace the Showbread - Lev
 25:4-9
 -- But none went into The Most Holy Place during these daily
 services
 
 B. THE RITUAL OF THE MOST HOLY PLACE (7)
 1. Once a year, only the high priest entered The Most Holy Place 
 - Lev 16:2
 a. On the Day of Atonement
 b. The tenth day of the seventh month - Lev 16:29
 2. The high priest would do three things:
 a. Offer the incense to cloud the mercy seat - Lev 16:12-13
 b. Sprinkle the mercy seat with the blood of a bull, as a sin
 offering for himself and his family - Lev 16:11,14
 c. Sprinkle the mercy seat with the blood of a goat, as a sin
 offering for the people - Lev 16:15
 3. In this way he offered blood for his own sins and those of the
 people committed in ignorance - He 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
three verses...]
 
III. THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY: ITS SYMBOLISM AND LIMITATION (8-10)
 
 A. IT WAS SYMBOLIC...
 1. As already stated, the tabernacle and its service was "a copy
 and shadow of the heavenly things" - He 8:4-5; cf. He 10:1a;
 Co 2:16-17
 2. Thus it was "symbolic for the present time" - He 9:9
 a. Symbolizing what eventually would occur when Christ came
 b. Symbolizing what Christ has now done in reality when He 
 entered heaven - cf. He 9:11-12,24-26
 3. The Holy Spirit was thus indicating that "the way into heaven
 itself was not yet made manifest" - He 9:8
 
 B. THERE WERE LIMITATIONS...
 1. The gifts and sacrifices could not make one perfect in regard
 to the conscience - He 9:9; cf. He 9:14; 10:1-4
 2. The ceremonies involved "fleshly ordinances imposed until the
 time of reformation" - He 9:10
 a. Just as the sanctuary was "earthly", the ordinances were 
 "fleshly"
 1) In contrast to that which is heavenly, spiritual
 2) Indeed, all of the ritual was designed to impact the 
 physical side of man
 a) I.e., his senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch)
 b) E.g., the burning of incense, the blowing of 
  trumpets, the vestments
 b. Such ordinances were designed to be temporary
 1) Until "the time of reformation", when changes in worship
 would be made
 2) Indeed, now God expects "spiritual" worship - cf. Jn 4:
 21-24
 a) Worship that is more in keeping with God's true 
 nature (Spirit)
 b) Worship that focuses on the inner man
 1/ E.g., singing, where the emphasis is on melody 
 made in the heart - Ep 5:19; Co 3:16
 2/ 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 - 1 Co 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
 
1. The earthly sanctuary and its fleshly ordinances served God's
 purpose well...
 a. It revealed the terrible nature and high price of sin
 b. It revealed the need for the shedding of blood to provide the 
 remission of sin
 c. It prepared people for the coming of the ultimate sacrifice and 
 complete redemption
 
2. But as useful as it was, it was temporary and symbolic...
 a. A copy and shadow of what was to come
 b. Designed to vanish away when what it represented came to pass
 
3. As we shall see more fully in our next study...
 a. Christ has come and entered into "the greater and more perfect 
 tabernacle"
 b. He has "obtained eternal redemption"
 c. 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...
 
 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will
 worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking
 such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him
 must worship in spirit and truth." (Jn 4:23-24)
 
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...

The Superior Sanctuary (9:11-28)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. In the current section of "The Epistle To The Hebrews", the focus 
 is on the superiority of the New Covenant which provides...
 a. Better promises - He 8:7-13
 b. A better sanctuary - He 9:1-28
 c. A better sacrifice - He 10:1-18
 
2. Our previous study considered "The Earthly Sanctuary" of the Old 
 Covenant, that tabernacle which...
 a. Served as copy and shadow of the heavenly things - He 9:9; 8:5
 b. Involved fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation
 - He 9:10
 ...and was therefore limited in its ability to provide what man 
 truly needed! - He 9:9b
 
3. In the second half of the ninth chapter, we are now introduced to 
 "The Heavenly Sanctuary" of the New Covenant...
 a. The true tabernacle in which Christ is a minister - He 8:2
 b. The true tabernacle "which the Lord erected, and not man" - He
 8:2
 
[As such it is "The Superior Sanctuary", which becomes apparent as we
make our way through the rest of the ninth chapter...]
 
I. IT IS HEAVENLY (11,24)
 
 A. A GREATER AND MORE PERFECT TABERNACLE...
 1. A tabernacle "not made with hands"
 2. A tabernacle "not of this creation"
 -- Where then is this tabernacle? Look ahead to verse 24...
 
 B. IN HEAVEN ITSELF...
 1. Christ has not entered the earthly tabernacle "made with 
 hands"
 2. It is "into heaven itself" that Christ has entered!
 3. He now appears "in the presence of God"
 -- Therefore "The Superior Sanctuary" is none other than heaven,
 where God dwells!
 
[In this heavenly sanctuary Christ serves as "High Priest of the good
things to come". The "good things" likely includes the promises of
Jer 31:31-34, especially the one pertaining to forgiveness of sin, for
the author explains how with "The Superior Sanctuary"...]
 
II. ITS MINISTRY EFFECTIVELY DEALS WITH SIN (12-15)
 
 A. ETERNAL REDEMPTION IS PROVIDED (12)
 1. Christ entered the "Most Holy Place" (heaven)
 a. Just as the high priest entered the Most Holy Place in the
 earthly sanctuary
 b. With these two major differences:
 1) Jesus took not the blood of goats and calves, but His
 own blood
 2) Jesus entered "once for all", not once a year
 2. With His blood, He "obtained eternal redemption"
 a. This is why He does not need to offer His blood every year 
 - cf. He 10:10-12
 b. But His redemption is "eternal" in another sense, as seen
 later in verse 15
 
 B. THE CONSCIENCE IS PURGED OF SIN (13-14)
 1. The blood of animals was able to purify the flesh of an 
 unclean person
 2. But the blood of Christ is able to purge the conscience from
 dead works (i.e., sin) to serve the living God
 a. The animal sacrifices could not do this - He 9:9-10; 10:1-2
 b. For the daily and annual sacrifices constantly reminded 
 them of sin - He 10:3
  c. Therefore Christ not only removes the "legal" guilt of sin,
 but also the "inward" (or emotional) guilt of sin!
 
 C. THERE IS REDEMPTION FOR SINS UNDER THE FIRST COVENANT (15)
 1. His role as Mediator of the New Covenant is not limited to 
 those who lived after it became of force
 2. His death covers not only sinners since His death, but also 
 those who lived under the first covenant, who were called to
 receive the promise of eternal inheritance!
 -- In providing atonement for those before and after His death, 
 Jesus has truly "obtained eternal redemption"
 
[The service rendered by its High Priest certainly makes the "heavenly
sanctuary" a superior one!
 
As one contemplates the meaning of Christ's death in its relation to 
the heavenly sanctuary, there is much to consider, and the author 
proceeds to explain further why...]
 
III. ITS MINISTRY NECESSITATED A COSTLY SACRIFICE (16-22)
 
 A. TO INITIATE A NEW TESTAMENT (16-17)
 1. A testament, or will, requires the death of the one who makes
 it
 2. It does not become of force until the testator dies
 -- The New Covenant with its heavenly sanctuary is like a 
 testament, requiring Jesus' death for it to become of force
 
 B. TO DEDICATE A NEW COVENANT (18-23)
 1. Consider what was done with the first covenant...
 a. It was dedicated with the blood of calves and goats
 b. Its tabernacle and furniture were purified with the 
 sprinkling of such blood
 2. Should the new covenant require any less?
 a. The first covenant contained only "copies of the things in
 the heavens"
 b. Therefore the heavenly things required purification by 
 "better sacrifices" (i.e., Jesus' own blood)
 c. Exactly what is meant by "heavenly things" is unclear
 1) Some point to passages like Co 1:20, where even "things
 in heaven" are reconciled to God by Jesus' blood
 2) Some believe it has reference to the church, of which 
 the Holy Place in the earthly tabernacle was typical
 3) B. W. Johnson comments: "By the heavenly things are 
 meant all of which the tabernacle was typical. The holy
  place was a type of the church, which is cleansed with
 the blood of Christ. Perhaps, too, there is a reference
 to the redeemed church above, in the heavens, which 
 eternally praises him who cleansed it with his blood."
 (The People's New Testament)
 
[It was the "better sacrifices" (i.e., Jesus' blood) that initiated the
new covenant and made the heavenly sanctuary superior to the earthly 
one. More will be said about Christ's sacrifice in chapter ten, but we
finally note concerning "The Superior Sanctuary" that...]
 
IV. ITS MINISTRY IS FINAL AND COMPLETE (24-28)
 
 A. CHRIST IS NOW IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD FOR US...
 1. No longer is a high priest serving in a tabernacle "made with
  hands"
 2. No longer is one serving in what was only a "copy"
 -- In God's presence, Jesus is ministering as High Priest in that
 which is the "true" holy place!
 
 B. HE ONLY NEEDED TO OFFER HIMSELF ONCE...
 1. The all-sufficiency of His sacrifice is seen that He only
 needed to offer Himself once
 a. Otherwise, He would have needed to "suffer often from the
 foundation of the world"
 b. Like the high priests of old, who entered the Most Holy 
 Place each year
 2. Therefore, at the "end of the ages", He came to put away sin
 once for all!
 a. The phrase "end of the ages" is equivalent to the "last
 days" - He 1:2
 b. I.e., the final period of the world's history - 1 Co 10:11;
 1 Pe 1:20
 3. Just as man dies only once, so Jesus needed to be offered for
 sin only once
 
 C. WHEN HE COMES AGAIN, IT WILL BE FOR SALVATION, NOT SIN...
 1. With His first coming, He was primarily the "sin-bearer"
 a. He came "to bear the sins of many"
 b. Which He did by dying on the cross for our sins - 1 Pe 2:24
 2. His second coming will be "apart from sin"
 a. To bring salvation (from the wrath of God to come - Ro 5:9)
 b. To those who eagerly await for Him - cf. 1 Th 1:9-10
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. How is the sanctuary of the New Covenant superior?
 a. By virtue of its nature: heavenly, not physical
 b. By virtue of its ministry:
 1) Dealing effectively with sin
 2) Providing complete and final deliverance
 
2. Why should we be interested in the ministry of "The Superior 
 Sanctuary"?
 a. Because death is our appointed lot (unless Christ comes first) 
 - He 9:27
 b. And then comes the judgment - cf. 2 Co 5:10
 -- The ministry of Christ prepares us for that coming judgment!
 
3. Are you prepared to stand before the judgment seat of Christ? 
 a. Preparation involves obedience, for Jesus is "the author of 
 eternal salvation to all who obey Him" - He 5:9
 b. Preparation involves allowing the blood of Christ to "purge your
 conscience from dead works to serve the living God" - He 9:14
 
Through obedience to the precious gospel of Christ, we can "eagerly 
wait for Him", knowing that for us He is coming to bring salvation 
and not condemnation! - cf. 1 Th 1:10

－－《Executable Outlines》

The power of precious blood

Without the shedding of blood

There is no forgiveness

I. Service regulation of the former covenant

1. Called the holy place

2. Called the most holy place

3. Open a connection between the two

II. Redemption of the precious blood

1. Cleanse consciences

2. Eradicate acts that lead to death

3. Serve the living God

III. Jesus appears three times

1. The word became flesh

2. Resurrection and ascension

3. Come a second time

－－ Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》