Hebrews 9:1-10:18

First Covenant

1. Regulations for Worship

Outer Room Regulations
a. Priests entered regularly to carry on their ministry

Inner Room Regualations
a. Only High Priest entered
---Only once per year
---Never without blood
---Offered blood for his own sins
---Offered blood for ignorant sins of people

2. Earthly Sanctuary (the tabernacle)

First Room (Holy Place)
a. Lampstand (Exodus 25:31-40)
b. Table with Consecrated bread (Exodus 25:23-30)

Second Room (Most Holy Place)
a. Golden altar of incense (Exodus 30:1-6)
b. Ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:10-22)
---Jar of Manna (Exodus 16:32-34)
---Aaron's staff (Numbers 17:1-13)
---Stone Tablets (Exodus 25:16)

3. Results

Positive
a. Sins committed in ignorance were covered by this ritual (9:7)
b. The sprinkling sanctified men outwardly
c. It was a reminder of sins, helped people know their need (10:3)

Negative
a. These rituals were unable to clear the conscience of the worshiper (9:9)
b. They were only temporary (9:10, 10:11)
c. It could never had made people perfect (10:1)
d. Animal blood has no power to take away sins (10:4, 11)
e. God was not pleased with these rituals (10:8)

Transition

Hebrews 9:8-10
The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

Hebrews 9:23
It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Hebrews 10:1
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.

Thus, both the regulations and the tabernacle itself were temporary shadows. They were patterned after something greater. They were not able to accomplish anything spiritually (internally) significant, but were mere illustrations of Christ, who would accomplish all.

Second Covenant


1. Regulations for Worship

a. Christ entered the most Holy Place by His own blood (9:12)

2. Heavenly Sanctuary

a. It's a greater and more perfect tabernacle (9:11)
b. It is not man-made (9:11)

3. Results

Positive
a. His blood sanctifies us inwardly (9:14)
b. He appears for us in God's presence (9:24)
c. His sacrifice is only need once, it has eternal ramifications (9:25-26)
d. We have been made holy through the sacrifice of Jesus once and for all (10:10, 14)
e. His laws are now on our hearts and minds (10:15-16)
f. Our sins & lawless acts are remembered no more (10:17)
g. No more sacrifice is needed (10:18)
h. We may serve the living God! (9:14)