Hebrews 9b-25

Having just warned the letter's recipients about 'strange teachings', the author illustrates his point by describing the strangeness of sticking to the Old Covenant despite the emergence of the new. He reminds the readers that grace is more valuable than religious ritual (actually, he says the latter is of no value).

The author is describing the bankruptcy of those who are trying to remain under the Old Covenant
1. Their ceremonial foods are of no value to them (9)
2. Their ministers have no right to eat from the true altar (10)
3. There city has no future (14)

Under the New Covenant, there is a new & better altar (place of sacrifice): The Cross

The Old Covenant Process
1. Sacrifice was made on the altar
2. Blood was carried into Most Holy Place as a sin offering
3. Bodies were taken outside the camp to be burned

The New Covenant Process
1. The Cross of Christ serves as the altar
2. The Blood of Christ was taken into the true Holy of Holies
3. The Body of Christ was kept outside the physical city as unclean

In regards to this final point, the author is letting his readers know that they, too, may have to accept the scorn from the earthly Jerusalem. They may, too, have to leave the city. In doing so, they will only be following the example of Christ. They have no reason to cling to the city anyways, since it is not the place of their new citizenship.

Another way of looking at verses 9-16 is as a polemic against Judaistic Christianity. In this sense, the author responds to 3 complaints that were almost certainly hurled at converts

Complaint #1 - You Christians don't follow the ceremonial law!
Answer #1 - You're Right! Those laws were shadows. The light has come!

Complaint #2 - You Christians don't even have an altar!
Answer #2 - Yes we do! The Cross is our altar, but it is much better than your altar b/c the sacrifice only needed to be made once. Additionally, just like you can't eat the sin offerings (since they were burned completely), you also can't taste life in Christ b/c He is a sin offering. Those living under the law cannot partake in the bread of life!

Complaint #3 - You Christians don't even do sacrifices!
Answer #3 - Of course we don't. The 1 effective sacrifice has been done. But if you REALLY need sacrifices, we've got new types of sacrifices that truly please God.
1. Sacrifice of praise
2. Sacrifice of works
3. Sacrifice of giving

The author then gives a few final commands
1. Obey your leaders
--They are serving you
--They have a great responsibility
--Their work can be a joy if you obey them
--Obeying them is a win-win situation
2. Pray for us
--The ministers behind this letter have a pure heart before God
--The minister behind this letter yearned to see them again

Closing Thoughts
1. He gives them his blessing (20-21)
2. He urges them to respond seriously to the letter (22)
3. He updates them on Timothy's situation and potential future meetings (23)
4. He exchanges and asks for the exchange of greetings (24)
5. He speaks grace over them (25)