Hebrews 9:1-10

Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.  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.  Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 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.  Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.  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, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.  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 (which is symbolic for the present age).  According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

The author of Hebrews continues to argue for the superiority of Christ by demonstrating the limitations of the first covenant and the tabernacle.  That tabernacle was the center of the focus of worship for the nation of Israel.  As impressive as it was for the nation, it is severely limited in what it can do for the people and their spiritual needs.  The tabernacle and the sacrifices performed in it were simply shadows of the glorious work of Christ.  The work of Christ know none of these limitations.

THE FIRST COVENANT WAS LIMITED BY A SPACE: The tabernacle was a carefully constructed tent whose design was given to Moses by God.  It is full of symbols and objects that are reminders of God’s work in history as well as His future work through Christ.  The tabernacle was by its very definition limiting.  There were walls to keep people out.  Only priests were allowed to enter most of it and the holy of holies was only accessible to the high priest on the day of atonement.  The vast majority of Israel, much less the people on the planet had no access to the tabernacle.  Jesus is constantly in the presence of the Father representing us and making intersession for us.  All who place their faith in Christ have access to the Father through the Son and we have the promise that we too will spend eternity in the very presence of God.

THE FIRST COVENANT WAS LIMITED BY SIN: The vast number of animals slaughtered and sacrificed in the tabernacle were only temporary coverings for sin.  The priests who made these sacrifices were required to make sacrifices for themselves first before being able to offers sacrifices for the sins of the people.  There were willful sins and unintentional sin that had to be atoned for and then the process would start all over again as more sins would be committed and more animals would be sacrificed.  Since Jesus was sinless, He became the perfect and complete sacrifice for all the sins of all mankind.  There are no longer any needs for sacrifice to cover sin because the price of sin has been eternally paid by Christ.  Animals offered by sinful priests can’t pay for man’s sin, it only foreshadowed the sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus, the Son of God, became a man and never sinned in any way so He offered Himself as the perfect, sinless, and permanent sacrifice for sin.

THE FIRST COVENANT WAS LIMITED BY SCOPE: The tabernacle was a place for ceremonial cleansings. People would go to the tabernacle and seek for cleansing from any number of things that could make them unclean.  This endless washing and cleansing did nothing to purify the heart.  Most of the activity around the tabernacle had to do with these kinds of rituals.  God’s intention was to demonstrate to all of us just how impure we are and how much we need cleansing both inside and out.  The tabernacle could never transform the heart of man.  There is a sense in which the work of Christ remains incomplete because we continue to sin.  However, His work will be complete, and we have the promise of God that we will live eternally with Him and completely without any sin.

APPLICATION: Use the access we have to the presence of God in prayer.  We are fully represented by Christ Himself and can come into His presence through faith in Him.  Walk in obedience before the Lord and confess our sins that we might maintain fellowship with the Lord.  Don’t allow sin to become a barrier in our relationship with the Lord.  Take great hope and rejoice in the knowledge that we will be eternally and perfectly holy in His presence.