Hebrews 9
“The new is in the old concealed, the old is in the new revealed.” This is what many Christians hold about the beauty of the Holy Bible.
In today’s chapter, the author drew a comparison of the duty of the physical temple priests and the redemptive work of the True High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Our God is a God of order, in whatever He did and wants to do, He plans them in accordance to His divine wisdom, which to the human minds are things beyond comprehension.
So what did the author of Hebrews want to expound to us in today’s chapter?
Bible Passage: Hebrews 9
The Earthly Temple Priests
Both the Tabernacle (or Tent of Meeting) during the time of Moses and then the Temple that King Solomon built, were the center of the life of the Israelites.
It was so because that was the God appointed place where He would talk with Moses and thence later on, the Temple that God instructed Solomon to build was a place where the Israelites could worship God in.
Therefore the worship activities in the Temple, from the observance of the various festivals to the animal sacrifices, were of utmost importance to the priests, who acted as the mediators for the people of Israel.
Even though in the New Testament era, the Old Testament covenants and practices are obsolete (Heb. 8: 13), the works of the priests played a very important role in showing us the reverance and sanctity of the Temple worship and services; and also showing God’s soverignty and the need of God’s atonement for the people’s sins.
Hebrews 8: 5 and 10: 1 tell us that the Tabernacle and the sacrifices were shadows of the good things to come. So what are the good things to come?
Jesus, The True High Priest
The Epistle to the Hebrews expounded to the readers that Jesus had come as the High Priest, the real mediator not only for the Jews, but for all who are willing to come to Him for the atonement of sins.
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then
through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not
of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the
blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an
eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:11-12 (ESV)
Our God is truly a God who is lofty yet so willing to become lowly for our sake. We really have a High Priest who can feel for us and empathise with our every emotion.
Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
Philipians 2: 6 – 8 (NKJV)
There was once when I was preaching to a Buddhist friend, whom I had been talking to about the love of Christ for about 4 years, he asked me in a very curious and a bit of angry tone, “Why you Christians always want to preach Jesus and how loving He is?”
Then an emotion of great gratitute welled up from my heart and I could feel my eyes becoming wet. And I replied, “Because Jesus died very painfully and cruely for me on the cross.”
With that, he went silent and nodded his head with a smile, “Hmmm… I see.” and from then on he was willing to accept my invitations to church.
Indeed our God plans everything with love and wisdom for man’s sake. He did not totally forget the salvation of the people in the Old Testament who faithfully obeyed and carried out the ordinances of God spelled out in the Laws.
Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive
the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from
the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Hebrews 9:15 (ESV)
So let us all put our full trust on our Lord Jesus Christ, and also to obey all that He wants us to do, for He even counts it a joy to go through the great sufferings for our salvation on the cross.
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand
of the throne of God. (emphasis added)
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
Shalom!
6 Comments
thechosen
“There was once when I was preaching to a Buddhist friend, whom I had been talking to about the love of Christ for about 4 years, he asked me in a very curious and a bit of angry tone, “Why you Christians always want to preach Jesus and how loving He is?”
Then an emotion of great gratitute welled up from my heart and I could feel my eyes becoming wet. And I replied, “Because Jesus died very painfully and cruely for me on the cross.””
– thanks for this sharing. It brought tears to the edge of my eyes too when I read it! Indeed, if we truly appreciate what Jesus has done for us, we will not hold back to share the great love He has given us, and not always find excuses for not sharing the truth with those around us.
(:
Hmm. May I know what Heb 9:23 means?
“Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
shalom
Hi (: , I’ll just share what I understand about this verse, and I hope other readers who have other views do share, and correct me if I’m wrong.
9: 23 must be read with v 22, because v 22 explains why there is a need for purification of the earthly copy of the heavenly pattern.
v 22: “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. v 23: Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
According to the Old Testament law, blood was the vital requirement for purification, so blood of animals had to be used for purifying the Temple and its contents.
And since according to the law, almost all things are purified with blood, therefore the heavenly realities also require purification by blood, but this purification needs a greater purification sacrifice, i.e. the Blood of Jesus.
I hope this suggested answer can be of some help for your further consideration.
Shalom.
PS
Hi (: and Shalom, this is my childish thoughts just for sharing (definitely not answer nor “correct” per say)
In the chinese bible Hebrews 9:23 reads as:
照着天上样式的物件必须用这些祭物去洁净；
但那天上的本物自然当用更美的祭物去洁净。
-copies of the heavenly things照着天上样式的物件 refer to the things in the tabernacle eg Leviticus 1:5, 4:5-6, 9:8 which were made strictly according to the patterns shown to Moses on the mountain (Hebrews 8:5)
-heavenly things themselves:天上的本物 refer to people ie all chosen people, you and me (John 1:13).
(Btw Bro Vincent says that there are only 4 classes in this world: God, me, other people and things)
In times of Moses, the blood sprinkled on the people was only able to purify the flesh (Hebrews 9:13) but cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience (ie heart) (Hebrews 9:9)
The various washings and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation (Hebrews 9:10)
Lord Jesus is the propitiation of sins for all who came/comes to Him in times since creation. His offering covered those under the first covenant too. (Hebrews 9:15)
Lord Jesus has obtained a more excellent ministry, in asmuch as He is also the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises (Hebrews 8:6)
Hebrews 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Every”body” will be redeemed at the same time when Lord Jesus comes again (Rom 8:23).
Biblereader
To (:,
Paul in chapter 9 compares the 1st covenant in blood to the 2nd covenant in blood which is the new covenant. The 1st covenant was a shadow of the new covenant, meaning it is not the true form of the 2nd covenant but resembles it and points to it. In other words, it is like the Prototype Covenant while the New Covenant is the Completed Covenant.
Paul describes the deficiencies of the 1st covenant. The 1st Covenant is a physical manifestation of the heavenly things. The blood sacrifices, the tabernacle itself are physical manifestation of what happens in the spiritual realm. In the Holy of Holies is the Ark. The Ark describes visually angels worshipping God (who’s Presence is between the two cherubims) and in the ark it prophesies that Jesus is this God whom the Israelites worship; The Manna signifies Jesus who is the Bread from Heaven, the rod that budded prophesies that Jesus will resurrect and the tablets of stone tells that Jesus is the Word of God. It is through this sacrifices and the tabernacle/ temple, that helps people to understand the true motive of the death of Jesus and through this, it also points out that Jesus is the Lamb of God and God Himself.
Hence the 1st covenant has the role of:
1. Bringing people to God through the priests (mediator)
2. Forgiveness of sins through sacrifice (though only later through the blood of Jesus did real forgiveness take place).
3. Reminder of sins through the sacrifice of animals.
The 2nd covenant completes the first covenant and solves the deficiencies:
1. We can now boldly come before God because Jesus has shed His blood
2. We have true forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus
3. We have a high priest, Jesus who is way way superior to the high priest of that time. Jesus continually prays for us.
4. It is spiritual now.. no more physical. We do not need to go to the tabernacle/ temple to offer sacrifices and this allows people from all nations to worship God
I would think it is not really complete but it is something like that..
(:
Thank you shalom, PS and Biblereader. I understand better now (: