The Christ Church Wednesday Bible Study Group is doing a study through the New Testament book of Hebrews. The word better is used thirteen times in the book of Hebrews as the writer shows the superiority of Christ and His salvation over the Hebrew system of religion. Jesus Christ and the Christian life He gives us are better because His blessings are eternal and they give us perfect standing before God. This study is not a diet for “spiritual babes” who want to be spoon-fed and coddled. In this letter you will find “strong meat” that demands some chewing and enjoying.
Today we are going to talk about that better sanctuary we identified last week that the heavenly sanctuary, where Jesus our High Priest serves. The tabernacle where the Hebrews worshiped in the wilderness, and the temple built later in Jerusalem were built from the pattern of the sanctuary in heaven.
These are the notes to Session 10.
For an audio recording of the session click the YouTube link at the end of the notes.
Jesus Christ is God’s superior Priest, and there is nothing that can minimize this superiority. At the very beginning we said that the writer of Hebrews used the word better thirteen times in showing the superiority of Christ and His salvation over the Hebrew system of religion. Because He ministers on the basis of a better covenant. Last week we said the new covenant was better because
It is ministered by a superior High Priest
It is ministered in a better place
It is founded on better promises
Today we are going to talk about that better place we identified last week as the heavenly sanctuary. The tabernacle built while the Hebrews were in the wilderness and the temple built later in Jerusalem were built from the pattern of the sanctuary in heaven. Let’s review a little bit about the heavenly sanctuary because we are going to be talking more about it today.
Hebrews 8:3-5 NIV Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
A “type” is an Old Testament picture of a New Testament truth. The word pattern in this verse is the Greek word tupos, from which we get our English word type.
The priests then serving in the temple were actually serving in a sanctuary that was a copy (“example”) of the heavenly sanctuary. The quotation is from Exodus 25:40, where it refers obliquely to a heavenly sanctuary.
Exodus 25:40 NKJV And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.
Moses saw this pattern on the mount and duplicated its essentials in the earthly tabernacle. This does not mean that the heavenly tabernacle is made up of skins and fabrics. It is the basic pattern and meaning of the sanctuary that is emphasized here. The true sanctuary is in heaven; the tabernacle and temple were but imitations or copies of the true.
The earthly priesthood and sanctuary seemed quite real and stable, and yet they were but copies of the true! The Old Testament system was but shadows. The law was but a “shadow of good things to come”
We are going to talk about in chapter 9 that better place, that better sanctuary.
The Christian is a citizen of two worlds, the earthly and the heavenly. He must render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. Because he is a citizen of two worlds, he must learn how to walk by faith in a world that is governed by sight.
This principle of faith must apply to our relationship to the heavenly sanctuary, because we have never seen this sanctuary. Yet we believe what the Bible tells us about it.
There is no special place on earth where God dwells. Remember what Jesus told the woman at the well.
John 4:23-24 NIV Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Isaiah 66:1-2 NIV This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord . “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
We may call a local church building a “house of God,” but we know that God does not live there. The building is dedicated to God and His service, but it is not His dwelling place.
Hebrews 9 presents a detailed contrast between the old covenant sanctuary (the tabernacle in the wilderness) and the new covenant heavenly sanctuary where Jesus Christ now ministers. This contrast makes it clear that the new covenant sanctuary is superior.
The Inferior Old Covenant Sanctuary
Hebrews 9:1-10 NIV Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 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 functioning. 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 reminds readers that the regulations and practices in the tabernacle were ordained of God. If there was any inferiority in the tabernacle service, it was not because God had not established the ritual. While the old covenant was in force, the ministry of the priests was ordained of God and perfectly proper.
What was it, then, that made the tabernacle inferior? There are five answers to that question.
It was an earthly sanctuary
It was a type or copy of something greater
It was inaccessible to the people
It was temporary
It’s ministry was external not internal
(1) It was an earthly sanctuary (v. 1).
Hebrews 9:1 NIV Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.
This means it was made by man and put up by man and pitched by man. The Jewish people generously brought their gifts to Moses, and from these materials the tabernacle was constructed. Then God gave spiritual wisdom and skill to Bezaleel and Oholiab to do the intricate work of making the various parts of the tabernacle and its furnishings. (you can see all of that in Ex. 35—36). After the construction was completed, the sanctuary was put in place and dedicated to God. That is in Ex. 40:1-33.
Even though the glory of God moved into the sanctuary, it was still an earthly building, constructed by humans out of earthly materials.
Exodus 40:34-38 NIV Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels.
Being an earthly building, it had several weaknesses. For one thing, it would need a certain amount of repair. Also, it was limited geographically: If it was pitched in one place, it could not be in another place. It had to be dismantled and the various parts carried from place to place. There were instructions for breaking it down and moving it in Numbers. Furthermore, it belonged to the nation of Israel and not to the whole world.
(2) It was a type of something greater (vv. 2–5).
Hebrews 9:2-5 NKJV For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
The writer listed the various parts and furnishings of the tabernacle because each of these carried a spiritual meaning.
There were two divisions or sections of the tabernacle. The first section was called the Holy Place and the second the Holy of Holies. Each of these divisions had its own furnishings, and each piece of furniture had its own special meaning.
In the Holy Place stood the lampstand. tSince there were no windows in the tabernacle, this lampstand provided the necessary light for the priests’ ministry in the Holy Place. The lampstand is described in
Exodus 25:31-40 NIV “Make a lampstand of pure gold. Hammer out its base and shaft, and make its flowerlike cups, buds and blossoms of one piece with them. Six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand—three on one side and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches extending from the lampstand. And on the lampstand there are to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms. One bud shall be under the first pair of branches extending from the lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair—six branches in all. The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. “Then make its seven lamps and set them up on it so that they light the space in front of it. Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. A talent of pure gold is to be used for the lampstand and all these accessories. See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.
The nation of Israel was supposed to be a light to the nations but, Jesus Christ is the “light of the world”
John 8:12 NIV When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
and believers are to shine as lights in the world
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
There was also a table in the Holy Place with twelve loaves of bread on it. It was called the Table of Showbread (Ex. 25:23–30; 37:10–16; Lev. 24:5–9).
Each Sabbath, the priests would remove the old loaves and put fresh loaves on the table, and the old loaves would be eaten. These loaves were called “the bread of presence.” Only the priests could eat this bread, and they were required to eat it in the sanctuary. It reminded the twelve tribes of God’s presence that sustained them. It also speaks to us today of Jesus Christ, the “bread of life” given to the whole world.
John 6:35 NIV Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
The golden altar did not stand in the Holy of Holies, but its ministry pertained to the Holy of Holies. In what way? On the annual Day of Atonement, the high priest used coals from this altar to burn incense before the mercy seat within the veil.
(For details about this incense altar, see Exodus 30:1–10; 37:25–29. The incense itself is described in Exodus 30:34–35.)
Leviticus 16:12-14 NIVHe is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the Lord and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. He is to put the incense on the fire before the Lord , and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the tablets of the covenant law, so that he will not die. He is to take some of the bull’s blood and with his finger sprinkle it on the front of the atonement cover; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the atonement cover.
Hebrews 9:4 NIV The golden altar stood in the Holy Place just in front of the veil that divided the two parts of the tabernacle.
which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant.
Hebrews 9:4 NKJV which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant;
The word translated “censer” (a device for burning incense) (Heb. 9:4) should be “altar.”
Each morning and evening, a priest burned incense on this altar. David suggested that it is a picture of prayer ascending to God
Psalms 141:2 NIV May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.
It can be a reminder that Jesus Christ intercedes for us.
Romans 8:33-34 NIV Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
The Holy of Holies contained only the ark of the covenant, a wooden chest three feet, nine inches long; two feet, three inches wide; and two feet, three inches high. On the top of this chest was a beautiful “mercy seat” made of gold, with a cherub at each end. This was the throne of God in the tabernacle (Ex. 25:10–22; Ps. 80:1; 99:1).
On the Day of Atonement, the blood was sprinkled on this mercy seat to cover the tables of law within the ark. God did not look at the broken law; He saw the blood. Christ is our “mercy seat”.
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
1 John 2:2 NIV
Romans 3:25 NIV God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
But His blood does not just cover sin; it takes away sin.
No doubt many spiritual truths are wrapped up in these pieces of furniture, and all of them are of value. But the most important truth is this: All of this was symbolism and not the spiritual reality. It was this fact that made the tabernacle of the old covenant inferior.
(3) It was inaccessible to the people (vv. 6–7).
Hebrews 9:6-7 NIV When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
We must not get the idea that the Jews assembled in the tabernacle for worship. The priests and Levites were permitted into the tabernacle area, but not the people from the other tribes. Furthermore, though the priests ministered in the Holy Place day after day, only the high priest entered the Holy of Holies, and that only once a year. When he did, he had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins as well as for the sins of the people. In contrast, the heavenly tabernacle is open to all of the people of God, and at all times.
Hebrews 10:19-25 NIV Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
(4) It was temporary (v. 8).
Hebrews 9:7-8 NIV But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 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 functioning.
As long as the priests were ministering in the Holy Place, the way had not yet been opened into the presence of God. But when Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom and the way was opened into the Holy of Holies.
Matthew 27:50-51 NIV And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split
There was no longer any more need for either the Holy Place or the Holy of Holies, for now believing sinners could come into the presence of God.
(5) Its ministry was external, not internal (vv. 9–10).
Hebrews 9:9-10 NIV 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.
The sacrifices offered and the blood applied to the mercy seat could never change the heart or the conscience of a worshipper. All of the ceremonies associated with the tabernacle had to do with ceremonial purity, not moral purity. They were “carnal ordinances” that pertained to the outer man but that could not change the inner man.
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