Please click here for the audio and click here for the video links on this message.. Click here to view the bulletin.
AN EARTHY COVENANT. Hebrews 9:1-10. 11/19/2023. #25.
1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the [a]sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 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; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the High Priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various [b]washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
1. Of the earth
a. The author of Hebrews now turns to logic to prove his point
a1. All the rituals and offerings of the old covenant were done by men using implements made by men from materials of the earth and performed in tents fashioned by men
a2. Since the offerings and rituals continued year after year by men who died using animals who were slain, there was no permanent remedy for sin that came through the old covenant
b. “The first” has no noun with it, but covenant makes more sense than tabernacle or priesthood
c. Hebrews describes the placement of the furnishings within the tabernacle in relation to the divisions within the tent (courtyard, holy place, and holy of holies)
a1. The author uses the tabernacle, rather than the temple to illustrate his point because it came first and traveled with Israel
a2. It was full of displays, symbols, and rituals
d. The central part of the tabernacle was the Ark of the Covenant overlaid with gold
a1. Contained the tablets, manna, and Aaron’s rod
a2. Contents = testimony to God’s stated will and His faithfulness to Israel
a3. Above the Ark was the cherubim over the Mercy Seat where the blood was sprinkled
2. The High Priest = a mere man
a. The High Priest was limited as to what he could do
a1. He could enter the Most Holy place just once each year under prescribed conditions
a2. The High Priest must offer for his own sins first and then the sins of the people
b. The High Priest could not violate any restriction under the threat of death
c. High Priest could perform only the exact services prescribed
3. The holiest of all
a. Even when all the proper sacrifices in all the proper order were made, it could make no one holy
b. The sacrifices were necessary to satisfy God’s holy requirement of service and worship, but could not satisfy the sin debt of man
c. All that was by the priests were symbolic of what was to come, so that what could not save from sin could yield to Him who could save to the uttermost
a1. The ministry satisfied the conscience, but could not satisfy the sin debt
a2. Doing what was required was to plea for God to provide what was necessary
d. Galatians 2:11-21 while the tabernacle still stood (also, its predecessor, the temple), the fulfillment of the symbols to the real Redeemer could not be made manifest, for both could not co-exist
a1. Jesus fulfilled the payment for sins, so the shadow of the payment was no longer needed
a2. Shortly after the manifestation of the payment (Pentecost) the temple was destroyed
e. To try to return to the symbol (offerings, candles, incense, showbread…) is to deny Christ’s full payment for sins
f. To follow Christ is to let go of all other worship and superstition (I Corinthians 1:29 won’t share His glory)
Key Verse: Galatians 2:11-21
11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”