Reformation of the Priesthood and Sacrifice

Hebrews 9:6-10 

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 washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

Here the sacrificial system and the Levitical priesthood is described as the shadow of things requiring God’s reformation.  The normal priests attended to the sanctuary services in the tabernacle or temple, while once a year the high priest alone would bring blood on himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the people.  He would sacrifice for both the people’s sins and his own, for He was also a sinner, and he was chosen and appointed for this service and allowed into the holiest place where God’s seat of mercy was found.  We have access now to that seat of mercy (Hebrews 4:16) by grace through the High Priest who is without sin and need never sacrifice for Himself.  This shadow of the Levitical system pointed toward the perfect High Priest and all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, the promised Messiah, who entered the Holy Place covered in His own blood.  The previous sacrifices, gifts, and rituals were symbolic, and they could only point to the One able to forever forgive and make us clean by His blood inside of His righteousness alone.  Neither the high priest nor God’s people could ever be permanently clean from sin in God’s eyes unless His work of the perfect sacrifice and justifying blood was given for eternal absolution (which no mere man has the power or authority to give).  These things changed by God’s reformation of the sacrifice by His perfect Son and eternal and effectual High Priest through His suffering, death, and resurrection.