Hebrews 9:1-15 - Sanctuary!

Hebrews 9:1-15

The Earthly Sanctuary (cf. Ex. 25:10–40)

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 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.

Limitations of the Earthly Service

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.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

In medieval times the word sanctuary was a callback to the cities of refuge in ancient times (Numbers 35:12) where one could go when accused of murder until acquitted to avoid being killed themselves for a crime they did not commit and they were pronounced innocent of the charges.  Here the sanctuary was the place of worship to the Lord and animal sacrifices to cover the sin of proven offenders but with mercy to absolve their guilt for their crimes.  Here people went to confess their sins instead of hide from their punishment which was fully proven and deserved as a refuge to life.  The high priest would annually enter the most holy place there where the mercy seat was approached and the sins of the priest and people alike were confessed and cleansed by the shedding of life for life, blood to temporarily cover known and unknown sin as in the beginning (Genesis 3:21) and restore the relationship of an entire people with God until the next time such intercession was made.   We see the fulfillment by the Son of God and our eternal High Priest who interceded with Himself as the perfect and unblemished sacrifice offered by the only sinless High Priest to permanently cover sin, both known as we commit them and unknown as inherited through Adam (Romans 5:12, 14) by all the people of God.  We then find access to the Holy of Holies where we see God and His eternal mercy through the life of Christ offered for us in the heavenly places to unite us with Him in His righteousness.  We find sanctuary in His sanctuary of grace which we formerly were unable to enter into (Hebrews 4:9-10, Romans 5:1-2) because of the presence of sin and its just penalty condemning us until the price of redemption was paid and we were set free from the law (Romans 8:1-3) of sin and death and are allowed access without condemnation into the most holy place to see His face!  The blood of His life given as a sacrifice to cover our sin is eternally effective and effectual for our entrance to Him and we never need an annual refresher sacrifice to keep this position in Christ.  Our consciences have been cleansed by forgiveness of unending grace that we might now wholeheartedly serve the living God as we approach without holding back (Ephesians 2:18, Hebrews 4:16) for help as we continue to falter in sin and find forgiveness (1 John 1:9) in Him.  Hebrews 10:19-21 confirms this access to God in Christ by His blood and through the veil of His flesh sacrificed on the cross for us to open the way to God with a complete assurance by faith that these things are true.  The veil was torn when Jesus died (Mark 15:38-39, 2 Corinthians 3:18) to usher us into this sanctuary of grace in which we now forever stand!  He is our Mediator and Redeemer of this new and unending covenant of amazing grace that has given us the promise of an eternal inheritance in Christ that cannot fade away (1 Peter 1:4).  Such amazing grace to now see His face and worship Him forever in His sanctuary!