Hebrews Chapter 9 The Greater Sanctuary

Outline of Chapter 9

The Inferior Old Covenant Sanctuary

1. 1-5 – The tabernacle and its contents

2. 6-10 – The daily activities of the priests

The Superior Heavenly Sanctuary

1. 11-14 – The superiority of Christ’s sacrifice

2. 15-22 – The Mediator of the new covenant

3. 23-28 – The heavenly tabernacle and work

The Inferior Old Covenant Sanctuary

Verses 1-5 – The tabernacle and its contents.

-Lampstand – The golden candlestick (Ex 25:31-40, 27:20-21).

-Table and the sacred bread – Also called the table of showbread (Ex 25:23-30, 37:10-16).

-Behind the second veil – The curtain between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.

-The golden altar of incense – The altar sat by the second veil and the high priest would take coals from this altar into the Holy of Holies.

-The ark of the covenant… containing:

-The manna – God’s provision

-Aaron’s rod with budded – God’s approval of Aaron

-The tables of the covenant – God’s law

-The cherubim of glory – They overshadowed or looked at the mercy seat.

-The mercy seat – The place of satisfaction. The word is hilisterion which is translated “propitiation” in Romans 3:25. The other two uses of “propitiation” in the New Testament are from the related word hilasmos which means the satisfactory sacrifice.

Verses 6-10 – The daily activities of the priests.

The priests are continually entering the outer tabernacle…Into the second only the high priest enters, once a year… taking blood

-he offers blood for himself

-he offers blood for the sins of the people

The way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed – As long as priests were ministering in the holy place the way had not been opened into the presence of God.

While the outer tabernacle is still standing – A hint that temple worship was still being performed when Hebrews was written.

Gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience…

-They relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

A time of reformation – The change brought about by the sacrifice of Jesus.

The Superior Heavenly Sanctuary

Verses 11-14 – The superiority of Christ’s sacrifice.

Note the contrasts:

Christ as a high priest - Earthly high priests

The greater tabernacle - The earthly tabernacle

The blood of Christ - The blood of bulls and goats

Once for all sacrifice - Repeated sacrifices

Eternal redemption - Covering of sins

Cleansing of conscience - Cleansing of the flesh

Spiritual service - Dead works

Verses 15-22 The Mediator of the new covenant.

For this reason – Because the old covenant could not settle the sin issue.

He is the mediator of a new covenant – Based on His death and finished work on the cross.

The promise of the eternal inheritance – Since we have eternal redemption (verse 12) we can rely on the promise of eternal inheritance.

The death of the one who made it (covenant) – It is the death of Christ that put into effect the new covenant with all its blessings. The shedding of blood was necessary under the old covenant and also necessary to inaugurate the new covenant.

One might almost say – The Law had provisions for the poor to bring a non-blood sacrifice for some of the cleansing sacrifices.

Without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness – On the day of atonement blood was shed for the sins of the nation.

Verses 23-28 – The heavenly tabernacle and Christ’s finished work!

Copies of things in heaven – The earthly tabernacle and sacrifices were purified by the blood of animals, but the original, heavenly tabernacle was purified by the blood of Christ, God’s Son. This was an infinitely better sacrifice!

Verse 26 - He has appeared (been manifested) - Justification

Verse 24 - Now to appear in the presence of God - Sanctification

Verse 28 - He shall appear - Glorification

Jesus died for our sins, He now mediates for us in heaven, and He will come again for our eternal inheritance.
Once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Christ ended the Old Testament age when He died on the cross for the sins of the world and inaugurated the new covenant in His blood.

All men will be judged after they die. For those who have believed in Jesus, they no longer have to fear God’s judicial judgment on their sin. Jesus paid for sin once for all time! His second coming will be without reference to sin in that sense.

To those who eagerly await Him – However, there will be great reward for those who are faithful and who are looking for the Lord’s return.