HEBREWS 9:1–10 — DID GOD GIVE ISRAEL A PICTURE OF SOMETHING GREATER?

The tabernacle, the sacrifice of Christ, and our access to God

Introduction: Take Another Look at the Tabernacle

Have you ever looked carefully at the floor plan of Israel's tabernacle?

Not just the individual pieces of furniture, but the entire arrangement?

God gave Moses detailed instructions for building it. The courtyard, the altar, the basin for washing, the Holy Place, the curtain, and the Most Holy Place were all arranged according to His directions.

Why?

Was God simply providing Israel with a place to worship?

Or was He teaching something much greater?

Hebrews 8:5 tells us that the earthly sanctuary was a copy and shadow of heavenly things.

That statement should make us curious.

What was God showing His people?

Hebrews 9:1–10 explains the arrangement of the tabernacle and the limitations of the worship conducted there.

But after examining what Hebrews actually says, I want to invite you to look at the entire tabernacle from another perspective.

Consider its arrangement alongside what the New Testament teaches about Christ's sacrifice, cleansing from sin, the church, Christian worship, and our access to God.

Could the entire arrangement suggest a larger picture of God's plan of redemption?

I believe it is a question worth examining.

Hebrews does not explicitly assign a Christian meaning to every furnishing. Some connections are clearly established by Scripture. Others are possibilities suggested by comparing passages.

We should never present a possible connection as though Scripture explicitly teaches it.

Our purpose is to examine the evidence and allow readers to reach their own conclusions.

READ FIRST. CONCLUDE LATER.

PART ONE — WHAT DOES HEBREWS ACTUALLY TEACH?

1. Why Did God Give Israel a Tabernacle?

Read Exodus 25:8–9.

God instructed Moses to build a sanctuary so that He might dwell among His people.

Israel had been delivered from slavery in Egypt. God had established His covenant with them at Sinai.

Now He provided a place where His presence would be made known among them.

This was an extraordinary privilege.

But the tabernacle was not a house that contained God.

Solomon later acknowledged that even heaven could not contain Him (1 Kings 8:27).

The tabernacle was a place where Israel worshiped according to God's instructions and where His presence was specially manifested.

God did not leave its construction to human imagination.

He gave Moses specific directions concerning its materials, dimensions, furnishings, priesthood, and sacrifices.

Exodus 25:40 emphasizes that everything was to be made according to the pattern God had shown Moses.

Hebrews 8:5 later describes the earthly sanctuary as a copy and shadow of heavenly things.

The tabernacle belonged to a larger purpose than merely providing Israel with a convenient place to worship.

But what was that purpose?

2. The First Covenant Had an Earthly Sanctuary — Hebrews 9:1

Hebrews 9:1 reminds us that the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary.

The writer has just explained in Hebrews 8 that Jesus ministers as High Priest under a better covenant.

He has also quoted Jeremiah's promise that God would establish a New Covenant.

Now he turns to the sanctuary associated with the first covenant.

Why?

Because understanding the old arrangement helps us understand why Christ's priesthood and sacrifice are greater.

The tabernacle was not a mistake.

God Himself established it.

But it was temporary.

It anticipated something greater.

3. What Was Inside the Tabernacle? — Hebrews 9:2–5

The tabernacle had two principal rooms.

The Holy Place

The first room contained the golden lampstand and the table with the bread of the Presence.

The priests entered this room regularly to perform their assigned duties.

Exodus 30 also describes the golden altar of incense, located immediately before the curtain separating the two rooms.

The Most Holy Place

Beyond the curtain was the Most Holy Place.

This room was associated with the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat overshadowed by the cherubim.

Hebrews mentions the covenant tablets, the golden jar containing manna, and Aaron's staff that budded.

These objects recalled important events in Israel's history.

The tablets represented the covenant God made with Israel.

The manna recalled God's provision in the wilderness.

Aaron's staff recalled God's confirmation of the priesthood.

A Question About the Altar of Incense

Hebrews 9:4 associates the golden incense altar with the Most Holy Place.

Yet Exodus 30:6 places the altar immediately outside the curtain.

How should we understand this?

The Greek word in Hebrews has sometimes been understood as referring to a censer, although many modern translations identify the altar of incense.

The altar stood outside the curtain but was closely associated with the inner sanctuary and its ceremonies, especially on the Day of Atonement.

That association may explain the wording.

Interpreters differ over the precise explanation.

We should not pretend the question does not exist, but neither should we allow it to distract us from the writer's main argument.

Hebrews 9:5 concludes by saying that the writer cannot discuss all these things in detail at that moment.

He is moving toward something more important.

4. Who Could Enter the Sanctuary? — Hebrews 9:6–7

The priests regularly entered the Holy Place to perform their duties.

But the Most Holy Place was different.

Only the high priest entered that room, and his entrance was associated with the annual Day of Atonement.

He could not enter whenever he wished.

He did not enter without blood.

Leviticus 16 provides the fuller description of those ceremonies.

The high priest offered sacrifices associated with his own sins and those of the people.

The restrictions were serious.

Why?

The writer of Hebrews gives us the explanation.

5. What Was the Holy Spirit Teaching? — Hebrews 9:8

This is one of the most important verses in the passage.

Hebrews 9:8 explains that the Holy Spirit was indicating that the way into the holy places had not yet been opened while the first tabernacle arrangement remained in force.

Notice that explanation carefully.

The tabernacle demonstrated that access to God's presence was restricted under the Old Covenant.

This did not mean that faithful Israelites had no relationship with God.

Abraham, Moses, David, and many others knew God, trusted Him, and prayed to Him.

God heard His people and showed them mercy.

But the tabernacle's arrangement demonstrated that something was still lacking.

The way into God's presence had not yet been fully opened through that system.

The restricted entrance was part of the lesson.

The sacrifices and priestly services were not the final solution.

Something greater was needed.

6. Why Were the Sacrifices Not Enough? — Hebrews 9:9–10

Hebrews 9:9 explains that the gifts and sacrifices offered under the old arrangement could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.

This does not mean they were worthless.

God commanded them.

They served a genuine purpose under His covenant with Israel.

Leviticus repeatedly speaks of atonement and forgiveness in connection with those sacrifices.

But Hebrews explains that the sacrifices could not accomplish the complete cleansing that Christ would provide.

Hebrews 9:10 mentions regulations concerning food, drink, and various washings.

These belonged to the temporary arrangement that remained until the time of reformation.

The writer is contrasting the former covenant with the greater work accomplished through Jesus Christ.

God was not correcting a mistake when He established the New Covenant. He was bringing His purpose to its intended fulfillment.

The old system was preparatory.

Christ provides what that system could not.

7. What Does Hebrews Want Us to Understand?

Before going further, we should summarize what the passage explicitly teaches.

The tabernacle was established by God.

Its priesthood and worship were governed by His instructions.

Access to the Most Holy Place was restricted.

The arrangement indicated that the way into God's presence had not yet been fully opened.

The sacrifices could not perfect the conscience of the worshiper.

And the entire system was temporary.

These are not conclusions we have invented.

They come from Hebrews 9:1–10.

Now we are ready to ask another question.

PART TWO — LOOK AT THE ENTIRE TABERNACLE

8. Could the Whole Arrangement Suggest Something Greater?

Before reading further, find a floor plan of the tabernacle.

Look at the entire arrangement.

Begin at the entrance to the courtyard.

Follow the path toward the Most Holy Place.

Notice what you encounter.

First, there is an altar where sacrifices are offered.

Then there is a basin where the priests wash.

Inside the Holy Place, priests serve before God.

There is bread.

There is light.

There is incense.

Beyond a curtain is the Most Holy Place, associated with God's presence.

Now consider what the whole design might represent.

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