Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
HEBREWS 9
Worship in the Earthly Tabernacle
1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
15 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.
16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Application Notes
9:5 Cherubim are mighty angels. One of the functions of the cherubim in the days of the Old Testament was to serve as guardians. These angels guarded the entrances to both the tree of life (Genesis 3:24) and the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:31-33). With their wings "overshadowing the atonement cover," these two gold statues were believed to support God's invisible presence (Ezekiel 9:3; 10:4, 18). Here they are called "the cherubim of the Glory," referring to God's glory, which hovered over the ark of the covenant (Exodus 40:34-36; Leviticus 16:2).
9:6-8 The high priest could enter the Most Holy Place (9:3), the innermost room of the tabernacle, one day each year to atone for the nation's sins. The Most Holy Place was a small room that contained the ark of the covenant, a gold-covered chest containing the original stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments were written, a jar of manna, and Aaron's staff. The top of the chest served as the atonement cover (the altar) on which the blood of a sacrifice would be sprinkled by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. The Most Holy Place was the most sacred spot on earth that's left is for you to thank him for his deliverance.
9:12 This imagery comes from the Day of Atonement rituals described in Leviticus 16. Redemption refers to the process of paying the price (ransom) to free a slave. Through his own death, Christ freed us forever from the slavery of sin.
9:13-14 When the people sacrificed animals, God made them ceremonially acceptable according to Old Testament law. Consider how much more Christ's sacrifice transforms our lives and hearts and makes us clean from sin on the inside. Hi:s sacrifice far exceeds what animal sacrifices did. No sins or shortcomings on our part will stifle his complete and total forgiveness.
9:14 Sinful deeds are more than just wrong actions; ironically, they can also be our attempts to reach God by trying to be good enough! Our culture glorifies self-effort and personal achievement. It defines a successful person as one who obtains certain goals: financial security, health and fitness, and the respect of others. But here the Bible gives us a different picture of successful living: accepting Jesus' sacrifice for our sins, abandoning the futility of sinful deeds, and allowing the blood of Christ to purify our consciences (see 10:19-22).
9:15 People in Old Testament times were saved through Christ's sacrifice, although that sacrifice had not yet happened. In offering unblemished animal sacrifices, they were anticipating Christ's coming and his death for sin. Returning to the old sacrificial system was pointless now that Christ had become the final, perfect sacrifice.
9:22 Why does forgiveness require the shedding of blood? This is no arbitrary decree on the part of a bloodthirsty God, as some have suggested. No greater symbol of life exists than blood. Blood keeps us alive (Leviticus 17:11). Jesus shed his blood--gave his life--for our sins so that we wouldn't have to experience spiritual death and eternal separation from God. Jesus created life, not death. With his own life he paid our penalty so that we could live. After shedding his blood for us, Christ rose from the grave and proclaimed victory over sin and death.
9:23 In a way that we don't fully understand, the earthly tabernacle and the things in it were copies and symbols of heavenly realities. The purification of the heavenly things mentioned here can best be understood as referring to Christ's spiritual work for us in heaven (see the note on 8:5).
9:24-28 All people die physically, but Christ died so that we would not have to die spiritually. We can have wonderful confidence in his saving work for us, doing away with sin-past, present, and future. He has forgiven our past sin by his death on the cross, sacrificing himself once for all time; he has given us the Holy Spirit to help us deal with present sin; he appears before God to represent us now in heaven as our High Priest; and he promises to return and raise us to eternal life in a world where sin will be banished.
9:24 Among references to priests, the tabernacle, sacrifices, and other ideas unfamiliar to us, we come to this description of Christ as our mediator, appearing in God's presence on our behalf. We can relate to this role and be encouraged by it. With Christ on our side, we can be at God's side. Christ is our Lord and Saviour. He is not present with the Father to remind him that our sins are forgiven but to present our ongoing needs to him (see 7:25).
9:26 The ·culmination of the ages· refers to the time of Christ's coming to earth in fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies. Christ ushered in the new era of grace and forgiveness, and we are still living in this period. The last days began with the death and resurrection of Christ and will be completed at Christ's return.
9:27 God's judgment doesn't worry most people today, but the Bible teaches that everyone will stand before him to give account for his or her life. Do you look forward to Christ's return, or are you afraid of it? As sure as death itself, judgment awaits everyone. God's judgment will have no higher court of appeal should the verdict not be to your liking. If you hope for a favourable decision in this court, put your hope entirely in Jesus. Pray today--now, if you haven't before--for the freedom and pardon Jesus has won for you. Then rejoice that God's judgment of you will be based on the perfect life of his Son, Jesus, who will stand in your place. After that, tell others how they also can find God's mercy through him.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)