Hebrews 9- Covenant Ministry

Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

Hebrews 9:15B NLT

It’s not an exact translation from the Greek, but the heart of the author’s message from his letter to the Hebrews. He now proceeds from the main point in Hebrews 8 that Christ is our High Priest to the nature of a new and better covenant.

Old Covenant Ministry

Remember how the sanctuary is a holy place to the LORD, separated from the sin of the world. Only the priests may enter as the worshipers stand near and the unclean kept distant. To think of the sanctuary as ‘only a tent’ would be contemporary error, for it is the Tent Altar where the LORD meets with His worshipers, hopefully accepting their sacrifices through the appointed priest.

Hebrews 9:

Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.

He continues with description of the holy place familiar to all Jews from scripture.

6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

The High Priest alone enters the Holy of Holies, the inner room of the sanctuary, and that just once a year. (A special place to meet the LORD, within the confines of a Tent or Temple.) Then this author of the letter to the Hebrews points to the holy sacrifice.

And he always offered blood for his own sins and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.

Hebrews 9:7B NLT

A Revelation of the Holy Spirit

We do not preach much about the Person of the Holy Spirit, once called the Holy Ghost. He is a revelation of the New Testament (or new covenant), which the writer of Hebrews unwraps here as when Christ is revealed.

τοῦτο δηλοῦντος τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ ἁγίου μήπω πεφανερῶσθαι τὴν τῶν ἁγίων ὁδὸν ἔτι τῆς πρώτης σκηνῆς ἐχούσης στάσιν

Hebrews 9:8 Greek NT

• The Holy Spirit makes this the way into the Holy place.
• The path into the Holy place had not been revealed while the outer or first Tabernacle was still standing. [This would also be evident by the succession from Tent to Temple to rebuilt temples made by man for worship of God.]
• The author tells his first century Hebrew readers “[the first Tabernacle] is
  a symbol for the present time [the first generation after Christ’s anointing.]
• Neither gifts nor sacrifices offered can make the worshiper perfect in conscience.
• Since offerings [gifts or sacrifices to the LORD] are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings.
• God imposed ceremonial ordinances only until the time of reformation.

This reformation of worship revealed by the Holy Spirit creates a new covenant with the Lord.

But when the Messiah appeared as cohen gadol of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made (that is, it is not of this created world), he entered the Holiest Place once and for all.

Hebrews 9:11-12A Complete Jewish Bible

I like this translation, for it provides a contemporary context to the readers of Hebrews. The Messiah appeared, the Tabernacle is a less perfect Tent and Christ entered the Holiest Place once and for all.

Just a contemporary reminder for 21st century readers:

“Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. For in Greek, the common language of the Roman Empire, Χριστός Christos is the anointed Messiah of God. We sometimes forget that faithful Jews had expected our Messiah for centuries ‘before Christ.’

New Covenant Ministry

Christ (the Messiah) appeared as High Priest. And He entered the Most Holy Place once for all time.

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood…

Hebrews 9:12A KJV

Think of the ritualistic sacrifices of the Old Covenant. Are we not repulsed by the slaughter and blood at the alter of sacrifice?

Christ brings a cleansing of blood by His own Sacrifice!

By His own Blood Christ obtained eternal redemption for the worshipers of God.
פָּדָה Redeem your soul from sin through our Savior’s blood.

then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to God as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living God!

Hebrews 9:14 Complete Jewish Bible

Jesus, our Mediator

15 Therefore, he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called might receive the promise of the eternal inheritance..

[Don’t miss this:]

.. because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

The writer of Hebrews now presents a legal case for dissolution of the old covenant.

• a death has occurred
• a will exists and is valid because of the death
• (for a will is never in effect while the one who made it is living.)
• Moses initiated the first covenant by blood (quoting Exodus 24)

Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said,

“This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you concerning all these words.”

Exodus 24:8 CSB

The writer of Hebrews words it as a vow or covenant reminiscent of marriage.

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. – KJV

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. – KJV

In fact, according to the Torah, almost everything is purified with blood; indeed, without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:22 CJB

Copies cleansed

23 Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.

Christ entered heaven itself (not a copy). He appeared on our behalf in the very presence of God. Once, not many times like a priest on earth.

… But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Some versions translate this as the consummation or completion of the ages. Jesus speaks of the ages as both ending and forever. Believers would do well to consider it.

And just as it is appointed for people to die once

—and after this, judgment

— so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,

will appear a second time, not to bear sin,

but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Hebrews 9:27 CSB

Do you look forward to the judgment? Have you considered the love of God to offer the Blood of His only Son to bear your sin? And do you await Christ’s completion of God’s new covenant?

The writer of Hebrews continues with more good news in Christ’s sacrifice.

To be continued...