Better by Far - 9
The Excellency of Christ in the Book of Hebrews
Hebrews is the book of better things. Hebrews chapter nine helps us to see this by contrasting the Old Testament sanctuary with the new covenant one.
The sanctuary of the old covenant is inferior because it was earthly. Verse 1 says, "The first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary". Being earthly it was subject to dilapidation and would need repair. It was also limited to one particular place geographically. To move it meant hat it had to be dismantled and each section transported to the nest place. It belonged only to Israel and not the world.
The old sanctuary was a pattern of something greater. It was divided into two main section. The first section was the holy place. Verse 2 tells that there was, "the lamp stand, the table of the consecrated bread". The lamp stand was a reminder to the nation of Israel that they were to be a light to the surrounding nations. It especially pointed forward to Jesus Christ who would be the light of the world. The table of the consecrated bread taught God' people that it was the Lord who sustained them. This also pointed to Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life. We need Him to save us and keep us. His presence nourishes our souls. The second division of the sanctuary is the Holy of Holies. Paul says in Verse 4 that in here were, "the golden altar of incense and the gold covered ark of the covenant". Strictly speaking the altar of incense was in the holy place just before the veil. Paul had not made a mistake. He's simply emphasising the intimate relation between the altar of incense and the mercy seat within the veil. On the Day of Atonement, celebrated once a year, the high priest would take coals from the altar to burn before the mercy seat within the veil. Beyond the veil was the ark of the covenant. It was a gold covered wooden chest 3 3/4 feet long, 2 1/4 feet wide, and 2 1/4 feet high. On top was the mercy seat made of gold with a cherub at each end. This was God's throne in the tabernacle. David said in Psalm 80 Verse 1, "Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock, you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth". The priest sprinkled the mercy seat with the blood on the Day of Atonement. In the ark was the Ten Commandments. When the blood was sprinkled God didn't look at the broken law but at the blood and was merciful toward the Israelites. Jesus Christ is the believers 'mercy seat'. His blood takes our sin away. The sanctuary was entered only by the priests. Verse 6 says, "when everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry". The tabernacle and its precincts were forbidden to the people generally. The Old Testament sanctuary was inferior because it was temporary. Verse 8 says, "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 standing". The first tabernacle needed to be removed so that a superior one could take its place. The old system stopped men and women from entering the very presence of God. When Jesus died the veil blocking that entrance was torn in two. Matthew Chapter 27 Verse 51 says, "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom". Access to God for all who believe has been opened up. We read in Hebrews Chapter 10 Verse 20, "We have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened up for us through the curtain, that is, His body". A further weakness of the old sanctuary is that it exercised an eternal ministry. It could ever change the heart or calm the accusing conscience. Verse 10 says, "They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings - external regulations applying until the time of the new order".
The superiority of the new covenant sanctuary is presented in Verses 11 - 28. The real sanctuary is heavenly. Verse 11 says about Jesus that, "He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man made". The old sanctuary was made of materials from this passing earth. Verse 24 says, "Christ did not enter a man made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one'; He entered heaven itself". That being the case the new sanctuary is not subject to dilapidation. Its eternal. It never needs repair. No matter where believers live on this earth we can have access to God. We're not limited to a place. There's no need to dismantle it to move it on. It remains forever in the eternal holy place in glory where God dwells. We read in Verse 11 of, "the good things that are already there". All that the old sanctuary prefigured has already arrived in Jesus Christ and His finished work and His ascension to the Father's right hand in heaven. We no longer need the type when we have the true!
The new sanctuary is better than the old because of the type of sacrifice offered for sin. The writer deals with this theme more extensively in Chapter 10 where we see Christ the better sacrifice. Here he mentions that the atonement for our sin was made through the blood of Jesus Christ Himself. The Old Testament sacrifices consisted of the blood of goats and calves which could only cover sin. Notice the contrast in Verse 12. We read, "He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves' but He entered the most holy place once and for all by His blood, having obtained eternal redemption". The benefit of this for all believers is that the cleansing work of Christ's blood is richer and deeper. Paul summarises it for us in Verses 13 - 14. He says, "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!". The old sacrifices had only an outward benefit. The sacrifice of Christ reaches into the heart and conscience. Have you been cleansed from your sin through the blood of Jesus Christ? Christ has secured an eternal redemption. Verse 15 says, "Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance". Our salvation is not a passing momentary thing. It has eternal implication. It will carry us through this life and into glory itself! This verse goes on to point out that sins committed under the old covenant were only covered by the blood of bull and goats. Sins could only be cleansed and taken away after the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Paul says, "He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant". Sufficient, efficient, and full deliverance from sin is found by all who trust Christ for their eternal salvation. Do you know the joy of forgiveness and the blessing of salvation in Jesus Christ?
The new sanctuary speaks of fulfilment. Verse 24 says, "For Christ did not enter a man made sanctuary that was only the copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself". Nor did He go in and out of heaven on an annual basis like the high priest on the Day of Atonement. Christ stayed within the heavenly sanctuary. He sacrificial blood was of such perfection and eternal value that no other sacrifice for sin could be offered or needed to be offered. His high priestly work was such that having once entered in He did not need to come out of the heavenly sanctuary. Everything that was necessary for our complete salvation was perfectly achieved. Mark Chapter 16 Verse 19 tells us that, "After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, e was taken into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God". The work was finished and complete. He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God". The work was finished and complete. It lacked nothing. When you trust Christ as your Saviour He will save you to the uttermost. You will lack nothing in Christ.
The glory of the new covenant can be seen in the better sanctuary. In the old there were repeated sacrifices, in the new just one final and complete. In the old there was the blood of goats and calves, in the new Christ's own precious blood. In the old sin was merely covered, in the new it is was put away out of sight. In the old the benefit of the sanctuary was for Israel only, in the new it was for sinners throughout the world. In the old the priest left the Holy of Holies, in the new Jesus entered heaven and stayed there. In the old the priest came out to bless the people, in the new Christ will come out in the way described in verse 28 where we read, "He will appear for a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him". Are you prepared and ready for His return?