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The Tabernacles of God
What it says:Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Heb 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Heb 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Heb 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
Heb 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
What it means:
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
God is the one who proclaimed He was planning to do a “new covenant” – so by this same word He has also declared that the first one is “old.” That which the Lord has called “old” will decay and grow old and then vanish away.
Rom_10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
2Co_5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Heb 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
The first covenant had two things: Ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary
Define: Ordinance -- what has been established and ordained by law, a decree, order, rule, regulation, law, edict
Define: Divine -- Having the nature of or being deity (God). Of, relating to, emanating from, or being the expression of deity: sought divine guidance. Being in the service or worship of deity; sacred.
Define: Worldly -- in the world, on Earth, having the character of this present corrupt age
Define: Service -- the service and worship of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law, to perform sacred services
Define: Sanctuary -- sacred place, holy place, chapel, hallowed part
The first covenant contained elements of service to God, and a holy place in the world, that although man could not enter into it, its reason for existence was for men to be aware of God’s holiness. Notice the word “also” because the old and the new covenants are under the lamp of comparison. Under the New Covenant we still do “divine service” and have a “sanctuary in the world” – we are the temples of the living God if His Spirit dwells in us.
Heb 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Define: Tabernacle – tent for carrying the Ark of the Covenant, a portable tent used as a sanctuary for the Ark of the Covenant by the Israelites during the Exodus, Jewish Temple, evangelical place of worship
He is describing the tabernacle in the wilderness. The first inner sanctuary was the first chamber within the tent and contained the candlestick and the table where the showbread sat. (See diagram below, “Most Holy Place”) This was also the area where the priests entered daily. This was the first chamber inside the tabernacle which was larger than the other chamber. The tabernacle also had an outer court surrounded by a fence of wool cloth forming a boundary beyond which men and animals were not permitted to step.
Heb 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
The second tabernacle inside the tent had a second veil or heavy curtain made to exact specifications by the pattern given by God to Moses. The veil separated the sanctuary from this chamber which he calls “the Holiest of all.” This is called “Holy of Holies” on the diagram.
There were actually many “veils” or curtains separating one section from another. The front door was a veil of cloth, the door to the sanctuary was a curtain, the outer wall was a curtain of goat’s hair. But when the words “the veil” are used it refers only to the curtain that separated the Ark of the Covenant from the Sanctuary. “The veil” is the door to the Holy of Holies, or the Holiest of All. For men, it was a frighteningly holy place imbedded in their minds as a place they could not go on pain of death, because they were unclean and unholy – and they knew it. The presence of the tabernacle and the veil reminded men of God’s holiness, and their own unholiness.
Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
The sacred inner chamber contained elements also. It had a golden censer or golden utensil for burning holy incense. It also contained the very important element which was the “ark of the covenant,” or the “ship” that contained the tablets on which the covenant was written. Notice that the word of God was in the Holy of Holies. This shows the importance that God puts on His word. It was under the Mercy Seat upon which He, Himself, dwelt.
Psa_138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
God has magnified His word above, even, His name!! The words that God declares are truth, as God is truth.
Joh_14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The ark contained two other things that were saved in order to be a witness to the generations of the forty-year wilderness trek that the ancestors took: 1. a golden pot of manna (a sample of the food God spread on the bushes and the ground for them), and 2. Aaron’s rod that had budded to prove that Aaron had the mantle and authority of the Living God on His side. (Optional: read Numbers chapter 17.)
Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Above the Ark of the Covenant were the statues of the cherubims of glory (angels worshiping God’s glory) whose wings provided a covering or “shadow” above the “Mercy Seat.” The Mercy Seat was the main element of the Holy of Holies for it provided the place for God to dwell. Our author has decided not to go into further detail about these things. Probably because they were a thesis unto themselves, but for our own knowledge, since we are not as familiar with these things as the Hebrews were, I’ve included these tidbits of information:
Exo_25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
Joh_19:13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.
The names of these seats are significant. The place where men were brought to be judged was call the “Bema Seat” meaning “the judgment seat” -- and who ever sat upon it was the judge, as Pilot was the day that Jesus was judged. But God provided “the mercy seat” as a place for Him to sit and to commune with Moses. There is no other “mercy seat” on earth where God sits to talk with man, but there is one in Heaven called “the throne of grace.” Hallelujah!
In front of the judgment seat a man stands on his own two feet, being judged for the good, or the bad, that he has done. At the mercy seat a man may find forgiveness. God, has already decided, based on Who He Is, to be merciful to man, whom he already knows is a sinner. A sinful man, of which we all are, can obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need at the mercy seat upon the throne of grace. During our life time on this Earth we have “the mercy seat” to go to by repentance and faith in Jesus. After we die, Christ will then sit on the judgment seat to give us our individual just rewards.
Rom_14:10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
2Co_5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
Heb_4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Heb 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained,
When all the things that God had told Moses to assemble were set up, they were then ordained for service to God.
Exo 40:38 For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.
the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
The priests, in order to accomplish the service of God set forth in the law, went in and out of the first chamber of the tabernacle, “the most holy place” on a daily, perhaps hourly, basis but not without washings and proper preparations. It was a holy place.
Heb 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
The priests did not set foot into the “Holy of Holies.” This was kept separate and extremely holy. The only person who ever went into this Holiest of All places, was the High Priest. And He only went in once a year on the Day of Atonement. He went in offering blood for himself and for the sins of the people after much washing and preparation.
Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Who is “The Holy Ghost?” The Third Person of the Trinity which consists of God, the Father; God, the Son; and God, the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit who are all One God. So The Holy Ghost is God.
Define: Signifying – meaning, indicating, implying, be a sign of
What was not yet made manifest? The way for men to go into the holiest of all.
Define: Manifest – obvious, apparent, evident, clear, visible, marked, noticeable, discernible, plain, observable, show, display, reveal, exhibit (Antonym: obscure, hide)
God was telling us that “the way into the Holiest of All” was not made available to man, while the first tabernacle was still standing. He wanted us to know it existed, but protected it from men – we did not have access. This is very evident because the High Priest, who was only allowed in once a year, had to be extremely careful to perform this ritual perfectly, according to the letter of the law. This was clearly not a casual place for men to enter in. It was far too holy for the likes of us. If men had gone in, it would not have harmed God, but would have harmed the men.
That is another reason that in our last lesson, our author referred to Jesus as “harmless.” We may freely approach Jesus with no fear of rejection or death. Jesus gives us life everlasting!!
Heb_7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
We also, are to be “harmless” as it says here:
Php 2:13-15 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Define: Figure – symbol, character, sign, representation, emblem, indication, logo
Who was not made perfect? The Priest -- "him that did the service"
He was not made perfect pertaining to what? The conscience.
The Holy of Holies was a representation, or sign, for the time then present. The high priest offered both gifts and sacrifices, but they never made the high priest, himself, flawless. It was a ritual to cover his sin, but it never cleared his conscience of sin. Neither did it make the conscience of the people free from sin. The yearly ritual, itself, actually became a reminder of their sin.
Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
What kind of ordinances? Carnal.
Define: Carnal – relating to physical needs, or appetites, especially as contrasted with spiritual or intellectual qualities, physical, fleshly, bodily, not spiritual, not focused on spiritual matters, the fleshly concerns of daily living
Define: Imposed – compulsory, forced, obligatory, inflicted, compelled, required
Define: Reformation – improvement, renovation, reorganization, restructuring, overhaul, restoration, rectification
The ordinances were “carnal” in that they consisted of meats, and drinks, and many different washings, and were physical rituals imposed on them to keep until the time of reformation. The ritual had been “imposed” on men for a reason. God knew that the ideas and symbols contained in them had to be evident to the mind of man, so that, when the real thing came along (the reformation) it would be easily recognized by them. Man would never have done these things on his own, so God made sure to give them the law as a schoolmaster. We were taught by the law which had been imposed on us by God.
Heb 9:11 But Christ
BUT CHRIST!! What lovely words! But Christ….. The word “but,” is always a cancellation of what was previously stated and signifies that it is being replaced by what comes after it: Christ!! Hallelujah!
being come an high priest of good things to come,
But Christ…. Became the High Priest of good things to come in the future. He replaced what was faulty in the past with the good things to come from God in the future!!
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
But Christ…. By a more powerful and more perfect “tabernacle” – one that was not made with men’s hands – that is to say, not of the particular physical structure of which we’ve been talking…, and not even of this world!
No temple made with hands, His place of service is;
In heaven itself He serves, A heavenly priesthood His:
In Him the shadows of the law Are all fulfilled, and now withdraw. —Thomas Kelly
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
But Christ…. By his own innocent blood, (not the innocent blood of goats and calves) entered into the Holiest of All which is in Heaven…. Not the shadow on the earth… but unto the actual Mercy Seat in Heaven… and, thereby, has obtained eternal redemption for us all!!
Define: Eternal – existing through all time, beyond time, without beginning or end, unchanging, unaffected by the passage of time, everlasting, never ending, undying, perpetual, endless, ceaseless, timeless, interminable, (Antonym: temporary)
Define: Redemption – salvation, deliverance, rescue, release, liberation, emancipation, recovery (Antonym: downfall)
Mat 27:50-54 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Bulls, goats, and heifers. Innocent animals. Clean animals.
What was done with the blood or ashes of these animals? They were sprinkled on the unclean.
What did sprinkling the unclean do? Sanctifieth
Define: Sanctified – make something holy, to perform a ritual or act intended to free someone from sin, bless something through religious vow or ordinance, blessed, made sacred, made holy
They purified the flesh. They covered the sins of the flesh. But did not clear the conscience – the inner man – his spirit.
Heb 9:14 How much more
Define: More – additional, extra, supplementary, added, further, new, beyond, above, ultra, bonus, luxury
“How much more” – How far above – How far beyond – How much more excellent…..
shall the blood of Christ,
How much greater and more luxurious is the spotless blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God!?
who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,
Through what did Jesus offer himself? The eternal Spirit
Define: Spot – mark, blemish, stain, smudge, speck, dot, bit, tad, touch, smidgen, dash
BBC: …the Holy Spirit is in view; He made His sacrifice in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was an offering made to God. He was the spotless, sinless Lamb of God whose moral perfection qualified Him to be our Sin-bearer. The animal sacrifices (were) physically spotless; He was without blemish morally.
But Christ…. The Son of man, through the eternal Spirit, being The Son of God, was without spot or sin, both morally and spiritually… He offered Himself to God for our full redemption, and God raised Him from the Dead!!
purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Define: Purge – wash out, cleanse, eliminate, remove, eradicate, do away with, pardon, exonerate, absolve, forgive, excuse, (Antonym: castigate, criticize, reprimand)
Define: Conscience – sense of right and wrong, scruples, principles, ethics, inner man, spirit, soul
Whose conscience? Your conscience -- if you believe in the redemption given to us by Jesus Christ!!
Define: Dead -- deceased, lifeless, boring, deadly, numb, frozen, unresponsive, obsolete, empty, silent, blank, inactive, inert, extinct
Define: Works – labor, employment, job, effort, exertion, toil, actions, composition, masterpiece, product
For what purpose was our conscience purged? So that we may serve the living God.
To purge our consciences from that old life-depleting masterpiece we’ve been working on!! You know the one I mean: the one we’ve been so focused on improving and defending and expressing!! This is a proclamation of the renewing of the mind that is found in the revelation of Christ. First the conscience of the inner man must be purged, cleansed, forgiven. Then with continued faith in the cleansing work of Christ in our own selves, we focus on a new masterpiece: serving the living God.
2Co_3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
It is the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of the living God – that has written the epistle of Christ upon our hearts. It is by the renewing of the mind that we cling to Christ and His finished work – in us! Through continued faith in the cleansing power of Christ in us, we begin to serve the living God.
When He purges our hearts by the finished work of Christ, and we put our faith in Him and follow Him, then we have a growing living confidence toward God!! Remember, this is the NEW COVENANT in which God has written something new in our hearts – confidence in Him!
Jer_24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Jer_31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co_6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
1Ti 4:6-10 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
We must nourish ourselves in the words of faith and of good doctrine. We must exercise ourselves in godliness because it is “profitable unto all things” – everything in our lives will be blessed and profited by our faith in the finished work of Christ inside our own selves – in our own minds. With a renewed mind we may attend to the business of our Father… learn of Him, remember His word to us, love, serve, and obey Him with our whole heart, soul, and mind.
Rom_8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Eph 4:20-24 But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Rom_12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom_15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have confidence toward God by our faith in Jesus Christ who took away our sins, and in His being our High Priest at the right hand of God on the Throne of grace – the Mercy Seat!! And not only there, but at our right hand also:
Act 2:25-28 (NRSV) For David says concerning him, 'I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
There are ways of death and ways of life. It is God who lets us know what the ways of life are. By faith in the spotless eternal redemption of Christ Jesus our Lord, our hearts need no longer condemn us. Forgiveness is a release from sin. We are no longer condemned.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
But Christ….. by faith in the finished work of Christ, we know that our sins have been purged and we have been set free from death and hell and our own sin so that we may walk in the Spirit of God!! Oh, soak that in!!
Joh_1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
But Christ…. The Lamb of God…. Takes….. away….. the sin…..of the world!! He purges your conscience from dead works so we are able to serve the living God!! Oh Praise the Lord!! God is greater than our hearts. Have confidence toward God. He is so very gracious and kind. You are forgiven!! Thank God for the Mercy Seat!! Hallelujah!
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
(Optional: read Psalm 103)
Read our verses once more:
Heb 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
Heb 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Heb 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
Heb 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;
Heb 9:5 And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Heb 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.
Heb 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Heb 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
Heb 9:9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
Heb 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Heb 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Heb 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
Heb 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
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