Day 213 – Friday, October 24, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Hebrews 9

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

The Earthly Sanctuary

1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. ² For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; ³ and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, ⁴ which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; ⁵ and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 

(Hebrews 9:1–5, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The writer of the letter described the original tabernacle, commanded by God and described for the artisans by Moses.
• The tabernacle had the elements of worship that foretold the true worship in heaven. It represented the presence of God on earth and the place to worship God on earth.

Limitations of the Earthly Service

⁶ Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. ⁷ But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; ⁸ the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. ⁹ It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—¹⁰ concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. 

(Hebrews 9:6–10, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The tabernacle had limitations, however. The priests had to offer sacrifices daily in the outer court, and the high priest went into the holiest place, the inner court, once a year to offer blood as a sacrifice for the sins of Israel.
• These practices could not truly make a man perfect. The true tabernacle and sacrifice was from heaven. Jesus was the sacrifice, and His sacrifice was enough to wash away the sins of all mankind if one believes.

The Heavenly Sanctuary

¹¹ But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. ¹² Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 

(Hebrews 9:11–15, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Christ was the High Priest, and entered the Most Holy Place once for all.
• He is the Mediator of the new covenant and by means of His death, He redeemed us from our sins. Through Him we receive the promise of eternal life.

The Mediator’s Death Necessary

¹⁶ For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷ For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” ²¹ Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. ²² And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. 

(Hebrews 9:16–22, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The writer uses the analogy of a will to demonstrate the action of Jesus for us. He said the testator of a will must die for the testament to go into effect. Then the testament goes into force. Even the Old Testament was activated through the blood of bulls and goats. The New Testament was activated by the blood of Jesus Christ.
• Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or payment of sins.

Greatness of Christ’s Sacrifice

²³ Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—²⁶ He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. 

(Hebrews 9:23–28, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• The copies of heavenly things were used to purify the people of Israel. But Christ has gone into the true Holiest Place with His own blood to purify those who will believe. He put away our sins by His own sacrifice.

• Every man is appointed once to die, and then face judgement.
• Christ died once to bear our sins. If we watch for Him, waiting for Him, He will appear and take us to be with Him in salvation forever!

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All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.