See the Bible Through Jewish Eyes BIBLE STUDY WITH DR. RICH FREEMAN
Hebrews 9:6-14 | The Earthly vs. the
Heavenly Sanctuary: Part Two
In our last study in Hebrews 9:1-5, the writer of
Hebrews was continuing to build a case for the
superiority of Messiah’s priestly ministry over the
Levitical priesthood. Beginning in verse six of chapter
nine, he concludes this part of his argument by making
the statement that the Levitical priests were ministering
in the outer tabernacle only and not allowed to go into
the inner tabernacle at all. Only the High Priest was
allowed to enter the inner tabernacle,
the Holy of Holies, and only on Yom
Kippur, the Day of Atonement. He
concludes this portion by stating that
“The Holy Spirit is signifying” that the
restricted access into the Holy of Holies
was demonstrating that true entrance
into God’s presence, represented by the
Holy of Holies beyond the veil, “had
not yet been disclosed.” In other words,
the Levitical system was intended to
show that the true way to God was not
accomplished through it. Therefore, it
was always intended to be temporary,
“until a time of reformation.” The
Greek word for “reformation” is used
only here in the New Testament and
means “to make straight, to make right,
to rectify a situation.” It was pointing
to the time that Messiah’s sacrifice
would make things right between man
and God.
That brings us to the conclusion
of this argument beginning in verse
eleven. “But when Christ, Jesus the
Messiah, appeared as a High Priest of
the good things to come, He entered
through the greater and more perfect
tabernacle.” When Jesus died on that
Roman cross, rose from the dead, and
ascended into heaven, He entered the
Heavenly Tabernacle, not made with
human hands, “not of this creation.” He did so “not
through the blood of goats and calves,” but through
His own blood. What that accomplished is what the
writer of Hebrews calls “eternal redemption.” The
intent here is to compare the temporary nature of the
Levitical system with the permanent nature of the
Messiah’s sacrifice, which was “once for all.” Unlike the
Levitical sacrifices, even on Yom Kippur, which were
temporary and repetitive, Messiah’s sacrifice, once for
all, accomplished eternal redemption.
The objective of the writer of Hebrews was to
show the superiority of Messiah’s priestly ministry over
the Levitical sacrifices and priesthood. Ultimately, the
purpose of the sacrificial system was to point people
to the Messiah and what would be the final sacrifice.
DECEMBER 2017 / THE CHOSEN PEOPLE - 6
Messiah’s priesthood was shown to be
superior to the Levitical priesthood in
three distinct ways:
First, a superior tabernacle: Messiah,
as our great High Priest, sits at the
right hand of God in the Heavenly
Tabernacle, not of this creation,
superior to the earthly tabernacle made
with human hands. The Levitical High
Priest could only enter once a year, on
Yom Kippur, beyond the veil, into the
Holy of Holies. Messiah entered the
Heavenly Tabernacle once for all, and
in the process, the veil of the earthly
tabernacle, representing restriction
from God, was torn from top to
bottom.
Second, a superior blood offering:
The Levitical High Priest entered the
earthly tabernacle, into the Holy of
Holies, once a year with the blood of
bulls and goats. Messiah entered the
Heavenly Tabernacle, once for all,
through, not with, His own shed blood.
Third, a superior sanctification:
The Levitical sacrifices ceremonially
cleansed the external part of the
person, the flesh, what people could
see, but was never able to cleanse the
internal, what people could not see,
here referred to as the “conscience.”
But the blood of Messiah is able to cleanse a believer’s
conscience “from dead works to serve the living God.”
Those “dead works” in this context seem to refer to
the Levitical rituals that, in contrast with the work of
Christ, can never impart spiritual life. The ultimate
goal of Messiah’s death is for every believer in Him to
serve the living God.
Dr. Rich Freeman, D. Min.
serves as the Vice President
for Church Ministries and
Conferences with
Chosen People Ministries
and lives in South Florida
with his wife, Julia.
Dr. Freeman works with
churches, throughout
the country and abroad,
helping to equip God’s
people to share the Gospel
with their Jewish neighbors,
friends, and co-workers
and grow in their understanding
of the Scriptures.
Read Hebrews 9:6-14 NASB
9…Accordingly both
gifts and sacrifices are
offered which cannot
make the worshiper
perfect in conscience…
11But when Christ appeared
as a high priest
of the good things
to come, He entered
through the greater and
more perfect tabernacle,
not made with hands,…
12 and not through the
blood of goats and
calves, but through His
own blood, He entered
the holy place once for
all, having obtained
eternal redemption.…
14 How much more will
the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal
Spirit offered Himself
without blemish to God,
cleanse your conscience
from dead works to
serve the living God?