Hebrews Chapter 9
It is sometimes difficult for us to comprehend the old covenant sacrificial system. We tend to focus on the death of the innocent animals instead of focusing on the redemption that God provided for mankind. It was God’s mercy that allowed man to be forgiven of their sins through the sacrifice of an animal. The alternative – death. And by the way, that is still true today. The punishment for our sins is death. Romans 6:23The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let's Reflect
1. In the old temple what was the inner room called that contained the ark of the covenant? What other items were in that room?
2. Only the High Priest went into the inner room and only once per year on the Day of Atonement. He would take in the blood to sprinkle for the offering of sins for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. The author states that only the High Priest being allowed access is symbolic of what? [For further study about the sacrificial system for unintentional sins – see Numbers 15:22-31]
3. The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was fallible. The priests themselves who performed the sacrifices were sinners. The shedding of the blood of the sacrificial animals offered atonement for sins of the people, but only for a temporary period. When the people sinned again, there was need for God’s forgiveness and therefore another sacrifice needed to be made. Skip to verses 23-24. The author calls this old sacrificial system what?
4. Jesus according to verse 11 became that High Priest for us. He was the more perfect tent (in comparing Him to the old temple). Jesus opened wide the inner room allowing all to have access to the Father. He is called our mediator of a new covenant. Jesus shed blood secured for us an eternal what? See verse 12.
5. According to verse 14 what type of God do we serve?
6. Verse 15 teaches us that Jesus was the mediator of a new covenant. In this new covenant to which we belong, we know that Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins - past, present, and future. Notice that it also says that His sacrificial death also redeemed those who committed sins prior to His death. What group of people is referred to at the end of verse 15?
7. The sacrificial blood of the old covenant was sprinkled and “painted.” The priest used wool dipped in water and the sacrificed blood to sprinkle on the people. What plant did he use to “paint” the blood on various items in the tent?
Exodus 12:22Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin. None of you shall go out of the door of his house until morning.
Psalm 51:7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8. There is a vital doctrinal truth that we must understand, and it is this – “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” Verse 22. This was true in the Old Testament, and it is true in the New Testament and continues today. People need to understand today that they are sinners and in need of the forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. They need to understand and accept that He died and shed His blood for them. Verse 14 tells us that He offered Himself without blemish to God and verse 26 tells us something about the type of sacrifice this was. What does this sacrifice mean to you?
