Hebrews 9

This passage explains that the role of Jesus as the heavenly high priest is better than the role of earthly priests.

These verses describe the tabernacle, which was Israel's place of worship before they built the temple.

This section explains that Christ's death, as the sacrifice in the new covenant, is better than the sacrifices in the old covenant. In Hebrews 9:1–10, the author describes worship practices under the old covenant rules (see Exodus 28–29; Leviticus 1–10; 16:1–17:16). In Hebrews 9:11–10:18, these rules are compared to Christ's superior offering.

• Israel's tabernacle was a tent with two rooms (see Exodus 25–31; 35:1–40:38).

• the lampstand: Exodus 25:31–40; 26:35.

• the table: Exodus 25:23–30.

• The priests entered the Holy Place daily to perform their ritual duties (Hebrews 9:6; see Exodus 28:43; Numbers 28:3–8).

At the back of the first room of the tabernacle was a curtain that separated it from the second room, called the Most Holy Place (Exodus 26:31–33). This curtain was a sacred barrier. Only the high priest could go behind it into the Most Holy Place, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Hebrews 9:7; see Exodus 30:6, 10; Leviticus 16:2–34; 23:27–32).

• The gold incense altar likely stood just outside the inner curtain (Exodus 30:1–10). Its exact location is unclear in the Old Testament, but it was closely linked to the Most Holy Place (Exodus 30:6; Leviticus 16:13; 1 Kings 6:22).

• The ark of the covenant, representing God's presence, was the most important item in the tabernacle (see Exodus 25:10–22).

• The gold jar with manna reminded people of God's provision in the wilderness (Exodus 16:32–34).

• Aaron’s staff, which sprouted leaves (see Numbers 17:1–11), reminded people not to rebel against God's chosen leaders (Numbers 17:10; compare Hebrews 13:17).

• The stone tablets of the covenant held the Ten Commandments and reminded the people of the rules they were to live by (Exodus 25:16; 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:9–10:5).

• The cherubim of divine glory were angel statues on the cover of the ark. These angels are closely linked to God's glorious presence (Genesis 3:24; Psalms 80:1; 99:1; Isaiah 37:16). The ark's cover was the atonement place, where they sprinkled blood from the Day of Atonement sacrifice (Leviticus 16:14–16).

• we cannot discuss these things in detail now: The main topic is the offering of sacrifices under the old covenant (Hebrews 9:6–10).

In the Holy Place, which was the first room of the tabernacle (Hebrews 9:2), priests had specific duties. They kept the lamps burning and replaced the sacred loaves of bread regularly (Exodus 27:20–21; Leviticus 24:8).

Each year on the Day of Atonement, the high priest offered sacrifices for sins not covered by other sacrifices from the past year (Leviticus 16:1–25).

• had not yet been disclosed: Under the old covenant system, people could not freely enter God's presence.

• The outer room of the tabernacle, which served as a sacred barrier, kept people from entering the Most Holy Place. This barrier symbolized the entire system, which kept people away from God's presence instead of guiding them into it.

This example shows that the gifts and sacrifices of the old covenant could not clear people's consciences. They could not remove guilt before a holy God (see 9:14; 10:2, 22; 13:18).

The old system focused only on physical rules and could not address people's inner feelings (Hebrews 8:10; 10:21–24). It was temporary, meant to last until Christ came to create a better system (9:11–10:18).

• Christ is now the high priest over all the good things of the new covenant. God appointed him, as mentioned in Psalm 110:4 (Hebrews 5:1–10; 7:1–28), and he offered a better sacrifice.

• that have come: Some manuscripts say that are about to come, either from the old covenant's viewpoint or looking forward to God's future plan.

• Christ’s sacrifice is better because it was made in the greater, perfect tabernacle in heaven, not the earthly one (see 8:5 and corresponding study note).

The author compares the old system (Hebrews 9:1–10) with Christ's superior sacrifice as high priest. Christ offered his own blood, not animal blood (9:13–22; see also 9:7). His offering took place in the heavenly tabernacle, not the earthly one (9:23–24; see also 9:1–5). Unlike repeated offerings, Christ's sacrifice happened only once (9:25–10:18; see also 7:27; 9:6–7).

• Christ's offering is better because he used his own blood, not the blood of goats and calves (see Leviticus 16:3–5).

• Christ's offering is better because he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time. Unlike the sacrifices in the old covenant, which had to be repeated every year (Hebrews 10:1), the sacrificial death of Jesus was needed only once and secured our redemption forever.

The ashes of a young cow were mixed with water to purify people from ceremonial impurity (see Numbers 19).

• how much more: This is an argument from lesser to greater, a traditional Jewish way of reasoning. The idea is that if something is true in a smaller case, it is even more true in a bigger case (see also Hebrews 2:1–4; 12:25–29). If animal blood had some effect in cleansing, then Christ's blood will be much more effective.

• purify our consciences: Christ’s sacrifice, unlike the old covenant sacrifices, removes the guilt that keeps us from God by thoroughly cleansing us from sinful actions.

the mediator: This term describes a person who helps resolve a tough legal or political disagreement. In the old covenant, people saw Moses and the angels as go-betweens between God and the people (Galatians 3:19–20). In the new covenant, Christ connects God and people through his sacrificial death (Hebrews 8:6; 12:24; Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 3:18) and ongoing intercession (prayer on behalf of others) (Hebrews 7:25).

The author explains a basic rule about wills or covenants (Hebrews 9:16–17). He then discusses it further, using the start of the first covenant as an example (9:18–22).

• put into effect: Exodus 24:3–8 describes Moses starting the old covenant using the blood of a sacrifice.

• Hebrews is the only ancient source that says Moses sprinkled the book of God's law (see Exodus 24:6–8).

• Hyssop branches have blue flowers and strong-smelling leaves. People used them with sacrifices for cleansing (Exodus 12:22; Leviticus 14:4; Numbers 19:6, 18).

“This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you” (Exodus 24:8): Jesus used similar words at the Last Supper, talking about his own death (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; 1 Corinthians 11:25).

he sprinkled with blood: See Exodus 24:3–8 and Leviticus 16:14–19.

In the law of Moses, many cleansing rituals required the death of a sacrificial animal. Blood was used in these cleansing rituals (see Exodus 29:12; 30:10; Leviticus 4:6, 17; 16:14–19; Numbers 19:4) and for making atonement (see Leviticus 16). The shedding of Christ’s blood created the new covenant, offering lasting purification and complete forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 8:12; 10:15–18; Matthew 26:28; Ephesians 1:7).

• This verse uses a comparison from lesser to greater (see study note on Hebrews 9:14). Just as heaven is greater than the earthly tabernacle, Christ’s sacrifice had to be much better than earthly sacrifices.

• So it was necessary: See 9:16–22; Leviticus 16:14–19.

• copies of the heavenly things: See study note on Hebrews 8:5.

• heavenly things to be purified: Just as the tabernacle needed cleansing because of the Israelites' sin (Leviticus 16:16–19), the heavenly tabernacle required removing uncleanness from those entering heaven under the new covenant.

Under the new covenant, Christ did not offer his sacrifice in the earthly tabernacle. Instead, he entered God's presence in heaven to act for us. His sacrifice makes him a better mediator to help us have a right relationship with God (2 Corinthians 5:19–21).

Under the old covenant, the priests had to repeat the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement every year (Leviticus 16:29–34). Christ's better sacrifice was made once and for all time.

Otherwise: The author uses a logical argument to show that Christ’s one sacrifice is permanently effective. Christ is both the sacrifice and the high priest. If his offering had to be repeated every year, like the earthly priests, he would have to die again and again. But that idea is absurd. Clearly, Christ died once for all time to take away sin.

Christ's first coming was to remove the sins of many people. When he comes again, it will not be to address sins, as that is already done. Instead, he will bring salvation to everyone eagerly waiting for him (see study note on Galatians 5:5).