Time for facilitators to report back any follow-up questions from the last lesson and any other discussion from lesson 10.

Transcription

1 Hebrews - Lesson 11 (Chapter 9:1-28) Opening Ice breaker question: Time for facilitators to report back any follow-up questions from the last lesson and any other discussion from lesson 10. Introduction to Lesson 11 study The best introduction to this lesson is a review of our last lesson. In lesson 10 the author began the comparison of Jesus sacrifice and entering into the heavenly tabernacle vs. the Old Testament High Priest entering into the Holy of Holies in the earthly tabernacle. The author made it clear the Old Covenant (signified by the tabernacle) was always meant to be an image of something superior (the Messiah). The first ten verses of chapter nine would have simply been a matter of review for the Hebrews. Every Jewish child grew to adulthood learning about Old Testament worship and the procedures God had established with Israel at Sinai for the priesthood and the sacrifices, especially the festival of the Day of Atonement. The first ten verses of this study are connected to the Old Testament references (with commentary) to give each of us a chance to review what would have been second nature for the Hebrews. Your study of this section will be enhanced if you take the time to review those Old Testament reference sections. Hebrews 9:1-5 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. 1

2 On these next couple pages are diagrams to help explain the references made in this section of the Hebrews text. A brief summary is given for each furnishing mentioned. It would be best if, as part of this study, you could review all of Exodus chapters There is a lot of other information provided besides what is listed here, but along with the author we say we cannot discuss these things in detail now. We will concentrate on the things that are mentioned. The Tabernacle: This reference for building the tabernacle was part of the discussion in our last lesson (10). For God s command to build the tabernacle you should review Exodus 25:1-9. The Lampstand: Instructions for the construction is in Exodus 25: The reference for the lampstand s use is recorded in Exodus 27: The table and the consecrated bread (aka table of showbread): Instructions for the construction of the table of showbread is recorded in Exodus 25: The reference for the use of the bread is recorded in Leviticus 24:5-9. 2

3 Holy Place Holy of Holies: More details about the construction of the tabernacle and its rooms are provided in Exodus 26, including the curtain that was to separate the two rooms of the tabernacle. This separation was a symbol of how sin had separated man and holy God. It was through this curtain only the High Priest was allowed to pass each year on the Day of Atonement. The golden altar of incense: Instructions for the altar of incense and its use are recorded in Exodus 30:1-10. As you review this section from the Old Testament you may be surprised by what at first might appear to be a discrepancy. In Exodus the location is listed as being in front of the curtain making it part of the Holy Place furnishings. But in this section of our study of Hebrews the author lists its location as behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense. How could both of these pieces of information be correct, especially considering the verbal inspiration of both the Old and New Testaments? The answer lies in the description of how this altar was to be used for worship, especially on the great Day of Atonement. It would be good here to stop and read through chapter 16 of Leviticus and refresh your memory about the activities of that Day and the importance it played in the foreshadowing of the Messiah. As you review you will find a specific step outlined in verses 12-13: He is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense and take them behind the curtain. 13 He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the smoke of the incense will conceal the atonement cover above the Testimony, so that he will not die. Because of the transitional use of this furnishing it was sometimes referred to as having a place beyond the curtain to highlight its importance. The High Priest did not dare to enter into the Holy of Holies without first performing this step, and so the altar of incense can also be referred to as a furnishing of the Holy of Holies as well. The ark of the covenant: Instructions for constructing the ark are recorded in Exodus 25: It is also referred to as the Mercy Seat of God symbolizing God s physical presence amongst His people. Besides being God s chair that rested in the Holy of Holies, the ark housed several items of great importance representing God s Covenant and mercy with His people. 3

4 Hebrews 9:6-7 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. Our writer is referring to the high priest s ministry on the Day of Atonement, outlined in Leviticus 16 (which was referenced in lesson 10 and previously in regards to the altar of incense). If you have not yet read through Leviticus 16, now we be a good time to do so. As a form of quick review we ought to refresh our memories that the Day of Atonement included the following steps: 1> Fasting on the part of all the people 2> Offering a bull for the high priest s sins 3> Taking a censer full of coals and incense from the altar of incense into the Holy of Holies 4> Sprinkling the bull s blood on the mercy seat of the ark 5> Offering a goat for sin offering 6> Sprinkling the blood of the goat on the mercy seat for the sins of the people 7> Making atonement for the altar with blood of the bull and the goat on the horns of the altar 8> Sending a goat into the wilderness bearing the sins of the people (the scapegoat) 9> Offering burnt offerings for his sins and for the people Hebrews 9:8-10 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings - external regulations applying until the time of the new order. Now the author, having reviewed the rituals on the Day of Atonement, draws out his conclusions regarding the superiority of Christ and the new Covenant. Under the Old Covenant, the tabernacle system literally "had standing," that is, remained as a recognized institution until God showed it was no longer necessary. Under the old Covenant the way into the Holy of Holies, into God s presence, was forbidden to ordinary humans. This separation between holy God and sinful man was symbolized by the thick veil that separated the two parts of the sanctuary, the holy place from the holy of holies. It was not until the events accompanying Christ s death that this thick curtain, this separation, was forever removed. Recall the significance of the event recorded in the synoptic Gospels 4

5 (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) that when Jesus died, this veil was torn in two from top to bottom. At that moment because of Christ s death God the Father showed because of what His Son had accomplished there was now available to ordinary man open access to holy God. Until that moment the way to God wasn t an option for anyone who was not a High Priest. The temple veil, says our author, is a parable or illustration of the dilemma of the inner person, the conscience. While the tabernacle sacrifices illustrated the need for the death of a sacrifice to atone for sin, those sacrifices never actually paid for sin or cleared the guilt of any sinner s conscience. As a symbol they had to be repeated, whereas when the real sacrifice was made, the superior sacrifice, the one that tore open the way to holy God, never again has any other sacrifice been required. Consciences are clear. The way to holy God is wide open. Food for Thought Is there anything that you do or practice that symbolically reminds you that complete payment for your sins has been made? (i.e. genuflecting, fasting, giving something up during the Lenten season, etc.) If so, explain how the symbolism helps. Is there ever a time when a guilty conscience is a good thing? Is there ever a time when a guilty conscience is not a good thing and can even interfere with our intimacy with God? (In such instances what may be the unjust cause of a guilty conscience?) What is the cure to an unjust guilty conscience (be careful here if the cure were simple then why do we often end up feeling guilty all over again, or more guilty about one particular sin as opposed to others)? 5

6 Here is an illustration of the layout of the tabernacle furnishings, including the outside furnishings (wash basin and altar of sacrifice). Besides the individual symbolism, what do you think God was trying to show His Covenant people when all the symbols were laid out according to His ordinances? Hebrews 9:11-14 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! For a people (Hebrews) who were more than familiar with the repetition of the old Covenant sacrifices a light ought to have come on in their minds, and hearts. For what the sacrifices of old Covenant could never accomplish, full payment of sin and a clean conscience, Christ, the High Priest and mediator of the new Covenant accomplished with a single, onetime, perfect sacrifice. Two phrases hammer home the author s point: once for all and eternal redemption (both found in verse 12). False religions contain within their philosophies the concept of repeated sacrifices by humans to appease their god. Also contained within those false philosophies is the uncertainty of ever knowing if enough has been done or has been sacrificed to guarantee eternal freedom. The sacrifice of Jesus, as attested by His own dying words from the cross (John 19: 30 - When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.) completes the comparisons the author began making all the way back at the end of lesson 9. Consider the table on the next page to see how the comparisons are now laid out for the Hebrews: 6

7 Old Covenant New Covenant Sanctuary Man-made tabernacle God s heavenly presence Sacrifice Blood of goats and bulls Blood of God s own Son Frequency Year after year after year Once Forgiveness (conscience) External (never cleared) External/internal (cleared eternally) Food for Thought Why do you think the Hebrews were having such difficulty making the jump from the old symbols to the real thing (is there anything about human nature that might suggest why we also sometimes struggle to trust what really sets us free)? Hebrews 9:15-22 For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. 16 In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, 17 because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living. 18 This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. 19 When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people. 20 He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep." 21 In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. 22 In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. This becomes a pivotal section for the conclusion the author is about to provide, and we would miss it because of how different our worship and our culture is compared to what the Hebrews understood. 7

8 The point being made is that death, the shedding of blood, was necessary both for a covenant to take effect and for the concept of cleansing. Today, when we reach our agreements we shake hands or sign a document. In ancient times an agreement was often sealed with a sacrifice between the two parties of he agreement. Today, our worship is clean and sanitary. We no longer have animal sacrifices because they were only a symbol. There would be no benefit to sacrificing since the real thing, since Jesus, has come. In ancient times worship was bloody and noisy and disgusting blood everywhere, stink, flies, feces and the guts of animals. But when the priest was done with the sacrifice he would go over to the wash basin and clean up. His bloody clothes would be removed and clean ones put on. Levites worked to clean up the area. But the picture is that sin is so serious the only thing that can adequately cover it is blood. I would suspect that as you studied through this section two key phrases jumped out at you. The first phrase comes at the end of verse 20: This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep. The old, imperfect, temporal covenant was sealed with the blood of animals. The words Moses used are familiar to us. Matthew 26: While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." 27 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." The other key phrase comes at the end of verse 22: without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. This phrase clearly shows that all of the Old Testament worship - the priests, tabernacle, furnishings, sacrifices, laws, etc. were given by God for one divine purpose to point to one moment in time "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Hebrews 9:23-26 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Once again the author points to Christ s superiority by comparing what is the genuine article and true (in heaven) to the inferior copy (on earth). In chapter 8 verse 5 he had compared the true place of worship in heaven with the copy of it, the tabernacle. Jesus served in the heavenly tabernacle, in the very presence of God the Father. Moses made 8

9 only an earthly copy "according to the pattern shown to him on the mount" (Exodus 25:40). The writer also continues to compare the repeated sacrifices of the tabernacle to the oncefor-all sacrifice that Christ offered in heaven. Hebrews 9:27-28 Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. The author concludes this section and chapter with an illustration to strengthen his argument of once-for-all. Nothing is more once-for all than death and judgment. But in showing the Hebrews of the uniqueness of the once of the new Covenant as opposed to the repetition of the old Covenant, God has the author speak a second, sobering message death and judgment. And here is the real irony. The Hebrew Christians were contemplating giving up Jesus, rejecting their faith, because they were afraid of the death they were facing because of the persecution of Christians. But in so doing they would face a far more serious death and judgment eternal. In the same way Jesus is superior to everything they were thinking about going back to, so also they would be giving up that which was superior in both nature and importance because of their human and earthly fears (earthly life vs. eternal life earthly suffering vs. eternal suffering). What may be saddest of all was the lessons from Jesus own earthly ministry that apparently had been lost on these Hebrew Christians. In preparing His own disciples for His death and visible departure from this earth, and in encouraging them not to let this world change them nor become too important to them as they waited, consider some of the parables/lessons He taught His disciples (and any struggling Christian ought to review): The lesson of Noah and the Flood as an analogy to the suddenness of the end times (Matthew 24:37-39) The parable of the Two Men and Two Women (Matthew 24:40-42), which concludes "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." The parable of the Thief in the Night (Matthew 24:42-44), which concludes, "So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." The parable of the Faithful and Wise Servant (Matthew 24:45-51), which warns, "It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns" (24:46). The parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), which concludes, "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." The parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) To be clear, Jesus does not tell us we are saved based on our level of preparedness for His return. We are saved by grace through faith. However, He is fully aware of what waiting 9

10 for His return can do to sinners. That is why He issues His warnings and encourages us to remain faithful, trusting only in Him and His sacrifice, until He returns. The Hebrew Christians should have listened! Food for Thought How will the second time Jesus comes to this earth differ from the first time He came? What were most people looking for, expecting of the Messiah, when He did come the first time? How could it be possible to become so confused about Christ s purpose both either for His first coming or His second coming? Have you had any misconceptions about God/Jesus that were later corrected by proper instruction? Can you see how the Hebrews might have been mislead? Explain. If you were to choose one Bible verse to keep you ready for when Jesus returns, what would it be? 10