Jesus is Better - Hebrews Week 10
Hebrews
9:1-10:18
Now even the first
covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2 For a
tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table
and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second
curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, 4 having the golden
altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in
which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and
the tablets of the covenant. 5 Above it were the
cherubim of glory
overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6 These
preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first
section, performing their ritual duties, 7 but into the second only the high
priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he
offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. 8 By this the
Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as
long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the
present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered
that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food
and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time
of reformation.
11 But when Christ
appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the
greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this
creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the
blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an
eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling
of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of
the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal
Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead
works to serve the living God.
15 Therefore he is
the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the
promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from
the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved,
the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes
effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it
is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without
blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to
all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet
wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20
saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And
in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels
used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with
blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.
23 Thus it was
necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these
rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24
For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies
of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of
God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high
priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he
would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as
it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by
the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once,
and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear
the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save
those who are eagerly waiting for him.
For since the law
has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these
realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered
every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have
ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no
longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a
reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and
goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently,
when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have
not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin
offerings you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said,
‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the
scroll of the book.’”
8 When he said
above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings
and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the
law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with
the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest
stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can
never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single
sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time
until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single
offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15 And the Holy
Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant
that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my
laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will
remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 18 Where there is
forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton,
IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Heb 9:1-10:18.
Study Notes
WEEK 10 NOTES:
Hebrews 9:1-10:18
One commentator has
said, “The book of Hebrews was written by a Hebrew to other Hebrews telling the
Hebrews to stop acting like Hebrews.” This statement is clever and fitting for
the passage we’re discussing this week. Dealing with despair and discouragement,
many of these converted Christians are considering a return to the old covenant
that’s been made obsolete by Jesus. The writer of Hebrews is zooming in a
little further into the old sacrifices and how Jesus is better than the
sacrificial system. Essentially, he’s calling the audience to forget about
running back to the Temple to offer sacrifices for themselves, because the
Great High Priest offered Himself as the sufficient sacrifice for our sins.
Because the
audience is considering leaving the faith, the writer of Hebrews is going to
remind them that in Jesus, there’s a better sanctuary, sacrifice, and
sanctification. Let’s lean into what this means for both the original audience
and what it means for us today.
A Better Sanctuary
The first few
verses in Hebrews 9 describe the “regulations for worship and the earthly place
of holiness.” Inside the sanctuary, God commanded His people to keep certain
things inside this place of worship. These things include a lampstand, bread of
the Presence, manna, Aaron’s budded staff, and the ten commandment tablets.
These artifacts were kept for the Israelites to remember what God had done in
the past. What’s important to note is Jesus is responsible for all of the
things inside the sanctuary, and these things all point to Him.
But what makes the
sanctuary of Jesus better? First, His sanctuary isn’t made by human hands but
is in heaven. His sanctuary is eternal. Another reason His sanctuary is better
is believers have access to the presence of God. Only the high priest in Israel
could enter into the Holy of Holies, but because Jesus passed Hebrews 6 also
reminded us Jesus is our forerunner. This means that where He has gone, we will
one day be able to go, too.
A Better Sacrifice
Not only does the
writer of Hebrews teach us Jesus’ sanctuary was better, but he also claims
Jesus’ sacrifice was better. Remember, the high priests in the Old Testament
would bring two goats into the sanctuary, and one of those goats would act as
the “scapegoat.”
The priest would
sacrifice one of the goats, and sprinkle its blood on the mercy seat, thus
atoning for the sins of Israel. The second goat, however, symbolizes the sins
of Israel leaving the camp. The Great High Priest is a better mediator. Instead
of shedding the blood of goats and bulls, Jesus shed the blood of the Lamb of
God. His blood paid the sin debt in full. This means our sins are forgotten,
paid for, and as it says in Hebrews 10:17, our sins are remembered no more.
Jesus understands
better than anyone “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of
sins.” He also understood the blood of animals would never be sufficient to
completely cleanse us of our sins. Knowing this, and knowing because of sin man
is separated from God, Jesus gave His life so we could receive forgiveness and
grace. How could we ever run back to a system that is insufficient to save? Run
to the One who gave His life for you.
A Better
Sanctification
He’s a better
sacrifice because He completely atones for our sins, but also because His blood
still sanctifies. Verse 10 tells us through His blood we’re sanctified once and
for all. Verse 14 says we’re being sanctified each day. These two references of
sanctification speak of, as one commentator says, positional sanctification and
progressive sanctification. The blood of Jesus gives us a position that’s now
right with God. The blood of Jesus also continues to make us more devoted to
God, and Christlike. The blood of bulls and goats cannot do that in the hearts
of people.
QUESTIONS
FOR DISCUSSION
Why do you think
the original audience would want to return to the old covenant’s sacrificial
system?
What does
“sanctified” mean in Hebrews 10:10?
How does the writer
of Hebrews describe the amount of sacrifices the priests had to make? How does
this compare to how Jesus’ sacrifice is described?
How does the new
covenant offer a better hope? How does this impact your relationship with God
right now?
What passage of
Scripture does the writer of Hebrews quote in Hebrews 10:15-17? Why do you
think he repeats this quotation?
How does Jesus’
sufficient sacrifice help you when you deal with fear or doubt?
END
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