Superiority of the New Covenant Offering

Lisa Monroe

Hebrews • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

Hebrews 9:1–10

Hebrews 9:11–28

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Review Chapter 8

In chapter 8, the writer emphasized the differences between the old and new covenants

We also saw that the earthly tabernacle was a shadow of the heavenly one

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The Sanctuary under the Old Covenant Hebrews 9:1-10

Hebrews 9:1–10 ESV

1 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.

Discussion Questions

In what ways did the tabernacle aid worship?

How do we worship God today?

Can you remember from Exodus the significance of Holy Place and the veil? (Exodus 25-27; 35-40)

Why can the sacrifices offered never fully restore the guilty party’s consciences?

What did the priests do in the Holy Place?

What did the priests have to do before entering the Holy of Holies?

When could they go into the Holy of Holies? And who could go in?

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Description of the earthly tabernacle Hebrews 9:1-5.

In this chapter, the writer shows his readers that there are some similarities between the two covenants

God commanded Moses to build a tent or tabernacle

During their desert wanderings, this tent was movable

But when Israel settled in Jerusalem, a permanent temple was built

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There were two chambers to this tabernacle

The outer chamber was the Holy Place and it contained

The lampstand: golden, seven branches, and the priests ensured it was constantly lit

The bread of presence: 12 loaves baked fresh weekly, and eaten by priests (along with wine)

These items point us to Christ

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The inner chamber was the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies)

It represented the divine presence of God and was blocked by a veil

Alter of incense represents the prayers of God’s people before God’s throne

Ark of the Covenant was the supreme object of holiness containing the manna, Aaron’s staff and ten commandments

Ark was a symbol of God’s throne (Mercy Seat)

“Cherubim” were the fighting angelic attendants of God

This tabernacle was to also function as a reminder to the people about the need to worship God

Many of the objects inside were related to worship

We were created by God to worship Him

In fact in Revelations 7:9-12 we can see that God’s “end vision” for the world of every tribe and tongue to Himself

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After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

We sometimes forget that one of our basic duties is to worship and praise God

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This is not a once-a-week activity that we do during church services

We can worship God in public but it is likely not going to be heartfelt unless we also worship Him privately during our quite time

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Weaknesses of the earthly tabernacle system Hebrews 9:6-10.

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The priests would enter regularly into the Holy Place

God appointed the descendants of Levi (“Levites”) to work in the temple/tabernacle but not all

Only the descendants of Aaron were to function as priests

They performed their duties regularly - meaning repeatedly showing that it never ended

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Regarding the High Priests, only they were allowed to enter the Holy of Holies once a year

The Holy of Holies was severely restricted to one visit per year on the Day of Atonement

Because the High Priest was a sinner, he could not enter “without taking blood, which he offers for himself”

In Leviticus 16:2, Moses is given instructions for Aaron, “Tell your brother Aaron, that he may not come whenever he wants into the Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark or else he will die”

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The writer points out to the readers that under the Old Covenant, even Aaronic priests had limited access

Even rightly appointed priests could not approach the presence of God anytime

Verse 8, states: “By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened”

In contrast to this statement is Hebrews 4:16: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace (mercy seat), that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”

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The writer is pointing out that the Old Covenant was focused on earthly sacrifices

But these were incapable of absolving man of his sins

They were not able to alleviate the guilty conscience

These earthly sacrifices merely pointed to the time of reformation - the New Covenant

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The Blood of Christ Hebrews 9:11-22

Hebrews 9:11–22 ESV

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.

Discussion Questions

What are the good things that are to come?

What is the tabernacle made with hands?

What place did He enter?

What did He do? What was His mission? What did He accomplish?

For what reason is Christ the mediator of the new covenant?

What sins does this passage say Christ’s death redeemed?

What does verse 16 mean? Why does there need to be death when a covenant is made?

What was the importance of sprinkling with blood? What was the symbolism of it?

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The Superiority of Christ’s Blood Hebrews 9:11-14.

The blood of Christ was “sprinkled” in the real Holy of Holies (vs. 11-12a)

The earthly tent/tabernacle was simply a picture of God’s ultimate dwelling in heaven

Jesus presents His sacrifice in the very presence of God Himself

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Christ’s blood was from a perfect person (vs.12b-14)

Take a look at the contrast the writer presents

“Not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by the means of His own blood” (v.12b)

Christ was the prefect sacrifice without blemish

He offered His blood “through the eternal Spirit”, pointing toward His divine status - He is both man and God

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What was the purpose of Christ’s blood and what does it do for us?

The Old Testament sacrifices “sanctified” people outwardly - “purification of the flesh”

But Christ’s sacrifice changes us inwardly toward new obedience

For we are not saved by good works, but we are saved for good works

Jesus’ sacrifice was “one for all” proving that it was successful

Our future is Eternal Redemption and forgiveness of sins

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Need for Christ’s Blood: Why Did Jesus have to Die?Hebrews 9:15-22.

The Old Covenant had been broken by the transgressions of the Israelites

So, unless there is redemption from these sins - from the bondage of penalty which is the result - there can be no promise and no new covenant

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Therefore, in respect to this penalty the death of Christ was a ransom

His death was an offering to God

Viewed in the light of a payment in the place of debt or penalty due

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Now change that debt or payment into the ideas of sin and punishment

The ransom becomes the sin-offering, for the acknowledgement of death deserved

And also, the vicarious suffering of death by Christ

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So, now consider the covenant and the promise which is related to the establishment of a better future

And we see that death was necessary for both

Thus, the offering of Christ’s life was an offering for sin

it was also a sacrifice to establish a new covenant

one that contains the promise of an eternal inheritance

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What precisely does the term “ransom” show us when it is applied to the death of Christ?

The death of Jesus was voluntarily endured

It is the means of delivering from death the souls of many

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In order to understand this fully, an understanding of “covenant” is helpful

It is any arrangement made between two parties for their mutual benefit

This arrangement may be ratified by some common act

But this ratification could only be done through the taking of mutual vows and pledges

Or by sharing together in some symbolical and suggestive act

An example of this would be two parties joining hands, before witnesses, in the gate of the city

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In Exodus 24:1-8, we are provided an account of the establishment of the ancient and formal Jewish covenant between the Israelites and God

This is a model of the spiritual covenant which God makes with man

for creating him

and arranging for sustenance and circumstance

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The covenant which man makes with God

accepting life at His hands

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This covenant was a covenant of mercy offered by God, and freely accepted by man, which makes the conditions solemn

God has the right to demand either obedience to the covenant conditions

or yielding of a life if broken

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Therefore, to be restored into right relationship with God, we need

honor God by the surrender of the life that was pledged in the event the covenant was broken

God can not make a new covenant with men until the old is honored

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So how then has this been accomplished?

God has permitted the penalty to be exacted from one person only

Instead of demanding the life of every man

The death of the representative man was then required by God

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So amazingly and lovingly, God, of the broken covenant, was willing Himself to provide that one representative man

Thus, the death of Christ managed to honor the broken old covenant

God saw humanity in Him

God accepted Him as the life that was forfeited

Christ not only bears the forfeit of the old but is the mediator of the New Covenant

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It is a better covenant

not of formal terms but gracious promises

not of particular deeds but of inner heart

and of the whole life

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This New Covenant was sealed with the shedding of blood

It was sealed by an infinitely more worthy sacrifice than bulls and goats as the writer states

Christ shed His life, at once for the payment of the old covenant and the solemn vow of the new - God and man are now one again through Christ

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This new covenant is both personal and voluntary

The offer of reconciliation, access, privileges, status, cannot be ours until we willingly and lovingly accept the covenant that was made for us, and sealed for us, by Jesus Christ

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Our Hope: Jesus’ Sacrifice is Superior Hebrews 9:23-28

Hebrews 9:23–28 ESV

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.

Discussion Questions

What does “the copies of things in Heaven” refer to?

What did Jesus offer when He approached the presence of God on our behalf?

What practical impact does the fact that Jesus need only die once have on us? How does this truth effect our lives today 2000 years after His sacrifice for us?

Why is it appointed for man to die? Why does God not allow us to keep on living forever?

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Jesus appeared in the Presence of God for us Hebrews 9:23-24.

The better sacrifice is found in Jesus Himself

But what exactly is the connection between the death of the sacrificial victim and the pardon of sin?

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We learned that the Levitical sacrifices didn’t deal effectually with the problem of man’s sin

They were merely a putative atonement for artificial sins - for the ignorances or ritual errors of the people

But not for their great moral transgressions

But by shedding light on the nature of the sacrifice by which the new covenant was ushered in, for the first time we have both priest and victim united in one

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For in Christ’s sacrifice the virtue lies not in the blood, but in the offering of a perfect will through the eternal spirit of holy love

it is through this offering that God is reconciled to the world

and can regard with a benevolent eye a guilty race, states A.B. Bruce

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Christ is our mediator, intercessor, and advocate in heaven

He sits as the High Priest to present to the Father His own atonement and sacrifice for the sins of the whole world

Christ sits as the High Priest and mediator between God and man

He is able to accomplish this because He is man

He is able to plead for man

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Jesus offered Himself for Us Once for All Hebrews 9:25-28.

To summarize the argument of the writer so far, is that Christ’s sacrifice of Himself is better because it is the Divine Man’s surrendered will; and that is the very highest thing in God’s universe

The writer’s goal was to help the Christian Jews to let go of their hold on the old Mosaic system and see Jesus as their Mediator

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That His sacrifice is a sufficient sacrifice for all man’s sins

Now he continues his argument to help them understand that there was no need for it to be repeated

Only an imperfect offering would be required to be repeated

As the High priest offered sacrifices over and over again since he came “with blood not his own”

However, Jesus offered His blood once for all

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In verse 28, the writer emphasizes the one-time nature of Christ’s work “offered once to bear the sins

He draws an analogy between the one-time death of Christ and our one-time death

showing the good news of the work of Christ because

we will die once

we will face judgement

and the perfect Son of God, Jesus’ sacrifice was enough to save us from the judgement to come

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Jesus came the first time to pay for our sins

the writer’s description of His first coming, “He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin”

showing that Christ’s sacrifices was the center of all history

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Jesus will come a second time to bring us home

Christians are eagerly “waiting for Him” to return

Christians put their faith in the promise that when He comes, His redemptive work will be complete, to return for our salvation as the everlasting High Priest over sin and over death

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Homework Questions

What aspects of your “inheritance” in Christ are you most looking forward to? How might some of those blessings be present in your life already?

In what ways might you have underplayed the seriousness of your sin? Or underplayed the seriousness of God’s holiness? How does chapter 9 help you address that today?

How does the work of Christ help you change the way you obey God? Does it empower your good works differently than the Old Testament Law?

With the sacrifice made by Christ in mind, do you offer yourself to others? Do you put others first or yourself? Do you offer yourself to God?

What keeps us from eagerly waiting for Christ’s return? How can we get that back?

Why do you think it is important to talk about death and judgement even when people don’t want to?

How would looking forward to the second coming affect your life now?