Hebrews 9:1111But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; (Hebrews 9:11). With the coming of Christ all is changed. At once we have a new High Priest, a greater and more perfect tabernacle, and a new sacrifice. Aaron was high priest in reference to things in this present world; Christ is our “High Priest of good things to come.” The sacrifice of Christ does indeed secure present blessings for the believer, but the “good things” in reference to which Christ is High Priest are yet “to come.” Thus again the Spirit of God keeps in view the end of our wilderness journey. In chapter 2: 5 we read of “the world to come”; in chapter 2: 10 we have learned that Christ is bringing many sons to glory; in chapter 4: 9 we are told of the rest that remaineth; in chapter 6: 5 we again read of “the world to come.” Christ is our High Priest to support us through the wilderness in view of bringing us into the “good things” at the end of the journey in the world to come.
If, then, the Aaronic priesthood is set aside by the priesthood of Christ, so too the earthly tabernacle is set aside by “the greater and more perfect tabernacle.” The earthly tabernacle was made with hands and was of this creation; the perfect tabernacle is “heaven itself” (verse 24).
Hebrews 9:1212Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12). The Levitical sacrifices are set aside by the one great sacrifice of Christ who, by His own blood, has entered into heaven itself, prefigured by the Holy of Holies. Moreover, in contrast to the Aaronic priest who entered once “every year,” Christ has entered into heaven “once for all.” He enters to take up His priestly service on behalf of those for whom He has already obtained eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:13-1413For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:13‑14). The blood of Christ, by which eternal redemption has been obtained, sets aside the blood of bulls and goats. The blood of these animals did indeed have a sanctifying effect, so far as the cleansing of the body is concerned. (See Num. 19:7-87Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. 8And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. (Numbers 19:7‑8).) But the blood of Christ purges the conscience. The blood of an animal offered through a priest is entirely set aside by “the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God.” By the Holy Spirit, Christ became incarnate; by the Holy Spirit, He lived His life of perfection. So, by the eternal Spirit, as the perfect Man He “offered Himself without spot to God.” (Compare Luke 1:3535And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) and Acts 10:3838How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38).) In the second chapter, verse 9, we read that by “the grace of God” Jesus tasted death “for every man.” Here we learn that He has offered Himself without spot to God. Thus we can announce to the sinner that Christ has offered Himself to God, but for you.
For the one who believes, the effect of this great sacrifice is to purge the “conscience from dead works.” As Christ has offered Himself without spot to God, and God has accepted the great sacrifice and is infinitely satisfied with Christ and His shed blood, the conscience of the believer is relieved of all thought of working to secure the blessing. Such works, however good in themselves, would only be dead works. Thus set free in conscience, the believer becomes a worshipper of God.
Hebrews 9:1515And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15). As the offering of Christ meets the holiness of God and the need of the sinner, Christ becomes the Mediator of the new covenant, the One through whom all the blessings of the new covenant are secured for those who are called, that they might enter into the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:16-1716For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. (Hebrews 9:16‑17). The apostle has shown that “by means of death” the believer receives the promise of the inheritance. In order to illustrate the necessity of death he refers in these two parenthetical verses to the fact that, amongst men, the inheritance is secured by a will that only comes into force by the death of the one who makes the will.
Hebrews 9:18-2218Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, 20Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:18‑22). The writer proceeds to show that the great fact that the blessings of the new covenant, and the new Sanctuary, can only be secured “by means of death” was set forth in figure in the first covenant and the earthly tabernacle. The first covenant was dedicated by blood; the tabernacle and all its vessels were sprinkled with blood—the witness that there can be no blessing for man, no drawing nigh to God, apart from the blood.
Thus the great conclusion is reached that “without shedding of blood is no remission.” Here it is not simply the sprinkling of blood, but the “shedding of blood”—the righteous basis upon which God can proclaim forgiveness to all and proclaim all who believe forgiven.
The tabernacle and its furnishings were only “the patterns of things in the heavens.” It was possible to enter the earthly tabernacle through the purification of the flesh, afforded by the blood of bulls and goats; but the purification of heavenly things demanded better sacrifices.