Continuing, from the previous lesson, in Hebrews 9, the author has reminder readers how worship took place in the tabernacle, but how much of that was foreshadowing, being incomplete by itself. We don’t have to guess what came to supersede that form of worship and sacrifice, though, as the author continues.
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 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, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 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. 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!
Hebrews 9:11-14 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/heb.9.11-14.NIV
If the old tabernacle (along with the practice of sacrificing for sins through the blood of animals) was like the Holy Place, then when Jesus brought a new and better way for us to be restored to the presence of the perfectly holy God, that was like the Most Holy Place. As we look at the greater picture of history, including both the covenant made with the Israelites at Mt. Sinai and the new covenant that Jesus provided, we can see how God prepared a number of parallels between the Old Testament worship of God and what Jesus did for us, while also showing how what Jesus brought was better.
- The Mosaic law came first, but Jesus Christ came later.
- The Mosaic law was good (don’t miss that point: that covenant was given by God Himself, and had a significant purpose in His plan), but Jesus brought something even better.
- The tabernacle provided an example of approaching the holy God, but Jesus makes it possible for us to be justified (pronounced righteous) and to live with God on this earth and for eternity.
- The tabernacle was a building, but Jesus brought a means of worshiping God that transcends the material world.
- The priests offered sacrifices in the tabernacle, and the High Priest even brought the blood of animal sacrifice into the Holy of Holies, but Jesus brought His own blood: the freely offered blood of a perfect, sinless, human being. Said another way, the priests offered physical sacrifices, but Jesus offered His own life.
- The priests’ sacrifices had to be offered over and over, but Jesus gave His life for everyone’s sins once for all time. I think of this in simple terms like the sacrifices in the tabernacle sort of “pushing off” the consequences of sin (especially since people continued to sin after sacrifices were made, so the sacrifices had to be repeated), but Jesus’ sacrifice took care of sins for all time – past, present, and future.
- We might say that the sacrifices in the tabernacle cleaned the people’s physical selves; however, Jesus’ blood cleanses our hearts.
- And, I also think that when the priests sacrificed, the people still had to go out and try to do good, or they would face both religious penalties and a guilty conscience. However, when we accept Jesus’ “imputed righteousness” (meaning that He was righteous but we get to be justified), our consciences are clear – even if we mess up – and we get to serve God out of our love and gratitude for Him.
Having said that, even someone as unique in the world as the Jewish high priest could – at most – bring blood and incense into the Most Holy Place, and even that had to be done again every year. Something new and different was necessary to save us fully, and thus we needed Jesus – who brought a high priesthood separate from the descendants of Aaron. And, by doing so, He brought what the Levitical priesthood could only anticipate or point to.
The practices of the tabernacle (and later, in the temple) were a symbol, but accepting and following Jesus is what we are meant to do, now. I hope that you’re not still trying to make your own sacrifices (e.g., practicing good deeds, giving money to a church, giving something up) in order to try and make yourself righteous. Jesus took care of that for you, and all that you or I accomplish after turning our lives over to Him should be to His glory.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for March 15, 2026
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Hebrews, by Jim Girdwood and Peter Verkruyse. © 1997 College Press Publishing Co.
