The Epistle for the Fifth Sunday
of Lent is Hebrews 9:11-14. However, the first part of Hebrews 9 provides
a good summary description of the tabernacle, which in turn provided the
pattern for the two temples; we can better understand the Epistle if we start
there.
Hebrews 9:1-10 (WEB):
1Now
indeed even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service, and an earthly
sanctuary. 2For a tabernacle was prepared. In the first part were
the lampstand, the table, and the show bread; which is called the Holy Place. 3After
the second veil was the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4having
a golden altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides
with gold, in which was a golden pot holding the manna, Aaron's rod that
budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5and above it cherubim of
glory overshadowing the mercy seat, of which things we can't speak now in
detail. 6Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go
in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services, 7but
into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood,
which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people. 8The
Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn't yet
revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing; 9which is a
symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are
incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshipper perfect; 10being
only (with meats and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed
until a time of reformation.
Verse 7 says, “7but into the second the high priest [goes] alone, once in
the year….” John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
states, “The high priest
went into the holy of holies but once a year, on the day of atonement, which
was on the tenth of the month Tisri, and answers to part of September….”
The Epistle, Hebrews 9:11-14:
11But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming
good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12nor yet through the
blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into
the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13For if the
blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have
been defiled, sanctify to the cleanness of the flesh: 14how much
more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the
living God?
Hebrews 9:15-28:
15For this
reason he is the mediator of a new covenant, since a death has occurred for the
redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant, that those
who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16For
where a last will and testament is, there must of necessity be the death of him
who made it. 17For a will is in force where there has been death,
for it is never in force while he who made it lives. 18Therefore
even the first covenant has not been dedicated without blood. 19For
when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to
the law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet
wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20saying,
"This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you."
21Moreover
he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry in like manner
with the blood. 22According to the law, nearly everything is
cleansed with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission. 23It
was necessary therefore that the copies of the things in the heavens should be
cleansed with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these. 24For Christ hasn't entered into holy places made with
hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to
appear in the presence of God for us; 25nor yet that he should offer
himself often, as the high priest enters into the holy place year by year with
blood not his own, 26or else he must have suffered often since the
foundation of the world. But now once at the end of the ages, he has been
revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27Inasmuch as
it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, 28so
Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a
second time, without sin, to those who are eagerly waiting for him for
salvation.
Hebrews 9:20 is a quote of Exodus 24:8:
(Ex 24:8) 8Moses took the blood, and
sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Look, this is the blood of the
covenant, which Yahweh has made with you concerning all these words."
