| Back to Home Page | Back to
Book Index |
Hebrews Chapter
Nine
I.
Content of the Chapter
Christ is the High Priest of the Better
Covenant (Ⅱ)
A. The old covenant is merely the fleshly ordinances, which were symbolic for the new covenant (v.1-10).
1. The tabernacle
of the old covenant is earthly (v.1-5).
2. There were many limitations for the priests
in the old covenant to enter into the tabernacle (v.6-7).
3. The sacrifices offered in the tabernacle of
the old covenant could not make men perfect (v.8-10).
B. The new covenant is the coming good things,
having perfect and eternal effect (v.11-28).
1. In the new covenant, Christ has offered the
sacrifices with His blood and accomplished the eternal redemption (v.11-14).
2. The new covenant is established according to
the blood of Christ, who is the mediator of the new covenant (v.15-22).
3. There are better sacrifices in the new
covenant ---- Christ has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself once for all
(v.23-28).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Heb. 9:1
“Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the
earthly sanctuary.”
YLT: “It had, indeed, then (even
the first tabernacle) ordinances of service, also a worldly sanctuary,”
Meaning of Words:
“divine service”: religious service; “ordinances”:
statute, righteousness, judgment; “earthly”: worldly; “sanctuary”: holy place,
sacred thing;
Literal Meaning:
“then indeed, even the first covenant had
ordinances of divine service”, “indeed … had”, though it should be noted, it is
not so good; “the ordinances of divine service”: statutes that priests have to
keep in service;
“And the earthly sanctuary”, “earthly”:
it is of the earth and the physical world. The word here means temporal.
“Sanctuary”: it refers to the whole tabernacle (Ex. 25:8-9).
Heb. 9:2 “For a tabernacle was
prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the
showbread, which is called the sanctuary;”
YLT:
“for a tabernacle was prepared, the first, in which was both the lamp-stand,
and the table, and the bread of the presence -- which is called `Holy;'”
Meaning
of Words: “prepare”: build, ordain, make; “tabernacle”: tent, cloth; “first”: beginning, chief, foremost; “sanctuary”: the sacred things; “show-”: setting out, laying;
Literal
Meaning: “for a tabernacle was prepared”, “prepared”:
be made by man’s hands; “tabernacle”: here it refers to the part that is
covered by the curtains and veils, not including to the open area of the outer
court.
“The first part…which
is called the sanctuary”, “the first part”:
it refers to the entrance of the tent of meeting from the outer court. Only the
priests after washing were allowed to enter in (Ex. 40:12, 31-32). “The
sanctuary”, it is “holy” in the original, so it is the holy place.
“In which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread”, “lampstand”,
it is the only light source in the sanctuary (Ex. 25:37). “Table”: it is used
to set forth the showbread (Ex. 25:30). “Showbread”: there were twelve cakes
(Lev. 24:5-6).
Heb. 9:3 “and behind the second
veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All,”
YLT:
“and after the second vail a tabernacle that is called `Holy of holies,'”
Meaning
of Words: “veil”: curtain;
Literal
Meaning: “behind the second veil”, “the second veil”,
it is the curtain that separated the Holy and the Holiest of All.
“The part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All”, “the
Holiest of All”, no one was allowed to enter in except for the high priest, who
entered with the blood alone once a year (see v.7).
Heb. 9:4 “which had the golden
censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which
were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the
tablets of the covenant;”
YLT:
“having a golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid all round about
with gold, in which the golden pot having the manna, and the rod of Aaron that
budded, and the tables of the covenant,”
Meaning
of Words: “censer”: a place of
fumigation, altar; “covenant”: contract,
testament; “ark”: box; “manna”: what is this; “pot”: jar, earthen tank; “budded”:
bring forth, spring up; “rod”: stick, staff; “tablet”: flat surface,
moulding-board;
Literal
Meaning: “which had the golden censer”, it is the altar for burning censer (Ex. 30:1,
7-8).
According to the order of all the objects inside the tent of meeting in
the old covenant, the golden censer is put in the tent of meeting before the
veil (Ex. 40:26). That is to say, it is in the Holy, not in the Holiest of All.
However, seeing from this verse, the golden censer seems to be put in the
Holiest of All. Because of the obvious differences between the two covenants
here, some Bible expositors think it is the mistake of the author of the
Epistle to the Hebrews. However, it is the misunderstanding of the Bible
expositors. There is deep spiritual meaning here of mentioning the golden
censer and the ark of the covenant:
1) In the old covenant, when the objects in the
Holy are recorded, it only mentions the table of showbread and the lamp-stand
without the golden censer (Ex. 26:35), which indicates that the function and
position of the golden censer are rather particular.
2) In the old covenant, since the golden censer
is the object nearest to the Holiest of All, the cloud of the censer will go
through the second veil and spread unto the ark. Therefore, the golden censer
has close relationship with the ark (see Ex. 40:5). The author of the Epistle
to the Hebrews mentions them together particularly.
3) When the king Solomon built the
4) It is stated in the Epistle to the Hebrews
that the high priest Jesus Christ has entered into the veil for us (6:20) and
makes intercession for us before God. Moreover, the author also encourages us
to come to God through Christ (7:25), i.e. enter into the Holiest of All
(10:19) and come to the throne of grace to find grace to help in time of need
(4:16). Therefore, censer and prayer are surely linked with coming to the
throne of grace of the ark.
“The
ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold”,
“overlaid on all sides with gold”:
overlaid on all inner and outer sides with gold; “the ark of covenant”, there is
the throne of grace and cherubim on the ark, which is the place where God and
men meet each other (see v.5; Ex. 25:10-22).
“In
which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the
tablets of the covenant”, “manna” means
“what this is” (Ex. 16:15) ---- which was the daily food of the Israelites from
the heaven in the wilderness (Ex. 16:21, 31, 35). “Golden pot” was used to put
the manner to be kept (Ex. 16:33-34). “Aaron’s rod that budded”, it was the
sign of God election to man (Num. 17:5, 10). “The tablets”, they were the two
tablets on which God wrote the Ten Commandments Himself (Ex. 32:15-16, 19;
34:1).
Heb. 9:5 “and above it were the
cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now
speak in detail.”
YLT:
“and over it cherubim of the glory, overshadowing the mercy-seat, concerning
which we are not now to speak particularly.”
Meaning
of Words: “cherubim”: the holy objects
spreading out their wings on high to cover the mercy-seat (see Ex. 25:18-22); “overshadow”: overshade, cover; “mercy seat”:
propitiation, an expiatory place;
Literal
Meaning: “and above it were the cherubim of glory
overshadowing the mercy seat”, “cherubim” was to guard the holiness and
righteousness of God (see Gen. 3:24). “The mercy seat” shows that God accepts
men according to the effect of Christ’s redemptive works (see Rom. 3:25; 1John
2:2).
“Of these things we cannot now speak in detail”, it points that the
purpose of the author of this book is not to explain all the objects in the
earthly tabernacle in the old tabernacle, but to call attention to the greater and more perfect heavenly tabernacle by the enumeration of these objects (see v.11).
Heb. 9:6 “Now when these things had
been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the
tabernacle, performing the services.”
YLT:
“And these things having been thus prepared, into the first tabernacle, indeed,
at all times the priests do go in, performing the services,”
Meaning
of Words: “prepared”: ready; “always”: constantly, unceasingly; “services”: religious rituals;
Literal
Meaning: “now when these things had been thus prepared”, “these things” refer to all the objects in the tabernacle
(see v.1-5). “Had been thus prepared”: had been perfectly prepared according to
the pattern shown in the mountain (Ex. 25:40)
“The priests always went into the first part of the
tabernacle, performing the services”,
the Jewish priests always performed the priesthood before God according to the
order (see Luke 1:8).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Everything must be prepared so that the
priests can start to do the services. We must make us fully prepared according
to the word of God so that we can take part in the services of the Lord.
2) Now the external letter is no longer proper
to be used in believers in the new covenant (see 2Cor. 3:6). Therefore, we
should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter (
3) Only priests are able to enter into the
sanctuary. We must be chosen and called by God to be a holy priesthood to offer
up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1Pet. 2:5).
Heb. 9:7 “But into the second part
the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for
himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;”
YLT:
“and into the second, once in the year, only the chief priest, not apart from
blood, which he doth offer for himself and the errors of the people,”
Meaning
of Words: “not without…”: must carry…; “ignorance”: the faults made because of shortage of
knowledge;
Literal
Meaning: “but into the second part”: the Holiest of All (see v.3);
“The high priest went alone once a year”, “went alone…”, all
the people (including all the priests) except for the high priest were
forbidden to enter into the Holiest of All. “Once a year”: it was on July 10th,
namely, the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:29, 33-34; see 23:26; Ex. 30:10).
“Not without blood, which he offered for himself and for
the people's sins committed in ignorance”, “for himself”, for the high priest is a man.
Every man is a sinner (see 7:27). “Ignorance”, sins made because of lack of
knowledge, namely, the offences against the law of God because of negligence
(see Lev. 4:2, 13, 22, 27; 5:17-18).
Spiritual Meaning:
1) This verse is the type that Jesus Christ is
the high priest of the good things to come ---- he has entered into the Holiest
of All in the heaven alone and appears in the presence of God for us (see v.11,
24).
2) The great redemption of Jesus Christ on the
cross is accomplished alone. No one else can have part in the accomplishment of
this work.
3) The high priests in the old covenant among
men were different from the High Priest in the new covenant in the heaven in
the following aspects:
a. The high priests in the old covenant entered
into the holy places made with hands. And the High Priest in the new covenant
above the heavens has entered into the true sanctuary in the heaven (see v.11,
24).
b. The high priests in the old covenant were
only allowed into it once a year. And the High Priest in the new covenant is a
Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle (see 8:2).
c. The high priests in the old covenant had to
offer up sacrifices for their own sins (see 7:27). And the High Priest in the
new covenant is holy, harmless, undefiled and separated from sinners (see
v.7:26), so he does not need to offer sacrifices for Himself.
d. The high priests in the old covenant offered
the blood of goats and calves. And the High Priest in the new covenant offers
with His own blood (see v.12).
e. The high priests in the old covenant had to
offer up sacrifices for the sins of the people with blood every year (see v.25;
7:27). And the High Priest in the new covenant has offered Himself once and obtained eternal redemption (see v.12, 26, 28).
f. The high priests in the old covenant entered
alone. And the High Priest in the new covenant opens a way for us to the
Holiest of All. Therefore, we can come to the presence of God through Him (see
v.10:19, 22; 7:25).
Heb. 9:8 “the Holy Spirit
indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest
while the first tabernacle was still standing.”
YLT:
“the Holy Spirit this evidencing that not yet hath been manifested the way of
the holy , the first tabernacle having yet a standing;”
Meaning
of Words: “indicate”: make… manifest,
show; “stand”: exist; “manifest”: apparent, make
…manifest;
Literal
Meaning: “the Holy Spirit indicating this”, “the Holy
Spirit indicate…” it shows that the Spirit guide us into all the truth (John
16:3). The author here especially shows that the following explanation is the
revelation of the Spirit, not his own particular interpretation.
“That the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest”, “the
Holiest of All”, it refers to the heavenly sanctuary, namely, the true
tabernacle (see 8:2). “Way”, the access of coming to God and drawing near to
Him (see 10:19, 22). “Not yet made manifest”, it means that there was no way.
In the times of the old covenant, man could in no wise come to the holy God or
have any fellowship with Him.
“While the first tabernacle was still standing”, “the first tabernacle”,
here it refers to the whole tabernacle of the old covenant. “Was still
standing”, it related to the time when the physical tabernacle was still
existing and working, namely, when the people were still under the system of
the old covenant.
Heb. 9:9 “It was symbolic for the
present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make
him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience--”
YLT:
“which a simile in regard to the present time, in which both gifts and
sacrifices are offered, which are not able, in regard to conscience, to make
perfect him who is serving,”
Meaning
of Words: “symbolic”: parable,
comparison, figure; “gifts”: oblations; “conscience”: the sense
of right and wrong; “perfect”: complete, fulfill;
Literal
Meaning: “it was symbolic for the present time in
which…”, “the present time” refers to the time of the new covenant; “symbolic”,
the first tabernacle carried the symbolic meaning.
“Both gifts and sacrifices are offered”, “are offered”: the offering
according to the system and customs of the old covenant;
“Which can not make him who performed the service perfect in regard to
the conscience”, “conscience”: it is a function that God has put in man’s heart
to judge right or wrong so that man will be enabled to know what is justified
and what is condemned in the sight of God (see Rom. 2:15); “him who performed
the service”: the one who served and offered sacrifices; “perfect”: it means that
there is no condemnation in conscience at all.
Heb. 9:10 “concerned only with foods
and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of
reformation.”
YLT:
“only in victuals, and drinks, and different baptisms, and fleshly ordinances
-- till the time of reformation imposed upon.”
Meaning
of Words: “foods”: foods and drinks,
victuals; “various”: different, differing;
“washings”: baptism, immersion; “ordinances”: statutes; “imposed”:;
“reformation”: setting things right;
Literal
Meaning: “concerned only with foods and drinks,
various washings”, “concerned…”, it refers to the preparation of the tabernacle
and the objects therein and the gifts and sacrifices (see v.2, 6, 9); “foods
and drinks”: the laws of the sanctification for the priests;
“And fleshly ordinances”: the apparent customs;
“Imposed until the time of reformation”, “imposed”, it is a medical word
in the original, which is used to describe the joining of the broken bones.
“The time of reformation”, it is not the time of restoring of all things (Acts
3:21), for that will happen until Christ come again. Here, it refers to the
time when God reforms His arrangements in the old covenant, namely, the times
of the new covenant brought by the great redemption of Christ.
Heb. 9:11 “But Christ came as High
Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle
not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.”
YLT:
“And Christ being come, chief priest of the coming good things, through the
greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands -- that is, not of this
creation --”
Meaning
of Words: “come”: appear; “creation”: all creatures;
Literal
Meaning: “but Christ came as High Priest of the good
things”, “good things”, it is not things that will come in the future, but that
have been fulfilled in the times of the new covenant, namely, Christ has
perfected the great redemption for us and is the Mediator of a better covenant
(see v.14-15; 8:6).
“With the greater and more perfect tabernacle”, “greater”, it is not
greater in size, but in effect, for it is not only for the Israelites but also
for the whole human beings. “More perfect”, because it is purified with better
sacrifices (see v.23) and is not held with any veil (see 10:20); “the greater
and more perfect tabernacle”, it is the true tabernacle in the heavens (see
8:2).
“Not made with hands”, it indicates that it is the true tabernacle
pitched by the Lord (see v.24; 8:2).
“That is, not of this creation”, it refers to the heavenly things themselves (see v.23).
Heb. 9:12 “Not with the blood of
goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once
for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”
YLT:
“neither through blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, did
enter in once into the holy places, age-during redemption having obtained;”
Meaning
of Words: “goats”: male goats; “once”: it is emphatic; “obtain”: find, get, see;
Literal
Meaning: “not with the blood of goats and calves”,
“the blood of goats”, it is for the people (Lev. 16:15); “the blood of calves”,
it is for the priests themselves (Lev. 16:11).
“But with His own blood”, “His own”: Jesus Christ, He is both the priest
as well as the sacrifice.
“He entered the Most Holy Place once for all”, “once for all”, it is
sufficiently enough, and the effect of His offering will keep forever without
any repetition.
“Having obtained eternal redemption”, “obtain”, the word has two aspects
of meaning: one is “fulfill” or “accomplish”, and the other is “manifest” or
“reveal”. Though the great redemption of Christ was accomplished on the cross
of
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The blood of goats and calves in the old
covenant could only cover men’s sins temporarily and not remove the sin (see
10:4). However, the blood in the new covenant is to take away the sins of the
world (John 1:29).
2) We are redeemed by the precious blood of
Christ (1Pet. 1:18-19). And the effect of the remission of His blood endures
forever. Whenever we confess our sins, the blood of Jesus will cleanse all our
sins (1John 1:7, 9).
Heb. 9:13 “For if the blood of bulls
and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the
purifying of the flesh,”
YLT:
“for if the blood of bulls, and goats, and ashes of an heifer, sprinkling those
defiled, doth sanctify to the purifying of the flesh,”
Meaning
of Words: “sanctify”: hallow, make holy; “purify”: cleanse;
Literal
Meaning: “for if the blood of bulls and goats”, the
blood is for the purpose of dealing with sin (see v.12).
“And the ashes of a heifer”, the ashes of heifer is kept for a water of
separation, which is a purification for sin (Num. 19:2-9).
“Sprinkling the unclean”, the blood is sprinkled “with the finger of the
priest” and “put upon” the objects (see Lev. 16:14-15, 18-19). The water of
ashes (the water of separation) is “sprinkled upon” the one who is unclean (see
Num. 19:11-13).
“Sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh”, since it was counted
efficacious in the old covenant, the blood of Christ will be more efficacious.
“Sanctify”: make man holy and acceptable before God; the symbolic meaning of
sanctification in the old covenant could not be confused with the
sanctification in the new covenant. “The purifying of the flesh”: it is ritual
purification.
Heb. 9:14 “how much more shall the
blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to
God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
YLT:
“how much more shall the blood of the Christ (who through the age-during Spirit
did offer himself unblemished to God) purify your conscience from dead works to
serve the living God?”
Meaning
of Words: “without spot”: unblemished,
spotless; “cleanse”: purify; “serve”: worship;
Literal
Meaning: “how much more shall the blood of Christ who
through the eternal Spirit”, “the eternal Spirit”: the spirit of Christ;
“Spirit”, it here particularly emphasizes that it is the Spirit makes His blood
the effect of sanctification (see 10:29). “Eternal”, it particularly emphasizes
that the redemptive effect of the blood abides forever (see v.12).
Through the eternal Spirit, Christ makes Him the slain Lamb from
founding of world in the sight of God (Rev. 13:8). At any time, he is the Lamb
as it had been slain (Rev. 5:6). Therefore, the blood shedding from Him will be
fresh and efficacious forever so that the redemption accomplished by His death
can also remit the sins made in the old covenant (see v.15).
“Offered Himself without spot to God”, “without spot”, it reveals that
Christ is perfectly holy. Therefore, only He is able to satisfy the righteous
requirements of God.
“Cleanse your conscience”, “cleanse…conscience”, it shows that one is
able to come to God with boldness when the anxiety and accusation of the
conscience are removed (see 10:22). Note that there is no scripture in the
Bible mentioning that the blood cleanses man’s heart. Instead, the bible only
mentions that the blood cleanses our conscience. The blood of the Lord can only
make us holy before God and remove the accusation of the conscience. The blood
of the Lord does not cleanse our hearts or make our hearts clean that there
will be no sins hidden in our hearts.
“From dead works”, “dead works”: on one
hands, it refers to the works that cause spiritual death (Eph. 2:1, 5). On the
other, it also relates to the works of those who are estranged from the life of
God (Eph. 4:17-19). The blood of Christ does not transform man’s appearance,
but brings a kind of inner living power to man so that man will be delivered
from the previous uncontrollable works.
“Serve the living God”, God lives forever.
Therefore, He does not receive the dead works of men. That is to say, He does
not accept the services or worship of those who are spiritually dead. If man
desires to serve and worship God, he has to be in spirit and in truth (John
4:23-24). Now, since the blood of Christ can cleanse men’s conscience and
remove their dead works so that men will become partakers of the divine nature
(see 2Pet. 1:4). Therefore, we are enabled to serve and worship the living God
in the true and clean spirit.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The washing by Christ’s precious blood is
not our ultimate goal. Purification by washing brings us new identity and
position and enables us to be accepted by God and receive the life of God.
2) Our God is the living God. He is “living”
and is able to give us life. We can only be transformed in works and remove the
past “dead” works through receiving the life of God.
3) We are not saved for going to the heavens or
receiving blessings. The purpose of salvation is to serve God.
Heb. 9:15 “And for this reason He is
the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the
transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive
the promise of the eternal inheritance.”
YLT:
“And because of this, of a new covenant he is mediator, that, death having
come, for redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, those
called may receive the promise of the age-during inheritance,”
Meaning
of Words: “redemption”: pay the ransom; “transgressions”: violation, breaking;
Literal
Meaning: “and for this reason, He is the Mediator of
the new covenant”, “for this reason”, for the reason of the various effects of
the precious blood in the previous verse.
“By means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the
first covenant”, there are two possible explanations: 1) though the blood of
bulls and goats in the old covenant could not take away sins (see 10:4), those
who offered the sacrifices because of the faith of God’s words would also enjoy
the redemptive effect of the precious blood of Jesus Christ. 2) The death of
Jesus redeemed the sins according to the requirements of the old covenant.
“That those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal
inheritance”, “those who are called”: the partakers of heavenly calling (see
3:1), namely, those who are called according to the will of God (
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The effect of Christ’s precious blood is not
limited by time or space. We can appropriate the precious blood to deal with
our sins and transgressions at any time and any place (see 1John 1:7-9).
2) Christ renders us the beneficiaries of the
covenant ---- testament (see v.16-17). We can now appropriate and
enjoy the promised rights in our daily life.
Heb. 9:16 “For where there is a
testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.”
YLT:
“for where a covenant , the death of the covenant-victim to come in is
necessary,”
Literal
Meaning: “where there is a testament”, “testament” is
the same word as “covenant”. “Covenant” is signed and kept together by both
sides. However, the slight difference is that “testament” is established
one-sidedly by the testator. According to the meaning of this and the next
verses, the “covenant” will be in force when the one who establishes it dies.
Therefore, it is better and more accurate to translate the word “covenant” as
“testament”.
“There must also of necessity be the death of the testator”, “the
testator”: the one who makes the covenant;
Heb. 9:17 “For a testament is in
force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator
lives.”
YLT:
“for a covenant over dead victims stedfast, since it is no force at all when the
covenant-victim liveth,”
Meaning
of Words: “in force”: take effect, firm,
sure; “has…power”: powerful;
Literal
Meaning: “for a testament is in force after men are
dead”, “a testament is in force” it indicates that the content of the testament
will be put into practice. That is to say, the promised eternal inheritance
(see v.15) will be obtained by us.
“Since it has no power at all while the testator lives”, it the Lord
does not die, the new covenant will not be in force.
Heb. 9:18 “Therefore not even the
first covenant was dedicated without blood.”
YLT:
“whence not even the first apart from blood hath been initiated,”
Meaning
of Words: “dedicate”: renew, inaugurate,
consecrate;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore”, since the New Testament is
established because of the blood of Christ (see v.12, 14) and is put into
effect by His death (see v.15-17), the Old Testament, the type of the New
Testament, is also connected with “blood” and “death”.
“Not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood”, “the first
covenant” refers to the Old Testament. “Be dedicated with blood”, it means
making the blood of bulls and goats as the proof of the old covenant (see
v.19-20).
Note the translation of the words in verse seventeen and eighteen:
“testament” and “covenant”, “death” and “blood”, and “be in force” and “be
dedicated” ---- the words of each pair are synonymous with each other. That is
to say, “once a man dies, his testament will be in force”. And we can also put
it in this way: “the covenant can only be dedicated with blood”.
Heb. 9:19 “For when Moses had spoken
every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of
calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the
book itself and all the people,”
YLT:
“for every command having been spoken, according to law, by Moses, to all the
people, having taken the blood of the calves and goats, with water, and scarlet
wool, and hyssop, he both the book itself and all the people did sprinkle,”
Meaning
of Words: “according
to”: in accordance with; “precept”: commandment;
Literal
Meaning: “for when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people
according to the law”, “the law” refers to the whole will and teaching of
God to all the people, namely, the Pentateuch; “precept” refers to the detailed
requirements and customs of God to men;
“Scarlet
wool, and hyssop”, according to the
old covenant, the scarlet wool and hyssop are the tools of dipping the blood
(see Lev. 14:6);
“He took the blood of calves and goats, with water … and sprinkled both the book itself”, “water” may refer to the living water
(Lev. 14:5) or “the water of separation” (Num. 19:6). “Book” refers to the
covenant of book (Ex. 24:7). It is recorded in the old covenant that the blood
is sprinkled on the altar (Ex. 24:6). Possibly, being sprinkled on the altar is
being sprinkled on the book.
“And all the people”, this verse and verse twenty are quoted from the
Book of Exodus (24:8).
Heb. 9:20 “saying, "This is the
blood of the covenant which God has commanded you."”
YLT:
“saying, `This the blood of the covenant that God enjoined unto you,'”
Meaning
of Words: “command”: order;
Literal
Meaning: it means that the old covenant can be in
force through the blood.
Heb. 9:21 “Then likewise he
sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.”
YLT:
“and both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the service with blood in like
manner he did sprinkle,”
Meaning
of Words: “vessels”: the vessel of
offering, the vessels of the service;
Literal
Meaning: it is quoted from the Book of Exodus (40:9),
where the anointing oil is mentioned. In the old covenant, the blood is only
sprinkled on the alter or round about on the alter at the entrance of the tent
of meeting (see Ex. 24:6; 29:16; Lev. 1:5 etc.).
Heb. 9:22 “And according to the law
almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there
is no remission.”
YLT:
“and with blood almost all things are purified according to the law, and apart
from blood-shedding forgiveness doth not come.”
Meaning
of Words: “all things”: everything; “almost”: nearly; “shedding of blood”: pouring out
of blood;
Literal
Meaning: “and according to the law almost all things
are purified with blood”, “almost all things are”, it means that almost all
things are so except for the exception of some cases. “Are purified with
blood”, the majority of the purifying rules are through the sprinkling of blood
except for the exception of water (see Lev. 15:5-27) or fire (see Num.
31:21-23).
“With shedding of blood there is no remission”, “shedding blood”: it
means losing life, for there is life in the blood (Lev. 17:11); “remission”:
escape from death and obtain life, to obtain life by giving life;
Heb. 9:23 “Therefore it was
necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with
these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.”
YLT:
“necessary, therefore, the pattern indeed of the things in the heavens to be
purified with these, and the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices
than these;”
Meaning
of Words: “copies”: examples;
Literal
Meaning: “the copies of the things in the heavens”:
the tabernacle pitched by man’s hands on the earth and all the objects therein
(see v.1-5; 8:5).
“Should be purified with these”, “with these”: the blood and ashes of
the sacrifices like bulls and goats (see v.13); “be purified”: be hallowed and
sanctified the
purifying of the flesh (see v.13);
“But the heavenly things themselves”, it refers to the true tabernacle
in which the High Priest officiates His priesthood in the heaven (see 8:2),
namely, the greater and more perfect tabernacle (see v.11). In fact, “the
heavenly things themselves” is not a real substance, but the eternal counsel,
will, mind and blue-printed plan.
“With better sacrifices than these”, “better sacrifices” refer to Christ
Himself and His blood (see v.12, 14, 25, 26, 28).
Heb. 9:24 “For Christ has not
entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into
heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;”
YLT:
“for not into holy places made with hands did the Christ enter -- figures of
the true -- but into the heaven itself, now to be manifested in the presence of
God for us;”
Meaning
of Words: “true”: real; “copies”: models, counterparts, representative;
“appear”: manifest, show;
Literal
Meaning: “for Christ has not entered the holy places
made with hands”, “the holy places made with hands” refer to the earthly
sanctuary (see v.1).
“Which are copies of the true”, “the true” refers to the true tabernacle
in the heavens (see 8:2), namely, the greater and more perfect tabernacle (see
v.11); “copies” are not the real things, but models made according to the
pattern of the real things themselves (see v.23; 8:5).
“But into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us”,
“heaven”, the single form shows that it refers to the third heaven where God is
there (2Cor. 12:2). “For us”, it indicates that He has His missions; “appear in
the presence of God”, He is the Mediator of us before God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since Christ has already appeared in the
presence of God, we can also come to God through Him (see 7:25). Therefore, let
us approach to the throne of grace with boldness to receive mercy and find
grace for seasonable help (see 4:16).
2) Christ has appeared in the presence of God
“for us” so as to enable us to live before God. However, actually many
Christians do not know how to seek to live before God by appropriating the
salvation that Christ has accomplished for us.
Heb. 9:25 “not that He should offer
Himself often, as the high priest enters the
YLT:
“nor that he may many times offer himself, even as the chief priest doth enter
into the holy places every year with blood of others;”
Literal
Meaning: “not that He should offer Himself often”,
“not …often”, here it is a comparison with “once a year” (see v.7) of the high
priests on the earth. Christ offered Himself “once” (see v.12, 26, 28), but the
earthly high priests had to offer the sacrifices “many times”.
“As the High Priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of
another”, “the blood of another”, it is a contrast with “His own blood” of
Christ here (see v.12).
Heb. 9:26 “He then would have had to
suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the
ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
YLT:
“since it had behoved him many times to suffer from the foundation of the world,
but now once, at the full end of the ages, for putting away of sin through his
sacrifice, he hath been manifested;”
Literal
Meaning: “then”, if annual sacrifices were necessary
(see v.25);
“Have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world”, “suffer”:
it refers to the death (se v.15);
“But now once at the end of the ages”, “once”: once for all;
“He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself”, “put away
sin”: it is different from “covering sin” of the sacrifices in the old
covenant; the former cleans away sin, but the latter covers the sins
temporarily instead of removing the sin forever.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ has sacrificed for our sins to a full
and ultimate degree ---- we can do nothing to add to or replace His
accomplishments.
2) The salvation Christ has fulfilled includes
bearing the sins (see v.28) and redeeming the sins (see v.12, 15) and forgiving
the sins (see v.22) and putting away sin so that we have been thoroughly
released from sin.
Heb. 9:27 “And as it is appointed
for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
YLT:
“and as it is laid up to men once to die, and after this -- judgment,”
Meaning
of Words: “appointed”: reserved, laid up;
Literal
Meaning: “and as it is appointed for men to die once”,
“as it is appointed”, it indicates that the works of all the people on the
earth, no matter good or evil, will be reserved by God and they shall give an
account to God one day. “men”: all the people on the earth; “die once”: die
“once” at the appointed time;
“But after this the judgment”, “judgment”, it is not the final ending.
Death does not mean quitting all the scores, for God will judge all the works
of men when they lived on the earth.
Heb. 9:28 “so Christ was offered
once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear
a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
YLT:
“so also the Christ, once having been offered to bear the sins of many, a
second time, apart from a sin-offering, shall appear, to those waiting for him
-- to salvation!”
Meaning
of Words: “bear”: take away; “eagerly wait for”: wait for…diligently;
Literal
Meaning: “so”, just like man will die once, Christ
also died once. There is judgment for men after death, and Christ bore the
judgment and died on the cross instead of men.
“Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many”, “was offered once”:
died once (see v.15); “bear the sins”: deal with the sins; “many”: all those
who believe Him.
“To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time”, “a
second time”: the second coming of Christ; the main purpose of Christ’s coming
again is to receive those who wait for Him.
“Apart from sin, for salvation”, “apart from sin”: for the sin has been
put away (see v.16); “salvation”: the redemption of body (
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Order of the Things in the Tabernacle
Reveals the Spiritual Experiences of Christians
A. The outer court:
1. The brazen alter: the blood and ashes of the
sacrifices (v.13) ---- which symbolizes that all the spiritual experiences are
according to the redemption of Christ on the cross;
2. The brazen laver ---- which symbolizes the
experience of being washed by the Spirit;
B. The sanctuary:
1. The candlestick (v.2) ---- which symbolizes
the experience of being enlightened in life;
2. The table and the showbread (v.2) ---- which
symbolizes the experience of being provided by life;
3. The golden censer (v.4) ---- which
symbolizes the experience of praying to offer sacrifices in Christ (see 13:15);
C. The Holiest of All:
1. The ark of the covenant overlaid on all
sides with gold (v.4) ---- which
symbolizes experiencing the faithfulness of God;
2. The golden pot that had the manna (v.4) ----
which symbolizes the particular and deep experience of the provision of God’s
word (Rev. 2:13, 17);
3. The rod of Aaron that budded (v.4) ----
which symbolizes experiencing the risen life of Christ;
4. The tablets of the covenant (v.4) ---- which
symbolizes experiencing the law of God in life;
5. The cherubim of glory overshadowing the
mercy seat (v.5) ---- which symbolizes experiencing God’s glory of grace (see
Eph. 1:6);
Once
A. The high priest went alone “once” a year (v.7) ---- no one
else could enter into the tabernacle, and even the high priest could not go
into everyday, which shows the inefficiency and incapability of the old
covenant.
B. Christ entered the Most Holy Place “once” for all, having obtained
eternal redemption (v.12) ---- He
accomplished the redemption.
C. Christ has appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of Himself “once” at the end of the ages (v.26).
D. All men shall die “once” ----sin brings
about death (v.27).
E. Christ was offered “once” to bear the sins
of many (v.28).
The Better Ministry of Christ
A. The better High Priest ---- the High Priest of the good
things to come (v
B. The better tabernacle ---- the greater and more
perfect tabernacle (v.11b);
C. The better sacrifices ---- not with the blood of goats
and calves, but with His own blood
(v
D. The better way ---- once for all (v.12b);
E. The better blessing ---- having obtained eternal
redemption (v
F. The better surety ---- the eternal Spirit (v
G. The better effect ---- cleanse your conscience
from dead works to serve the living God (v.14b);
Christ and the Holy Places in the Heaven
A. He has opened the holy places in the heaven
(v.11-12);
B. He has cleansed the holy places in the
heaven (v.20-23);
C. He has appeared in the presence of God for
us in the holy places of the heaven (v.24);
The Works Christ Has
Fulfilled
A. “Come” ---- “came as” High Priest of the good
things to come (v.11);
B. “Enter into” ---- “having obtained” eternal redemption (v.12);
C. “Die” ---- the “redemption” of the transgressions under the first covenant (v.15);
D. “Enter” ---- “appear”
in the presence of God for us (v.24);
E. “Be offered” ---- “bear”
the sins of many (v.28);
Three “Eternal”s
A. Christ has obtained the “eternal redemption” (v.12).
B. Christ through “the
eternal Spirit” offered Himself without
spot to God (v.14).
C. Christ has promised those who are called to
obtain “the eternal inheritance” (v.15).
The Characteristics
of the Blood of Jesus
A. Christ has obtained eternal redemption once for all
(v.12, 26-28).
B. The blood is offered through the eternal
Spirit (v.14).
C. The blood is offered to God without spot
(v.14).
D. The blood is able to cleanse the conscience
of man (v.14).
E. The blood is able to remove man’s dead works
(v.14).
F. The blood enables man to serve the living
God (v.14).
G. The blood is the proof of the new covenant
(v.15-22).
H. The blood is used to purify the heavenly things themselves (v.23-25).
Christ’s Three-Time
Manifestations
A. In the past ---- He appeared on the earth
and offered Himself to put away the sin (v.26).
B. At present ---- He has appeared in the
presence of God in the heaven as the High Priest to make intercession for those
who are of Him (v.24).
C. In the future ---- He will come again to
reign and manifest to those who eagerly wait for Him (v.28).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou