OUR FATHER WHO TOOK NO PLEASURE IN THE SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS

The writer of the book of Hebrews continues in chapter 10 to emphasize that the law was merely a shadow of better things that were coming. The shadow, could never make anyone perfect because they were temporal and had to be repeated annually. The question arises, if the sacrifices under the law were able to make perfect, was there a point  at which the sacrificers would no longer be able to practice sin? 

Over the generations of those who sacrifices, they had to repeat their sacrifices year upon year for it was simply not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away the sins of men.

1  For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Psalm 10 is pointed out as the prophetic utterance that established that the burden of the sacrifices for the sins of men was being taken off bulls and goats and being placed on a Man who had come into the world and would willingly do what God the Father wanted and the will of the Father was that Christ would die in place of men so that their ransom could be paid and they could be redeemed by the blood of the Lamb of God who is Christ. 

In this passage, we see a glimpse of the Messiah arriving onto the earth in the body that God had prepared for Him and He realised that the sacrifices and offerings taking place in the temple were not what God actually wanted and so the Messiah spoke up and said to go God, "I have arrived on the earth. I have read what was written of me in the scroll and what was expected of Me and I willingly accept to do Your will".

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

But a body You have prepared for Me.

6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin

You had no pleasure.

7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—

In the volume of the book it is written of Me—

To do Your will, O God.’ ”

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Whereas the shadow of sacrifices established the pattern and consequence of the shedding of blood and bulls, it was declared to be insufficient in prophetic terms in Psalm 40 and the Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself as the perfect and fully sufficient sacrifice for once and for all. 

11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

In contrast to the earthy priests who ministered repeatedly, the Man for whom a body had been prepared, sacrificed Himself and this one offering, was eternal and He was seated at the right hand of God and the Father undertakes to subjugate all those among of humanity who rebel against the perfect One but those who voluntarily repent and cease from their rebellions and believe in the One, this one sacrifice had the power to perfect forever those who are being sanctified.

This ability to perfect those who voluntarily go into a future covenant with God is described in Jeremiah chater 31 which describes the transformation of people by the inscribing of the law of God into their hearts such that the ways of God became their nature rather than having to read it from the stone tablets. 

For those being perfected, their sins and rebellious actions were also to be expunged from God's memory and this rendered the believers justified and not requiring additional offerings for sin 

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

The writer of the book of Hebrews tells those who believe in Jesus to draw near to God with assurance and boldness because of the sufficiency of the blood of Jesus to consecrate us and cleanse our hearts from our evil conscience via His being subjected to suffering and death in the flesh (on one side of the veil) but now is exalted as the great High Priest in the house of God (having crossed over to the other side of the veil).

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 

In light of what the Lord Jesus Christ endured and accomplished in order to secure salvation for men, the writer of Hebrews adjures us to remain steadfast in our faith in Christ and reciprocate the steadfastness of the one who made the promise of salvation.    We are advised to encourage one another to rise up in love and in good works and to assemble with each other ( with increasing frequency as the great day of the Lord approaches ). 

This assembling together is a safe-guard to help us resist the temptation to sin wilfully and this is important because deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth leaves us with sins for which there are no additional sacrifices but rather judgement and fiery indignation that was meant for the adversaries of God but will ungulf those who acquiesced.

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Comparing the fate of those who rejected the law of Moses with those who reject the law of Christ, the writer notes that on the strength of two or three witness, a person could be put to death by stoning under the imperfect law so therefore how much greater a hazard would it be for those who, having tasted of the goodness of God's salvation, trampled the blood of the covenant underfoot and insulted the Spirit of grace. 

We are strongly encouraged to endure in holding fast to the faith that we were given insight into. Even though many contratry events happen to us as we get exposed to reproach and tribulations for even being in the company of those who believed, we are to remain confident in our faith for there is a great reward and it is awarded to those who endure till the end.

32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

37 “For yet a little while,

And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith;

But if anyone draws back,

My soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

As we learn the life of living by faith, we are justified by that faith but if we, having walked in faith retrace our steps back to a faithless life, we depart from God's pleasure because it says, "Without faith, it is impossible to please God".

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE OWN SON BECOME OUR HIGH PRIEST

The writer of the book of Hebrews continues in chapter 9  discussing the details of the earthly tabernacle and compared them to the details of the heavenly tabernacle. 

The earth tabernacle had two sections. The first (the sanctuary) was furnished by a lamp stand, a table and the showbread ( 12 loaves of bread continously placed there for a week at a time). 

The second section was behind a veil and was called the Holy of Holies which housed the golden censer, the ark of the covenant which contained a golden pot of manna, Aaron's rod that buddded and the two tablets on which was written the ten commandments.  Above the ark were two sculptures of cherubim whose wings overshadowed the mercy seat.

1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 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; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

The writer of Hebrews now describes the activities that were scheduled to be practiced in these two spaces. In the first space, the priest would frequently enter to perform the services while for the second space, only the High Priest was allowed in and even that was only once a year to offer blood for his own sins and for the sins of the people that were commited in ignorance and this activity was designed by the Holy Spirit to express the fact that the access to the Holy of Holies had not been granted and this was during the time that the tabernacle existed in the earth

6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 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; 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. 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— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The tabernacle of Moses symbolized the limited access that was afforded by priests who themselves had limited access to the focal point of the structure but Christ was the ultimate High Priest who not only served in the heavenly tabernale that was not of the creation order we are in but also brought His own blood with which He had obtained eternal redemption. If the sacrifices of bulls and goats and heifers purified the flesh, how much more would the blood of Christ, offered spotless through the eternal Spirit purify the conscience from pursuits of the flesh so as to pursue the service of God.

This qualification of having sacrificed Himself unto death made Christ the mediator of the promised new covenant such that redemtion could be gained by those who were called to inherit the eternal inheritance. 

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. 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. 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, 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? 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.

The writer of Hebrews, speaking of the promise of the eternal inheritance, speaks of the necessary conditions that surround the passing down of an inheritance through a will and testament. The written will is unenforceable while the subject is alive but  comes into effect when the owner of the will dies. It is thus death and the shedding of blood that any  testament or covenant between the earthly and the heavenly is dedicated and it through blood that most accoutrements of service on behalf of the earthly people before the Spiritual God are purified and it is through blood that there is a remission of sins.

16 For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. 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, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” 21 Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. 22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Thus the facsimilies of the heavenly accoutrements that are on earth were purified by the blood of animals but Christ did not enter the earthly holy place proxies but rather entered that actual holy place and there, He, in the presence of God, represents us eternally for He sacrificed Himself once and for all and thus did not have to repeat His sacrifice and suffering over an over but because it a appointed once for man to dies, His single death in perfect righteousness to cover the sins of many and all those who believe in Him will eagerly see His seacond appearing at the end of the age and will be saved from sin and death.

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. 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; 25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— 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. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 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.

Amen.

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 OUR FATHER WHO SPOKE OF THE COMING OF A NEW AND BETTER COVENANT 

The book of Hebrews chapter 8 says this:

1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

The writer of the book of Hebrews states the centrality of his point. The Lord Jesus Christ is the One who occupies the pivotal position in heaven who is at the right of God the Father as the chief administrative officer and as well as the High Priest who attends to the original and archetypal sanctuary and the divinely-constructed tabernacle on which the tabernacle build by Moses was based.

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

So the tabernacle and the sanctuary that were governed by the law of Moses were shadows of the spiritual tabernacle and sanctuary which were given to Moses as patterns to follow so that he could build earthly versions. The establishment of the earthly hereditary priesthood provided a shadow of the eternal priestly function that foretold of the appearing of an everlasting figure who would be qualified by righteousness and by proximity to the heavenly altars that would be fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that even though the priestly office practiced under the law of Moses appeared to be a universal and permanent institution, it was declared by God ( in the Jeremiah chapter 31 verses 31 - 34), to be imperfect and thus requiring a new covenant to replace it.

Jeremiah details some of the variances that would make the new covenant differrent and even better than the old one:

• A new covenant that would displace the old
• The terms of the covenant would be written in the hearts of its signatories and not on stone tablets
• The orientation to the kingdom of God would not be passed from person to person but would be taught to each one by God directly
• The new covenant would incorporate a familial relationship between God and its signatories
• All signatories would know God directly rather a going through a representaive as it was with Moses.
• Each signatory would be able to access God no matter what their station in life was as Jews and Gentiles, men and women, slaves and free men
• The signatories would obtain the mercy of God
• The sins and unlawful deeds of the signatories of the new covenant would covered by mercy and remembered no more.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Amen.

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