The Epistles · Chapter 9 of 13

Hebrews 9

The writer describes the earthly tabernacle, where only the high priest entered the holiest place once a year with blood. These were figures showing the way into God's presence was not yet open. But Christ, high priest of good things to come, entered the heavenly sanctuary once by his own blood, obtaining eternal redemption. His death mediates the new covenant, purging the conscience. Offered once to bear many sins, he will appear again for salvation.

What happens in Hebrews 9

The author details the first covenant's sanctuary: an outer room with lampstand, table, and shewbread, and beyond the veil the holiest place with the ark and the mercy seat overshadowed by cherubim. Priests entered the first room regularly, but only the high priest entered the second, once a year, never without blood offered for himself and the people's errors. This showed the way into God's presence was not yet open while that system stood. Then Christ came, high priest of good things to come, entering a greater tabernacle not made with hands.

Not with animal blood but his own, he entered once into the holy place and obtained eternal redemption. His blood, offered through the eternal Spirit, purges the conscience from dead works. He is mediator of the new testament, whose death frees from transgressions. As men die once and face judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear many sins and will appear a second time, unto salvation.

Hebrews 9 in context

Chapter nine contrasts the earthly sanctuary and its repeated blood rituals with Christ's single, effective sacrifice in the heavenly sanctuary. It draws on the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16 and the covenant ceremony at Sinai in Exodus 24.

Written to readers steeped in temple imagery, it argues that the whole apparatus of the old worship was a divinely given picture pointing to Christ, whose death accomplishes what animal blood never could.

Main themes of Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9 (KJV)

1Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 4Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; 5And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. 6Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 7But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people: 8The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; 10Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11But 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; 12Neither 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. 13For 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? 15And 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. 16For 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. 18Whereupon 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. 23It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures 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 entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

Verses to carry from Hebrews 9

“Neither 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

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”Hebrews 9:22

“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”Hebrews 9:28

Reflection

Christ entered God's presence once with his own blood and obtained eternal redemption. Not renewed yearly, not partial, but eternal. Does your conscience still accuse you of forgiven sin? His blood purges the conscience, not just the record. Live today as one whose guilt is truly answered, free to serve the living God.

A prayer from Hebrews 9