Hebrews 9 reminds me of the expression, “Make yourselves at home”. A traditional welcome for invited guests to relax and be comfortable while visiting. It does not mean we are invited to make it our home. Today’s lesson is about knowing when to leave. The author of Hebrews has set the table, and now he is ready to serve the main course to his Jewish guests. He will explain the details of the New Covenant. First, he offers a tour of God’s house. The Tabernacle design had an outer room, “called the Holy Place”. He explains that “the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry”. But behind a very think curtain was “the Most Holy Place”. This room contained “the gold-covered ark of the covenant”. He reminds them that this room was off limits to all; “only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year”. He adds an important detail about the lid of the ark. He calls it the “atonement cover”, or Mercy Seat. The significance of this place is everything. First, he describes the contents of the ark: “gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant”. The Mercy Seat literally sat between the righteousness of God and God’s standard. The guilty can only ask for mercy after confessing to their transgression. This was where the High Priest sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice on the Day of Atonement “for himself and for the sins the people”. The blood temporarily atones for sin and had to be repeated annually. This was not meant to feel homey.
It is important to remember that the Tabernacle was covered in animal skins. King David desired to build the stone temple in Jerusalem. God did not require a permanent structure because its purpose was temporary. He continues, “the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper”. Offerings were repeated as were ceremonial washings. He boldly proclaims: “But when Christ came as high priest… He went through the… more perfect tabernacle”. That is, God’s throne in heaven. It was “not made with human hands”. And “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves”. He says Christ is the eternal High Priest, and “entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption”. This is where we find true peace.
He closes the chapter with a look at the foundation of Jewish faith. He refers to Exodus 24, when “Moses had proclaimed every command of the law to all the people, he took the blood… and sprinkled the scroll and all the people”. This was the blood of the covenant with Moses. The writer of Hebrews emphasizes the requirement for atonement: “the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”. Finally, he proclaims that these covenants were prerequisites for the eternal covenant. “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands… He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence”. He adds, “Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again”. Jesus is not only the eternal King and High Priest; He is also the Lamb of God. “He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself”. He invites his Hebrew brethren to relax and rest in the promise of the new covenant. “Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many”. Believers trust that heaven is our real home. We are just visiting for a time. Today the invitation is extended to all. The penalty for sin has been paid, and mercy is available to all who humbly ask. In the last days, “He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him”. God patiently waits for us to seek mercy and forgiveness. Please do not mistake His patience for hospitality. Its almost time to go.