OUR FATHER WHO MADE A WAY FOR MANKIND TO REACH HIM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

In the book of Hebrews chapter 9 verses 1 - 10, the writer focuses in on the practices of the earthly sanctuary that were governed by the first covenant. The spaces and accoutrements of the tabernacle all signified levels of the heavenly realm and the item pertinent to the point that the writer wanted to make was the fact that in the holy place, ordinary priests could enter to carry out tasks and routines but the inner space was the most holy place and only the high priest could enter this space and he could only do this once a year and only while he was carrying the blood for the atonement of his own sin and for the sin of the people of Israel.

In this detail of highly restricted access, the Holy Spirit was revealing that the way to the presence of God had not been made known to men and this would be true as long as the space of the tabernacle was still in operation because the activitites of offering sacrifies were ongoing in the tabernacle but still access into the inner space was not provided for anyone except the high priest. 

What was made clear in the protocols of the old order was that they were insufficient to give mankind access to their God and this pointed to the a new order that would be build by God Himself and would be mediated by the perfect and eternal Son of God.

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

Amen.

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