Hebrews 9:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness.

NIV: Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary.

NASB: Now even the first covenant had regulations for divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.

CSB: Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary.

NLT: That first covenant between God and Israel had regulations for worship and a place of worship here on earth.

KJV: Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

NKJV: Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.

Leading up to this chapter, the writer of Hebrews emphasized that God had always intended a "new covenant" to replace the system of priests and temple sacrifices (Hebrews 7:11). In this section, he seeks to explain exactly how the elements of the "old covenant" serve as symbols of the ministry of Jesus Christ. To begin with, the writer reviews the components of the temple and the sacrificial system, while also explaining how those elements are imperfect and flawed. Since the writer's intent is to explain the meaning of these articles, not their exact arrangement, the description is intentionally brief (Hebrews 9:5).

Here, the writer points out that the location for worship is earthly. That is, it is in only one place at any given time. This means that the benefits it offers are only available to people in a certain area, rather than to the entire world. As Jesus pointed out to the woman at the well, God's real intent is for people to worship God in a spiritual way, independent of any earthly temple (John 4:22–24). This also corresponds with the writer's quote of Jeremiah, who spoke of God writing His law on His people's hearts (Hebrews 8:7–13).

Hebrews 9:1–10 explains how the rooms and artifacts of the temple were only meant as symbols. In fact, those items were specifically intended to show how the old covenant could not remove the barrier between God and man. The use of external rituals can only assuage feelings of guilt, it cannot actually remove sin or change a person's nature. The existence of the curtains, separating men from the holy places, is also symbolic of how the old covenant leaves us apart from God. This sets up a comparison, in the following passage, showing how Christ's sacrifice fulfills those symbols and achieves a perfection of our relationship with God.

Hebrews chapter 9 explains how the old covenant included various physical locations and physical rituals. These, according to the writer of Hebrews, were always intended as symbols. Their details, and the drawbacks which they suffered from, were meant to point towards the ''true'' means of our redemption, which is Christ. Unlike animal sacrifices, which must be repeated, and which cannot change man on the inside, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is a once for all, permanent, and completely effective solution to sin. The fact that Christ died for sin only once also means that His next arrival, in the future, will not be as a sacrifice, but as the final fulfillment of God's plan.

Chapter 9 continues the writer's explanation of the superiority of Christ. In chapter 8, this focused on the idea that God had promised a new covenant, even as the old covenant was still in effect. This not only means that the new covenant must be different, but that the old covenant must be flawed. Here in chapter 9, the writer focuses on the fact that the old covenant featured aspects which were meant only as symbols of the ''true'' high priesthood of Christ. Since Christ's sacrifice is more powerful, and performed in a better place, it is more effective in securing our salvation than the sacrifices of animals. Chapter 10 will continue this discussion by wrapping up these various ideas about the superiority of the new covenant.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.