Hebrews 9:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

NIV: They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings--external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

NASB: since they relate only to food, drink, and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.

CSB: They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.

NLT: For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies — physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.

KJV: Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

NKJV: concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The writer of Hebrews has pointed out that the original setup of the temple symbolizes man's separation from God. The use of curtained-off rooms demonstrates how the old covenant could not remove the barrier between the Creator and His creation. The rituals and artifacts used were meant to highlight the external, temporary nature of the old covenant. Since those actions were external, they could not change the consciences of the ones who participated.

In the prior verse, it was pointed out that gifts and sacrifices could not "perfect" the conscience. Feelings of guilt can be assuaged by sacrifice, but external rituals can never change who or what a person is on the inside (1 Peter 3:21). Only a "rebirth" through the power of God can accomplish that (John 3:5–7).

Here, the writer specifies that the ultimate use of these old covenant sacrifices was merely for ceremonial purposes, and only until the moment when God introduced the new covenant. This has been a theme of the book of Hebrews: that God's intent was never to keep the old covenant forever. Instead, God clearly promised a better, more complete arrangement. The external, imperfect rituals of the old covenant would give way to the perfect, written-on-the-heart salvation offered through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 8:10).

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.