The True Tabernacle  -  Part Two

Hebrews 8:1-7,  3:1-2,  4:14-16,  5:1,  6:17-20,  7:22-27

Exodus 28:1-3,  29:38-46,  30:1-10,  40:16-17, 20-21, 26-27, 33-35

Leviticus 4:1-3, 20, 35B,  5:18B,  7:37-38,  9:7,  16:1-22, 30, 34

Hebrews 9:1-12,  3-15, 23-26,  10:1,12-14, 19-23

THE HIGH PRIEST OF THE TRUE TABERNACLE

We have this hope as an anchor of the soul, both firm and secure, even for entering behind the veil,

where one running ahead entered on our behalf, namely, Jesus, who became Psalm 110:4: “a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” HEBREWS 6:19-20*

Accordingly, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.

Now many indeed have become priests because they are prevented by death from continuing to serve,

but because he continues forever, he has an unchangeable priestly office.

For this reason, he is also able to completely save [deliver] those who approach God through him, always living to make intercession for them.

Certainly, it was also fitting for us to have a devout, innocent, undefiled high priest such as this one, who has been separated from the sinful and who has become higher than the heavens.

He does not need to offer up daily sacrifices like the high priests did, first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, for he accomplished this all at once by offering up himself. HEBREWS 7:22-27

Now the first covenant had standards for justice of divine service and the earthly holy [sanctified] place.

As a matter of fact, a tabernacle was built [prepared]. In the first part was the lampstand and the table and the presentation bread. This place is called “Holy [Sanctified].”

Beyond the second veil was a part of the tabernacle called “Holy of Holies,”which had the golden altar of incense and the ark [chest] of the covenant, covered entirely with gold, in which were the following: a golden jar containing manna and Aaron’s rod that budded and the tablets of the covenant.

Above it [the ark] were cherubim of glory overshadowing the place of atonement. Concerning these things, it is not now the time to speak in detail.

So these things having been built [prepared], the priests constantly enter the first part of the tabernacle to perform the divine services, and the high priest enters alone once every year into the second part, not without blood which he offers for himself and for the ignorant errors of the people. The Holy Spirit thus indicated that the way into the holy [sanctified] places had not yet been made manifest while the first tabernacle still held its standing.

This was a parable [symbolic comparison] with a view to the present time, by which [parable] both gift-offerings and sacrifices are offered but are not able, through a consciousness [of sins], to perfect the one who only serves in foods and drinks and various baptisms.

However, Christ has come and is a high priest of the good things that were to come. Through [the veil of] the greater and more excellent tabernacle (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation), he entered (not with the blood of he-goats and calves but with his own blood) once and for all into the holy [sanctified] places, having obtained eternal redemption for us. HEBREWS 9:1-12

So, if the blood of he-goats and oxen and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are common sanctify them to the purification of the flesh,

then how much more will the blood of the Christ, who (because of the eternal Spirit) offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse /our {Or / your} consciousness from dead works to serve the living God?

For this reason, he is also the mediator of the new covenant (a death having taken place for redemption concerning the transgressions against the first covenant), so that those who have been called might receive the promise [what was promised] of the eternal inheritance. HEBREWS 9:13-15

Hence, it was necessary for the examples of the things in the heavens to be cleansed by these [animal sacrifices], but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

In fact, Christ did not enter into handmade holy [sanctified] places, impressions [antitypes] of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

Neither did he offer himself frequently, as the high priest enters the [handmade] holy [sanctified] places every year with blood other than his own.

In that case, he would have had to suffer frequently since the foundation of the world. As it is, however, he has appeared once at the end of the ages for the nullification of sin by the sacrifice of himself. HEBREWS 9:23-26

So the law, having a shadow of the good things to come and not the image itself of the matters, can never perfect those who approach with the same sacrifices that they continually offer every year.

Indeed, every priest stands daily ministering and frequently offering the same sacrifices, which can never remove sins.

However, this priest, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down on the right side of God. Henceforth, he waits until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.

Therefore, by one offering, he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. HEBREWS 10:1,12-14

Therefore, brothers, having confidence by the blood of Jesus for the entrance into the holy [sanctified] places

(this entrance is a new and living way, which he ratified for us through the veil, that is, through his flesh),

and having a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in absolute certainty of believing, having hearts sprinkled from a consciousness of evil and having the body bathed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the confession of the hope without wavering, for He Who has promised is faithful. HEBREWS 10:19-23

*From the Working Translation, A Journey through the Acts and Epistles,

                         Copyright © 2006 by Walter J. Cummins. All rights reserved.