Hebrews 9: The New Covenant

Hebrews 9

The New Covenant

After the lengthy quote from Jeremiah 31 (last week's lesson), the preacher of Hebrews moves into a detailed comparison between Jesus' ministry of the New Covenant and the Levitical ministry through the Old. We discover several ways in which the Tabernacle predicted the development of the New Covenant.  We see several direct comparisons between Jesus and the Levitical priest, and we are then given three reasons why Jesus had to die. 

Due to technical problems, there is no recording of this week's lesson, but my notes are below. 

1. Vs 1-5, Introduction to the physical tabernacle
1. Very fast overview of a very important symbol
1. 2 Chapters on creation, 4 Chapters on Birth of Jesus, 4 chapters on Resurrection of Jesus, 51 on the tabernacle.
2. He “gets things wrong.”
1. Rapid fly-over is admitted in vs 5, but there are still errors.
2. There are possibile qualifications and explanations, but it’s still challenging.
3. Perfection of the shadow is not the point.  Perfection of the reality--Jesus--is.
2. Outer court (150’ x 75’)
1. Not mentioned at all by the preacher.
2. Contained the Brazen Altar, where all sacrifices were killed and burned.
3. Contained the Laver, where ceremonial washings were performed.
4. Clearest pictures of the Levitical system.  All external
3. Vs 1-2: “Holy Place”
1. Lampstand: Light, symbol of God’s glory, his wisdom and beauty.
1. Jesus: John 8:12 “I am the Light of the World.”
2. The Church: Matt 5:14-16.  “You are the light of the world.” “Let your light so shine before men.”
2. Table and Bread of Presence: Symbol of God’s fellowship with his people. He provides for, sustains, and fellowships with them.
1. Jesus: John 6:35, 50, 51, “I am the bread of life” or “came down from heaven.”
2. Mat 4:4. The words of Jesus are better than bread
3. 12 loaves: 1 per tribe, 1 per apostle.
3. Altar of Incense (wrongly placed inside the most holy Place in vs 4: Symbol of prayer and worship going up in the presence of God.
1. “Having the altar of incense…” (vs 4)
1. Perhaps, since the smoke of the incense drifted into the Holy of Holies, it was associated with it.
2. Perhaps a manuscript error?  No manuscript evidence otherwise, though. P46, from about 200AD, is the oldest extant copy of Hebrews and has the wording represented in the modern English translations.
2. Jesus is continuously praying for us:
1. John 17, High priestly prayer
2. Jesus as intercessor: Acts 7:55-56, Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; Heb 7:25…
4. The Holy Place shares some characteristics with both the Holy of Holies and the Outer court.  It is a transition between the two.
5. It is a clear picture of what Jesus is doing for us during the age of the church.  
4. Vs 3-5: The Holy of Holies: The symbolic presence of God.
1. The altar of incense (already discussed, in the Holy Place).
2. The Ark of the covenant and mercy seat: The actual place of the manifestation of God’s presence.
1. As in heaven: surrounded with angelic worshippers.
2. Covered in symbols of worth and value (gold)
3. Mercy Seat: The throne of judgment which has become for the believer a seat of mercy.
3. “Containing.” The jar of manna and Aaron’s staff.
1. Placed before the ark (Ex 16:33; Num 17:10)
2. At the time of David, there was nothing in the ark but the tablets of stone (1 Kings 8:9; 2Chron 5:10)
3. Preposition “en” can also mean “with” or “accompanying,” not exclusively “inside”
4. Aaron’s staff: A symbol of divine election.  It budded to demonstrate that God had chosen his priestly tribe and leadership.
5. Manna: A symbol of God’s miraculous sustenance.  
6. In God’s presence (Holy of Holies), the elect (Aaron’s staff) find mercy (the mercy seat), and their continued enjoyment of the presence of God is completely wrought by God on our behalf (manna).
2. Vs 6-10: The physical tabernacle is a picture of increasing intimacy with God throughout the story of redemptive history.
1. Basic argument:
1. In the Law (outer court), people were made aware of the holiness of God but focused on externals, rituals, and kept at a distance.
2. In the church age (Holy Place) we are brought near to the presence of God through the ministry of Christ, but we are still separated from His physical presence.
3. In the final age, the eternal state, we will enjoy the physical presence and eternal manifestation of God as his elected, atoned people for ever.
2. Vs 6: Frequent service of the Jewish priest (whose home base was the outer court) as they came in to daily serve as close as they could get to God’s glory in the Holy Place.  
3. Vs 7: The Holy of Holies off limits to all but one and him only once a year.
1. Contrast with Jesus who, as our forerunner, went into the veil once on our behalf (6:20)
4. Vs 9: The present age.
1. Does this mean present Judaism or the Church?
1. Immediately following, it seems to apply to Judaism.
2. Several translations and commentators point to the church.  
3. Manuscript difference:
1. KJV (Textus Receptus) Which was a sign for the time then present, clearly the law.
2. ESV, NASB (UBS) Which is a sign for the present time.
4. Helped by “outer court,” The outer court is Israel’s legal covenant.
2. The externals of the Levitical system are emphasized, and it is clearly stated that these had no impact on the inner man, in opposition to the work of Christ. .
5. The “already and not yet” of the new covenant .
1. The New Covenant was inaugurated by Christ’s blood (9:12-14), and it began at the cross, but..
2. We still live in the presence and the possibility of sin, although we are cleansed from its penalty, so…
3. The New Covenant is in force but not fully manifested to us.  We are in the “middle ground” of the Holy Place.
4. In heaven and in the new Creation, we will be bodily in the presence of God (Holy of Holies).
3. Vs 11-14: The Superior work of Christ in the New Covenant
1. The Old Covenant functioning in the Tabernacle was awesome.  Christ is far better in every way.
1. Vs 11: Greater and more perfect tent
1. The tabernacle was beautiful, but made of Earthly creation.
2. Heaven is not made by men, but by God and is incorruptible.
2. Vs 12: Entered once for all
1. Levitical High Priest entered to leave, and the sooner the better.
2. Jesus entered and sat down.  He belongs there, in the presence of the Father.
3. His work is done.  He does not need to repeatedly perform a task.
3. Vs 12: Not by the blood of goats and calves but by His own blood
1. The blood of goats and calves could not fully or finally satisfy the penalty of sin (Rom 3:20, 28; Gal 2:16; 3:11)
2. Jesus’ sacrifice is final and complete, “securing eternal salvation.”
4. Vs 13-14: cleanliness of the outer person (superficial) is secured by the blood of sacrifices, but the cleanliness of a soul is only wrought by God.
1. Blood of goats and bulls (normal offerings)
2. Sprinkling with the ashes of a heifer: the cleansing for being in the presence of a dead body.  Why pull this out in detail?
1. We are all not only sources of our own sin, but
2. We live in a dead culture, full of spiritually dead people.
5. Vs 13-14: The worth of Jesus is so much greater than the worth of any animal sacrifice.
2. Everything about the New Covenant is greater than its (already awesome) counterpart in the Old Covenant.
4. Vs 15-28: The need for Death.  
1. Vs 15: All the greatness of the New Covenant and the amazing benefits it bestows upon us who believe are as a consequence of the death of Christ. 3 Reasons:
2. One:  Vs 16-21A Will requires a death.
1. “Covenant” διαθήκη diathēkē is the same word used for a “last will and testament.” 33x in NT. “Covenant” 20X, “Will” 13x  
2. Gen 48:21; Jn 14:27
3. In order for the “last will and testament [covenant] of God to be enacted, God must die.”  This is the final stage in His redemption.  All future salvation will be contingent upon this action.
4. Vs 18-21.  The deaths which inaugurated the Mosaic covenant were the deaths of animals.  It was the “aftermath” of their death which set in motion the covering of sins.
1. “Scarlet Wool and Hyssop” not mentioned in the OT record in any textual tradition.
2. Another source?
3. These symbols used frequently in other cleansing rituals (Lev 14, for example).
3. Two: Vs 22-23: Forgiveness requires blood
1. Every time the phrase “and he shall be forgiven” appears in Leviticus, it is in connection with a blood sacrifice.
2. No food, drink, or wave offering brings forgiveness of sin.
3. Lev 17:11
4. Three: Vs 24-28.  Christ was our substitute.
1. Again, Type and Antitype are reinforced.  Heaven is the real tabernacle of God, and Jesus is the real priest.
2. Vs 24: Now to appear on our behalf.
1. Jesus is now where we cannot yet be.
2. Where he now is we will so be.  Forerunner (6:20)
3. Jesus walks into the presence of God in our place.  We are with him spiritually now but in truth in the future.
3. Vs 25-26, Again.  Once and for all
1. Jesus does not suffer again for the sins of people.  Neither:
1. People he didn’t know would believe
2. Sins which catch him off guard.
2. Salvation was wrought “before the foundation of the world” for those who would die believing before, during, and well after the death of Christ on the cross.
3. Decision eternal, paid for in actual temporal history.
4. Remember, God is outside of time.  He has no tomorrow or yesterday.
4. Vs 27-28: Christ’s post-sacrificial return in glory.
1. OT Levitical priest went in once a year, and everyone outside waited with anticipation for his return.
1. Did he make it?
2. Did he accomplish his atonement?  
3. Did he accomplish mine?
4. The re-emerging of the High Priest was sign that God had accepted the sacrifice and dealt with the sin according to his decreed plan.
2. When Jesus returns a second time, the symbolism will be the same.  The work has been accomplished.  God has accepted the payment for our sin.  Jesus’ plan/ministry/message is finally vindicated.
3. The eschatone bears wrath for those whose sins are not covered by Christ, but carries great joy for us who are “eagerly waiting for him.”
5. Jesus’ literal substitution for Barabas as a picture of our salvation.