The first covenant, established through the law of Moses, presented the holy of holies and the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat where no one but the high priest could go. Sacrifices were made daily, and once a year the high priest entered in for the people, but in Hebrews 9:8 “The Holy Spirit was making this clear, that the way into the holy place was not yet revealed, while the first tent was still in existence”. Jesus was the final sacrifice, the one that opened the way for us to enter in Hebrews 10:19–20 “we have confidence for the entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way which he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh”. Now, we can enter, and in Hebrew 4:16 “let us approach with confidence to the throne of grace”.
For This Is The Covenant
Hebrews 8:7–13
We can look at history and understand that the covenant through the law of Moses did not perfect Israel as a nation or fulfill them as God’s people. Even though the evidence is clear, there will be some that react to these words in the wrong way. I am not saying that God is unfaithful. What I am saying is in
Hebrews 8:7 “For if that first covenant had been faultless, occasion would not have been sought for a second”.
The fault has never been with God, it has always been in humanity as it says in Hebrews 8:8a “finding fault with them”. Now, God goes on to say, in
Hebrews 8:8b “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will complete a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”
This new covenant will come with a complete change of heart in people as it says in
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will decree with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I am putting my laws in their minds and I will write them on their hearts, and I will be their God and they will be my people.
This letter was written to the Hebrews, the children of Israel, so it speaks directly to them, but this is not an exclusive covenant. As we read on, this covenant is for Jew and Gentile, as many as will believe.
The First Covenant had Regulations
Hebrews 9:1–10
Through the law of Moses was established in Hebrews 9:1 “regulations for worship and the earthly sanctuary”. The outer court of the tabernacle was established for the sacrifices, the tabernacle, for the priests, and in
Hebrews 9:3 “And after the second curtain was a tent called the holy of holies”
where there was the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat in
Hebrews 9:5 And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat, about which it is not now possible to speak in detail.
In the Holy of Holies, where only the priest could go once a years was the “mercy seat The Greek term used here, hilastērion, refers to the golden lid of the ark. This lid was considered the earthly counterpart to the throne of grace (Heb 4:16)”1
The mercy seat was there, but in
Hebrews 9:8 “The Holy Spirit was making this clear, that the way into the holy place was not yet revealed, while the first tent was still in existence”
But Christ Has Arrived
Hebrews 9:11–17
This Is the Blood of the Covenant
Hebrews 9:18–28
Sacrifice and Offering You Did Not Want
Hebrews 10:1–7
We Are Made Holy
The New and Living Way
Hebrews 10:19–25
The way was not open to the mercy seat until Jesus Christ died and made the final atonement for us. He, Jesus Christ, opened the way to the sanctuary so that we all could enter in
Hebrews 10:19–20 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence for the entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way which he inaugurated for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh
This happened in
Matthew 27:50–51 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his* spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook and the rocks were split.
so that now, we can approach, no longer with a conscience clouded by our sin, but in
Hebrews 10:22 let us approach with a true heart in the full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
but this is not just for us to know that we have access to God, it is for us to in Hebrews 10:23 “hold fast” and to in Hebrews 10:23 “stir one another up to love and good works” and in Hebrews 10:25 “encouraging each other” in this new life.
Study Verses
- Hebrews 8:7–13 For This Is The Covenant
- Hebrews 9:1–10 The First Covenant had Regulations
- Hebrews 10:19–25 The New and Living Way
Today’s Reading
- Hebrews 8:7–13
- Hebrews 9:1–28
- Hebrews 10:1–25
References
- 1. Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Heb 9:5). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
