Hebrews 9:1

1. Then verily—Greek, "Accordingly then." Resuming the subject from :-. In accordance with the command given to Moses, "the first covenant had," c.

had—not "has," for as a covenant it no longer existed, though its rites were observed till the destruction of Jerusalem.

ordinances—of divine right and institution.

service—worship.

a worldly sanctuary—Greek, "its (literally, 'the') sanctuary worldly," mundane consisting of the elements of the visible world. Contrasted with the heavenly sanctuary. Compare Hebrews 9:11; Hebrews 9:12, "not of this building," Hebrews 9:24. Material, outward, perishing (however precious its materials were), and also defective religiously. In Hebrews 9:24- :, "the worldly sanctuary" is discussed; in Hebrews 9:6-10, c., the "ordinances of worship." The outer tabernacle the Jews believed, signified this world the Holy of Holies, heaven. JOSEPHUS calls the outer, divided into two parts, "a secular and common place," answering to "the earth and sea"; and the inner holiest place, the third part, appropriated to God and not accessible to men.