Hebrews 9:9-10

‘Which is a figure for the time present, according to which are offered both gifts and sacrifices that cannot, as touching the conscience, make the worshipper perfect, in the matter of meats and drinks and divers washings, carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation (making straight).’

So exclusion from the Holy of Holies was a ‘parable’, a figure, an illustration, an acted out prophecy, speaking to ‘the present time’, to those who had not, as Christians, entered the ‘age to come’, demonstrating that the way to God was still barred. It revealed that all the gifts and sacrifices, could not purify the conscience by providing a genuine dealing with and removal of all sin. It showed that they could not thus give the worshipper that perfection which would be necessary for him to enter God’s presence with a clear conscience. And this was something which each worshipper would well know in his own conscience.

For in his conscience was the recognition that he was deeply sinful and unworthy to meet God, and that all these gifts and sacrifices and rites had not and could not suffice to put him right. For they were merely carnal, earthly ordinances. All they could do was avert God’s wrath, God’s aversion to sin, for a time.

They involved among other things the eating of meat from certain sacrifices and the eating of parts of meal offerings, in the drinking of drink offerings, and in many kinds of washings. They may have thought in this that they were eating before Yahweh (Exodus 24:11; Exodus 18:12) or partaking of sacred food and drink before Him, or washing themselves clean from their earthiness, but it produced no means of real purity or genuine access into God’s presence. These gifts and sacrifices were merely provided by God as a sign of His watch over them and of what was to come, until there came the time of reformation, the time of ‘putting things straight’, when all would be put right, and there would be a new Eden and men and women would truly ‘eat and drink’ in God’s presence (Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 65:25; Isaiah 25:6; Matthew 26:29; Luke 22:30; Revelation 2:7; Revelation 2:17; Revelation 7:16; Revelation 22:2; Revelation 22:17).

‘In the matter of meats and drinks and divers washings’. Others see this as simply referring to the many ritual restrictions, and requirements related thereto, including the eating of what was clean and the abstaining from what was unclean, and the keeping away from wine and strong drinks, together with the multiplicity of washings. They now no longer applied individually for the time of reformation had come. For the use of epi to express accompanying circumstances see especially 2 Corinthians 9:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:7. Also 1 Corinthians 9:10; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Timothy 2:14.

The Transformation That Has Been Wrought By Christ Our High Priest (Hebrews 9:11-14).

Having established the temporary nature of the old Tabernacle and its ministry and offerings, Christ’s superiority is now brought out in a number of ways.

1) In that He officiates in a more excellent, a heavenly, Tabernacle (Hebrews 9:11).

2) In that He has offered to God a far superior sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11; Hebrews 9:14).

3) In that He has entered a more glorious Holy Place (Hebrews 9:12).

4) In that He secured a more efficacious and eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12).

5) In that He has acted through a more excellent eternal Spirit (Hebrews 9:14).

6) In that He obtained for His people a better cleansing (Hebrews 9:14).

7) In that He has made possible for them a nobler service (Hebrews 9:14).

He is superior in every way.