The Former Holy Place

According to this arrangement (the old covenant), gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper…

Hebrews 9:1-10

In Jeremiah 31, he prophesied that a new, superior covenant would replace the old covenant. This new covenant would bring the reality of atonement instead of just offering animals whose blood could not finally, fully atone for man’s sin, not permanently restoring the relationship between God and man. The author of Hebrews is going into further detail of the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice because it is the one way in which the new covenant is far superior to the old. These details have purpose beyond the rituals themselves, showing the Israelites’ need for a perfect sacrifice. The author writes that the Holy Spirit gave the Day of Atonement to show the Israelites and us that, as long as the holy place stood, there was no access into the Holy of Holies. The Holy section of the tabernacle (and later the temple) was a place where the priests ministered through their daily activities. The Holy of Holies was restricted to use only one day per year and restricted to only the high priest entering. The curtain that had separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy place has now been ripped open, by God, in Christ’s atonement. We now have access to the Holy of Holies. This, along with the imperfect sacrifices under the old covenant, shows us the new covenant is vastly superior to the old. It can be difficult to wade through the details of the Law. The customs seem so foreign to us that we are tempted just to skim over them. But, as the author of Hebrews tells us, the details of the Law are important. Pray that you would be concerned for the details of the Law so that you might know the full counsel of God’s Word. Source:

S C Ball April 6, 2024