The Sacrificial System
Hebrews 9:6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience-- 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. (NKJV)

 

The early Eastern Church (Dionysius and Clement, both of Alexandria), from the very beginning, claimed the apostle Paul was the writer of Hebrews. The Western Church later agreed.

Luke translated the letter to the Hebrews into Greek, according to Clement in the second century. Luke was with Paul during his second Roman imprisonment and was his amanuensis during Paul’s final days (2 Timothy 4:11).

It is logical to assume that Luke was also Paul’s amanuensis for this letter. My conclusion is that this was Paul’s last writing, written in late 67-early 68 A.D.

In the first section of the book of Hebrews, through 10:18, Paul is continually proclaiming the superiority of Christianity to Judaism, the New Covenant to the Old Covenant. He is encouraging the Hebrews to whom he is writing to holdfast to Christianity and not to return to Judaism.

Paul is proclaiming that all things of Christ are superior to all things of Judaism. In this chapter, he is proclaiming that the sacrifice of Christ is superior to the sacrifice of Judaism.

First, in this passage, he describes the Old Covenant sacrifice system of Judaism. In the next passage Paul will contrast this with the sacrifice of Christ.

Paul begins by writing “Now when these things had been thus prepared” (v. 6a. This phrase refers to the preparations of the tabernacle as described in the previous passage. The tabernacle was the ornate tent that was used for worship by the Israelites for about the first 480 years after the exodus from slavery in Egypt until the building of the temple by Solomon.

Paul continues with “the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services” (v. 6b). Once the tabernacle is prepared the priests would enter the “outer room” to perform their religious services. The outer room refers to “the first part” of the tabernacle, where only priests could enter.

The priests entered regularly this outer room, called the Holy Place, at least twice a day, to perform religious services. They would light and extinguish the lights of the seven-stem menorah and light and extinguish the incense on the altar. Once a week, on the Sabbath, they would replace the showbread on the table.

Next, Paul writes “But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood” (v 7a). Only the high priest was permitted by God to enter the “second part”, the back room of the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies. The High Priest would enter once a year with a basin of sacrificial animal blood which he would use to atone for the sins of himself and all the people.

Paul continues with “which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance” (v. 7b).   Only sins “committed in ignorance” could be atoned for.

Sins committed willfully, on purpose, could not be atoned for. This day was the most high Jewish day, the Day of Atonement.

Next, Paul writes “the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing” (v. 8). Here, Paul begins with a figure of speech called a gnome. A gnome is a brief saying that expresses a universal maxim.

In this case, Paul refers to the Holy Spirit as the One who controls the teachings of the tabernacle. The teaching of the tabernacle was that the “Holiest of All”, the Holy of Holies, was “not yet made manifest”, was not yet open, to every worshiper.

Only the high priest could enter. He, and only he, had direct access to God.

Next, Paul writes “It was symbolic for the present time” (v. 9a). This symbol “for the present time”, the tabernacle, the sacrificial system, was imperfect.

It was temporary and imperfect, never designed to be a lasting, complete, sacrifice. The lasting, complete, and perfect sacrifice, Jesus Christ, was yet to come.

Paul continues with “in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered” (v. 9b). The “gifts and sacrifices” being offered, could only make it possible for the worshiper to participate in worship.

Paul continues “which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—" (v. 9c). The animal sacrifice could not provide for forgiveness of sins. It could not clear the conscience of the worshiper.

The sacrifice was temporary. It would have to be repeated. It was not complete. It would not clear the conscience from the guilt of sin.

Next, Paul writes “concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances” (v. 10a).  Obeying the food and drink and various ceremonial washings and fleshly ordinances refers to the clean and unclean regulations of the law.

It would only rid the people of ritual impurity. It would not deal with moral impurity. It would allow the people to worship, but it would not provide for salvation.

Paul concludes this passage with “imposed until the time of reformation” (v. 10b). They were external regulations applying until the time of the new order, the New Covenant, the Covenant of Christ.

They were a symbol of what was to come, the sacrifice of Christ. His sacrifice was perfect, once for all and providing for a clear conscience and salvation.

So, this was the sacrificial system of Judaism, as expressed in the Old Testament. It served its purpose but was never intended to be the final answer.

Christ was the final answer. He had the better solution. He always has the better solution.

Jesus Christ is the solution to all of life’s problems. He is superior to anything we may encounter in life. When we put all of our faith and hope and trust in the Lord, He is always faithful to provide. 

Art Toombs Ministries 

Online Bible Commentary