The Earthly Tabernacle
(Exodus 40:1–33; Acts 7:44–47)
Now the first covenant 1had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. Exo 25:8Heb 9:10-11Heb 8:2Lev 18:30Lev 18:3-4Lev 22:9Col 2:8Ezk 43:11 A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. 2 This was called the Holy Place. Exo 40:4Lev 24:5-8Exo 26:35Exo 26:33Exo 40:18-20Exo 40:22-24Exo 25:23Exo 25:8-9 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 3 Exo 26:31-33Exo 40:21Exo 40:3Mat 27:511Ki 8:6Heb 9:82Ch 3:14Heb 10:19-20 containing the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. Inside the ark were the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Num 17:102Ch 5:10Exo 26:33Exo 40:3Lev 16:12Exo 16:32-34Exo 34:29Exo 40:20-21 Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. 4 But we cannot discuss these things in detail now. Lev 16:2Num 7:891Ki 8:6-7Exo 25:17-22Lev 16:13Psa 80:1Psa 99:11Ch 28:11
When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties. Num 28:3Exo 27:21Luk 1:8-112Ch 26:16-19Dan 8:11Exo 30:7-8 But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. Lev 16:34Lev 5:18Exo 30:10Heb 10:19-20Heb 7:27Heb 9:24-25Hos 4:12Isa 28:7
By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place 5had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing. Jhn 14:6Heb 3:7Eph 2:18Heb 10:19-22Jhn 10:92Pe 1:21Gal 3:8Heb 9:3 It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper. 1Pe 3:21Heb 5:1Heb 10:11Psa 51:16-19Rom 5:14Gal 3:21Heb 10:1-4Heb 11:19 They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform. Col 2:16Eph 2:15Heb 7:16Lev 11:2-47Deu 21:6Deu 23:11Eph 1:10Exo 30:19-21
Redemption through His Blood
But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, 6 He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. Heb 9:23-242Co 5:1Act 17:24-25Heb 8:1-2Heb 10:11Jn 5:20Act 7:48Heb 2:17 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. Heb 10:41Pe 1:18-19Heb 9:15Eph 1:7Heb 5:9Heb 9:24-26Gal 3:13-14Lev 9:15
For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, Num 19:2-21Lev 16:14-16Act 15:91Pe 1:222Ch 30:19Psa 51:7Num 8:7 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our 7consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God! Heb 10:221Pe 1:191Jn 1:7Heb 9:121Pe 2:241Pe 3:18Tit 2:141Pe 4:2
Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. Rom 3:24-26Rom 8:30Heb 9:12Rom 8:28Heb 10:361Ti 2:5Heb 12:241Pe 3:18
In the case of a will, 8 it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it, Jas 2:101Co 15:22Rom 5:12Rom 6:23 because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive. Gen 48:21Gal 3:15Jhn 14:27
That is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood. Exo 24:3-8Heb 8:7-9Heb 9:14Heb 9:22Exo 12:22 For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, 9 along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll and all the people, Exo 24:5-11Ezk 36:25Heb 10:4Heb 9:12Num 19:18Num 19:61Pe 1:2Lev 14:4-7 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.” 10 Exo 24:8Mat 26:28Heb 13:20Deu 29:12Zec 9:11Jos 9:6
In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship. Lev 8:15Lev 8:19Exo 29:12Exo 29:36Ezk 43:18-26Lev 16:14-19Lev 9:18Lev 9:8-9 According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Lev 17:11Lev 6:7Lev 4:35Lev 5:18Lev 14:14Lev 14:6Lev 5:10Lev 4:20
So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 1Pe 1:19-21Heb 10:4Heb 9:14Heb 9:9-12Heb 9:24Heb 8:5Rev 5:9Col 2:17 For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God. Heb 12:2Heb 9:11-12Heb 9:23Heb 8:2Jhn 16:28Act 3:21Col 3:2Eph 1:20-22
Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Heb 9:12Heb 9:7Heb 9:14Heb 10:19Heb 9:26Exo 30:10Heb 10:10Lev 16:2-34 Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 1Pe 1:20Heb 9:12Heb 1:21Pe 3:18Heb 10:4Mat 25:341Jn 3:51Pe 2:24
Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment, 2Co 5:10Ecc 12:14Ecc 12:7Act 17:312Sa 14:14Jhn 5:26-29Ecc 9:5Jud 1:15 so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him. Tit 2:131Pe 2:24Isa 25:9Rom 6:102Ti 4:8Rom 8:231Jn 3:21Th 1:10