Our High Priest grants full access because His sacrifice is fully effective!

The writer of Hebrews strengthens his case that it would be foolish to turn away from Jesus and back to Judaism. Chapter 9 strikes at the core of Judaism by showing the inadequacy of the old system because of limited access and limited effectiveness. Warren Wiersbe, Hebrews 9 presents a detailed contrast between the Old Covenant sanctuary (the tabernacle) and the New Covenant heavenly sanctuary where Jesus Christ now ministers. This contrast makes it clear that the New Covenant sanctuary is superior.

Much can be learned about God through a study of the sanctuary. William Barclay, If all the loveliness of the tabernacle was only a shadow of reality, how surpassingly lovely the reality must be. He does not describe the tabernacle in detail; he only alludes to some of its treasures. This was all he needed to do because his readers knew its glories and had them fixed in their memories. But, we must keep in mind that this earthly structure is only a type of the heavenly structure. One can’t look at the earthly sanctuary without realizing the separateness of God from His creatures because of His holiness.

It is hard to miss that God is great and access to His presence was limited. Let’s examine the sanctuary in view of its access. It was separated into two rooms. The first is called the Holy Place and only priests had access. The second is the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) where only the high priest could enter only once per year on the Day of Atonement. Raymond Brown, The very presence of that outer tent symbolized the restricted way and limited ministry of the old covenant. A heavy curtain kept ordinary priests out of the inner sanctuary. This arrangement would certainly have to be changed to something better if the access was to be made available to all.

Secondly, the regulations for worship were limited in effectiveness. The focus of the old system was on externals. Thomas Constable, The Old Covenant system of worship did not meet the deepest need of God’s people, namely, intimate personal relationship with God. The nation of Israel yearned for the Day of Atonement in hope of cleansing and a right relationship with God. The high priest would enter the Holy of Holies with an offering for himself and one for the unintentional sins of the people.

But what about intentional sins? The old system had no way for forgiveness. There was no way to have a clear conscience before the Holy God of Israel. Consider King David who had premeditated sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. There was no remedy in the Old Covenant. R. Kent Hughes, What could he do? Only one thing—come to God with a contrite heart and throw himself on God’s mercy: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). . . Thus, we see that the spiritually informed in the Old Testament came to understand that their only hope was a repentant heart and God’s grace. Ultimately, salvation rested on the blood of Christ.

On the day of Jesus’ crucifixion, limited access and limited effectiveness were swallowed up by grace. The veil to the Holy of Holies was ripped in two from top to bottom with access for all who place faith in Christ alone. Hebrews 10:19-20, Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.

The promise of Jesus to send the Holy Spirit to reside in every believer assures intimacy with God because cleansing takes places from the inside out. Ray Stedman, Those who today try to earn a sense of being pleasing to God by good behavior need to hear this lesson. Never knowing when they have done enough, they feel troubled and restive without any heart-peace and thus are often driven to extreme measures of self-punishment and despair. They need to cease from their efforts and trust in Christ’s completed work.

Why turn back to Egypt from the Promised Land? Why turn back from a personal relationship with God to a system that couldn’t reach the heart? Raymond Brown, Hebrews reminds us repeatedly of the assurance of pardon. God’s people enjoy the privilege of undeserved remission and eternal security. Their sins are remembered no more and their names are enrolled in heaven. This is the staggering message of a better hope, of a new covenant and an eternal redemption.

I encourage you to join the study of Hebrews under the Books of the Bible tab. We have a better priest and better promises. We are blessed! We should never take for granted the wondrous work of Jesus our High Priest.