intro
preference for ancient religion?
certain people groups seem to have a preference for ancient religions;
the oldest religion is necessarily the best, since mankind has moved away
due to sin/confusion/bad communication from the original set up.
reading heroditus, he seems at once to accept that model (his praise of egypt)
and leave room open for ongoing communication/discovery of god (see his take
on recent rites/theologies the greeks learned).
we have a fractured view as well; we tend to view with suspicion any religion founded
in the past 10 years (where were you for the rest of history?), but seem also to think
that ancient religions were simple, superstitious, and silly.
this section of hebrews covers details of the levitical system god set up at
sinai; interesting in that it is an ancient religion (6000 years old) that includes
ongoing revelation.
(prayer)
review
heb 9:1-7 methods for worship in the tabernacle
1. Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.
2. For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the
table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.
3. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
4. having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with
gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5. and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
6. Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the
outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,
7. but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which
he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.
1-5 : structure of the tabernacle
the first covenant, the one given moses, laid down a method by which people could access god.
this was done by offering sacrifices at the tabernacle (pre-solomon) / temple (solomon and after).
(show lego model)
(skipping outer courts/etc here)
holy place:
2. For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the
table and the sacred bread; this is called the holy place.
only priests could enter
had a lampstand and a table with some bread on it.
holy of holies:
3. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies,
4. having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with
gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;
5. and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.
special, curtained off area inside the holy place.
only the high priest could enter, and only once a year.
behind the curtain/veil, there was the ark of the covenant and the altar of incense.
altar of incense?
not sure exactly what is going on here; the altar of incense seems to be in the
holy place usually, but the author here seems to associate it with the holy place.
most people understand our author as associating the altar with the holy of holies, as
in it was an object 'belonging' to the holy of holies.
see lev 16 for details...
ark of the covenant:
contents:
hebrews says that the tablets, aarons rod, and a jar of manna were placed in the ark.
exodus has the tablets placed in the ark (ex 25:16), and the manna (ex 16:33)
and aarons rod (num 17:10) before the ark, though these things were not in the ark by 1 kings 8:9,
as just the two tablets are listed as contents of the ark by that point.
the debate here is similar to the altar of incense; is the author arguing that the items were
placed in the ark in exodus, or is he stating association/possesion?
shape:
those of you who've seen raiders of the lost ark have an idea (ish).
it was a wooden box, covered in gold, with two cherubim on top with their wings stretched
toward the center.
transition to function...
6. Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the
outer tabernacle performing the divine worship,
7. but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which
he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.
the ark was the center of the interaction between god and man.
it was at the center of all temple worship, and therefore at the center of the
worship/sacrifice on the day of atonement.
note on "committed in ignorance"
the general sacrifices on the day of atonement were for the sins that the people had committed without
knowing it and hadn't already made sacrifice for.
interesting to note that sacrifice was necessary for those who sinned without meaning to/knowing it.
a few points:
- divine worship as important (minor point; really just context)
the idea of worshipping god is central to the christian narrative.
i often lose track of this, caught up in my ethical goals - ultimately worship of god is central to purpose.
- divine worship as having prescribed methods
the regulations for how to worship god were extensive, specific, and full of consequence for error
this is an important piece to not lose in our knowledge of christ as incarnate/love.
- divine worship centers on blood sacrifice
from the beginning, death was a part of access to god; the blood being the covering providing access.
heb 9:8-14 looking beyond
8. The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been
disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing,
9. which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered
which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience,
10. since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed
until a time of reformation.
11. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the
greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;
12. and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy
place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
13. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been
defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh,
14. how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without
blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
8-10 - this was earthly/symbolic (there is something beyond this)
"the way into the holy place has not yet disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing"
basically, the author argues that the tabernacle is a symbol (or a teaching tool).
- shows that we don't have full access to god
- shows that the system doesn't fully solve the problem
things changed with christ
- he was priest in the real tabernacle (v11)
- he used his own blood (v12)
the power of christ's blood
if the blood of animals sanctified israel every year, then how much will the blood of christ cleanse us?
legal/moral 'eternal redemption', v12
our sin and humanity means that we are separated from god and under his wrath.
it is easy and convinient to forget this, but at the most basic level the sacrifice
of christ buys our life.
the primary function of the temple and the cross was propitiation (covering of guilt with innocent blood).
subjective 'cleanse your conscience'
great phrase - christ's sacrifice removes our guilt.
understanding this enables us to leave behind feeling guilty and ashamed for our past.
note on the word:
the greek word for conscience here means...'conscience'. some (lane) interpret that to refer
to the moral seat, but don't seem to explicity tie it to subjective consciousness.
the word does seem to encompass subjective meaning however...
regardless, the subjective truth should be the result of understanding.
guilt vs regret
we use the word guilt to refer to a few things. i've caused confusion before, so bear with me.
if you have repented from your sins and placed your faith in christ, you are no longer guilty morally.
regret / consequence
you may feel regret for your past sins.
you may still have consequences for your past sins.
legal / moral stain:
this has been removed by the blood of christ.
this should be true in more than just a 'legal' context.
this should filter into our conscience - feelings of unworthiness, worthlessness, and self-hatred
should be affected by this belief.
'cleanse your conscience' == internal/subjective change that accompanies the understanding of what christ has done.
'to serve the living God'
fantastic language here - the ministry of christ is not to just remove the stain of our guilt...
but to enable us to serve the living god.
a few details on service here:
satan, in milton's paradise lost, says "better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven."
that is the essence of rebellion, but also wrong - even from a subjective standpoint.
subjectively - consider this quote from daniel dennett, athiest philosopher at tufts (found on internet last night)
the key to happiness is to find something bigger than yourself and devote yourself to it
objectively...if god is the ultimate power and creator of all, the best we can do is get as close
as possible. when the gods came to earth, the faithful priests were the best off.
the word for serve here is the same used in rom 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and
holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
'service'; used either of working for pay as a servant, or of temple service. the NT uses the word in
the sense of religious/temple service usually (not surprisingly).
check 1 pet 1:9,10 on the idea of our service / priesthood
9. But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's
OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light;
10. for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT
RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.
so...the sacrifice of christ:
- removes our guilt and gives us access to god
- cleanses our conscience and lightens our baggage.
- enables us to serve god...the greatest honor we could have.
prayer