Continuing his theme of the New Covenant based on better promises, the author of Hebrews elaborates on the first covenant and its tabernacle in 9:1-10:
(1) Its physical location and setup (vv. 1-5)
a. Where was this tabernacle located? (v. 1)
b. It was made up of two rooms:
- What is the name of the first room? (v. 2)
- What were placed in this first room? (v. 2)
- What is the name of the second room? (v. 3)
- What were placed in the second room? (vv. 4-5; see Note below)
(2) Regulations for worship (vv. 6-10)
a. Where did the priests minster regularly? (v. 6)
b. Who could enter the second room and in what manner? How often and for what purpose? (v. 7)
c. Why does the author say that “the way into the Most Holy Place had not been disclosed”?
d. What is the proof? (vv. 8-10)
(3) The “New Order” (vv. 11-15)
a. In which tabernacle does Christ serve as the High Priest? (v. 11)
b. How different is this tabernacle from the earthly one? (v. 11)
c. By what means has He entered into the Most Holy Place? (v. 12)
d. What has His entrance into the Most Holy Place accomplished? (v. 12)
e. How different is His offering from that of the earthly high priest’s (vv. 13-14)
- In terms of nature?
- In terms of result?
f. What is the most important reason for Christ being our mediator (or High Priest) of the new covenant? (v. 15)
(4) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Read the Meditative Reflection for Exodus 30:1-10 [Day 147 of Year 2 (2013) of the 5 year Devotional Guide] on why the author of Hebrews would include the altar of incense inside instead of outside of the Most Holy Place (as described in Exod. 30:6-8).
(1) The necessity of blood in a covenant (vv. 16-22)
a. Why is a covenant (or will) effective only when a person is dead? (vv. 16-17)
b. How was the first covenantal law put into effect? (vv. 18-20; see Exod. 24:7-8)
c. What does blood signify in this case? (Lev. 17:11)
d. Why is blood needed in “nearly every ceremony” within the tabernacle? (vv. 21-22)
e. What kind of blood is used in all these ceremonies? (v. 19)
(2) Christ: A much better sacrifice (vv. 23-28). Consider the difference.
a. Where is the sanctuary that Christ has entered? (v. 24)
b. Why is it not a copy (like the earthly sanctuary) anymore? (v. 24)
c. How frequently did the earthly high priest have to enter the Most Holy Place with blood? (v. 25)
d. Whose blood did the earthly high priest offer? (v. 25)
e. How many times did Christ have to enter into the sanctuary with blood? (v. 26)
f. Whose blood did He offer?
g. Christ entered the sanctuary once. Why was this enough?
h. While He died on earth once to “do away with (the) sin” of humankind, what is the purpose of a second appearance? (v. 28)
(3) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) The law is only a “shadow” (vv. 1-4) — an argument certainly resented by those (Jews in particular) who revere the Law of Moses as the very Word of God:
a. The Law of Moses is certainly the very Word of God, but what role does it play in the salvation plan of God when it is described as a “shadow”? (v. 1)
b. Can it make perfect those who draw near to worship God in the tabernacle? (v. 1)
c. What proof does the author of Hebrews present on the Law's effectiveness? (v. 2)
d. Since the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins, what function do they serve? (v. 3)
e. Why do you think “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” logically? (v. 4)
(2) Christ, the reality, was prophesied in the Psalms (vv. 5-10)
a. Christ’s sacrifice was prophesied in Psalm 40:6-8 (the author of Hebrews quoted from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the OT). If you were reading Ps. 40 in the times of the OT, how might you understand this prophecy?
b. When the Psalm says God was not pleased with the things prescribed by the law like the burnt offerings, what would that indicate? (v. 8)
c. Does it not indicate that the law of sacrifice will be set aside? Why or why not?
d. How has Christ fulfilled the second part of this passage from the Psalm? (v. 10)
e. Do you find the author’s argument convincing? Why or why not?
(3) Christ, the reality, was the fulfillment of other prophecies quoted earlier (vv. 11-18).
a. 1:13 points out Christ’s superiority over angels. See Psalm 110:1.
- How has Christ’s sacrifice fulfilled this prophecy? (vv. 11-14)
- What is the implication that “He sat down at the right hand of God”?
- Who are Christ’s enemies and how will they be made His footstool? (See 1 Cor. 15:24-28.)
b. Vv. 8:8-12 points out the prophecy from Jeremiah 31:31-34 of a new covenant based on better promises.
- How has Christ’s sacrifice fulfilled this prophecy? (vv. 14-18)
- How does Christ’s sacrifice enable the laws of God to be put in the believers’ hearts and minds?
(4) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
The author of Hebrews must have felt that he has said enough to demonstrate the completion of Christ’s sacrifice and the perfection of His priesthood. Now he urges his readers to respond:
(1) Encouragement (vv. 19-25)
a. Why should we be confident to enter the Most Holy Place (i.e. direct access to God’s presence)? What is it based on? (vv.19-20)
b. Since Christ is now our High Priest before God, the author urges us:
- To draw near (v. 22)
a) What is meant by to draw near to God to you?
b) In what way(s) can we now draw near?
c) Why?
- To hold to our hope (v. 23)
a) What might swerve us from our eternal hope in Christ?
b) How might we hold to our hope unswervingly?
- To consider one another (v. 24)
a) What should considering one another involve?
b) How can we do it?
- Not to give up meeting (v. 25)
a) Why is it so important not to give up meeting with our brothers and sisters in Christ?
b) What can the habit of not meeting do to us?
- Let’s encourage one another
a) What might be the things that you can encourage other brothers and sisters in Christ of when you are meeting with them?
b) Why does the approach of the (Last) Day make it even more important to do so?
c. "Let us": Taking these five urgings together, what picture does the author paint of a Christian life in the Last Day?
(2) Warning (vv. 26-31)—These are serious words that warn against apostasy.
a. What kind of sin does the author warn against? (v. 26)
b. What is the consequence of such a sin? (vv. 26-27)
c. Justification of warning based on comparing the old with the new covenants:
- The example of “deliberate sinning” seems to be drawn from Numbers 15:30-31 while the stipulation concerning witnesses is from Deuteronomy 17:2-6 (v.28):
a) How serious is the punishment imposed by the Law of Moses in these cases?
b) How has God promised to deal with such offenders of His law? (v. 30)
- “Deliberate continuous sinning” by a Christian:
a) Why does it amount to the trampling of the Son of God underfoot? (v. 29)
b) How will God deal with such offenders? (vv. 29, 31)
(3) The people being warned (vv. 32-39)
a. What have these people gone through in the early days of their belief (in Christ)? (vv. 32-35)
b. With such sacrifices they made for Christ:
- Why do they need to be told not to throw their confidence away?
- What might happen that would cause these believers to “shrink back”? (v. 39)
- What does the author use to urge them to persevere in vv. 36-38?
- What do you think would provide a stronger motivation for them to persevere?
- Why?
(4) What is the message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
In encouraging his readers to persevere in faith, the author first draws their attention to their own personal experience (10:32ff) and now he lays before them the “Heroes of Faith” in the Old Testament:
(1) Definition of faith (vv. 1-3)
a. What did the ancient saints understand about what faith was? (v. 1)
b. What do “hope” and “not seeing” have in common? (v. 1)
c. What do “sure” and “certain” have in common? (v. 1)
d. What evidence (or example) does the author give concerning the relationship between the visible and the invisible? (v. 3; see Ps. 33:6, 9)
e. How does this explanation help your understanding of faith?
(2) Hero of Faith #1—Abel (v. 4) – The author begins with the example of Abel, the son of Adam and Eve.
a. Read the account in Genesis 4:1-15.
b. Why does the author say that the sacrifice offered by Abel (which he took from some of the “firstborn” of his flock) was by faith while that of Cain (not from his “first fruits”) was not by faith?
c. According to the author, what kind of commendation has the faith of Abel led to?
d. What is meant by “and by faith he still speaks (today), even though he is dead”? (v.4)
(3) Hero of Faith #2—Enoch (vv. 5-6)
a. Read the account in Genesis 5:21-24.
b. It is obviously very precious that “Enoch walked with God" for 300 years while he “had sons and daughters” (Gen. 5:22)
- How special was his faith?
- How did God reward his faith?
- What conclusion does the author of Hebrews draw from Enoch’s faith?
- How does Enoch’s example speak to both “pleasing God” and “seeking Him earnestly”?
(4) Hero of Faith #3—Noah (v. 7)
a. Read Noah’s account in Genesis 6, especially vv. 1-13.
b. What was the “unseen” thing he was warned about?
c. How hard must it have been for him to obey God’s command to build an ark?
d. What has his faith accomplished?
(5) Of the three heroes of faith, which one do you admire most? Why?
(6) What is the main message to you today, and how may you apply it to your life?
Hero of Faith #4—Abraham (vv. 8-19): the author spends a bit more time to highlight the journey of faith of Abraham:
(1) Faith journey — Part I (vv. 8-10)
a. Read Genesis 12:1-5
b. What risk(s) did Abraham have to take (or difficulties did he have to face) in obeying the call of God to move?
c. What might be the hardest part of this obedience?
d. Why did he obey?
e. The author reminds us that (as much as Abraham was blessed with wealth eventually), he, Isaac and Jacob all lived in tents (not permanent structures) all their lives:
- Why? (v. 10)
- What “reward” (11:6) did he receive?
f. How might you emulate his faith?
(2) Faith journey—Part II (vv. 11-12)
a. Read Genesis 15:1-8; 17:1-8; 18:9-15; 21:1-3.
b. How old was Abraham when he received the promise of a son?
c. How old was he when this promise came to pass?
d. How does the author of Hebrews commend Abraham in this incident? (v. 11)
e. How does Genesis 15:1-8 in particular show his faith in God’s promise of a son of his own?
f. What “reward” did he receive?
(3) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Commonalities of these Heroes of Faith—It appears the author has Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in mind (vv. 13-16).
a. What is the ultimate promise of God to each of them? (Gen. 22:17; 26:3-4; 28:14)
b. Did they receive this promise when they died? (v. 13)
c. The author of Hebrews assert that they all believed in God’s promise:
- How did they look at themselves on earth? (v. 13)
- What were they looking forward to? (v. 14)
- What proof is given by the author in this respect? (v. 15)
- What commendation did they receive from God? (v. 16)
d. Pause and reflect:
- Which place do you consider your home today, honestly?
- Do you look forward to the city prepared by God for you? Why or why not?
(2) Faith journey—Part III (vv. 17-19)
a. Read Genesis 22:1-19
b. Since Abraham has already demonstrated his faith in God so far, why did he have to be tested? (v. 16; Gen. 22:1)
c. What promise did Abraham receive concerning his son, Isaac? (v. 18; Gen. 21:12)
d. When Abraham obeyed and was about to kill his son:
- Did he think that he would actually kill his son?
- What was his reasoning for so doing? (v. 19)
e. Though he firmly believed that God could raise the dead
- Do you think he was thinking of God raising Isaac immediately after he killed him or in the “last day”? (see Jn. 11:24)
- Why?
f. What kind of faith did Abraham demonstrate?
(3) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?