The Epistle To The Hebrews - Executable Outlines

Mark A. Copeland
b. The tenth day of the seventh month - Lev 16:29
2. The high priest would do three things:
a. Offer the incense to cloud the mercy seat - Lev 16:12-13
b. Sprinkle the mercy seat with the blood of a bull, as a sin offering for himself and his
family - Lev 16:11,14
c. Sprinkle the mercy seat with the blood of a goat, as a sin offering for the people - Lev
16:15
3. In this way he offered blood for his own sins and those of the people committed in
ignorance - He 9:7
[With this summary of the ritual of the earthly sanctuary, we are reminded of the sort of services
rendered under the first covenant. But was the true purpose of such service? And did the sacrifices
provide complete redemption? These questions are addressed in the next two verses...]
III. THE EARTHLY SANCTUARY: ITS SYMBOLISM AND LIMITATION (8-10)
A. IT WAS SYMBOLIC...
1. As already stated, the tabernacle and its service was “a copy and shadow of the heavenly
things” - He 8:4-5; cf. He 10:1a; Co 2:16-17
2. Thus it was “symbolic for the present time” - He 9:9
a. Symbolizing what eventually would occur when Christ came
b. Symbolizing what Christ has now done in reality when He entered heaven - cf. He 9:
11-12,24-26
3. The Holy Spirit was thus indicating that “the way into heaven itself was not yet made
manifest” - He 9:8
B. THERE WERE LIMITATIONS...
1. The gifts and sacrifices could not make one perfect in regard to the conscience - He 9:9;
cf. He 9:14; 10:1-4
2. The ceremonies involved “fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation” - He
9:10
a. Just as the sanctuary was “earthly”, the ordinances were “fleshly”
1) In contrast to that which is heavenly, spiritual
2) Indeed, all of the ritual was designed to impact the physical side of man
a) I.e., his senses (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch)
b) E.g., the burning of incense, the blowing of trumpets, the vestments
b. Such ordinances were designed to be temporary
1) Until “the time of reformation”, when changes in worship would be made
2) Indeed, now God expects “spiritual” worship - cf. Jn 4:21-24
a) Worship that is more in keeping with God’s true nature (Spirit)
b) Worship that focuses on the inner man
1/ E.g., singing, where the emphasis is on melody made in the heart
- cf. Ep 5:19; Co 3:16
2/ Even in the Lord’s Supper, which has physical elements, the emphasis is on
the communion we share in the body of and blood of Jesus as we
commemorate His death - cf. 1 Co 11:23-26; 10:16-17
-- Therefore we should not be surprised to learn that the early church did not simply
institute the fleshly ordinances of the first covenant into their worship
Sermons From Hebrews 68