Hebrews 9:1-10 — We are the "Most Holy Place"

READ THIS: Hebrews 9:1-10

1 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. 2 A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, 4 which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. 5 Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.
 
6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

This gives a pretty detailed look into what Christianity looked like before Jesus established the new covenant. If you can remember the ark of the covenant all throughout the Old Testament, it gets praised, stolen, revered, etc. Before Jesus died for our sins, the wages of sin truly was death and the people didn't have the Holy Spirit in their hearts yet. The tabernacle and the Holy/Most Holy Place served as a way for these people to have a direct line to God. However, in the second paragraph we learn that we now know that way into the Most Holy Place because Jesus' death & resurrection closed the separation between us and God. Now, because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit the presence of God lives in our hearts all the time, we do not have to enter a "Most Holy Place" because He has made our hearts the temples- we are living "Most Holy Places!"

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Do you have full confidence that the Holy Spirit lives in your heart? If yes, why? If no, why?
 
2. How can you honor God by truly treating your body like a temple?

TRY THIS:

Try to remember to thank God in prayer this week for residing in your heart and ask Him to continually remind you of how blessed we are that Jesus lives in our hearts!

SONG OF THE WEEK:
 
Check out this song about Jesus being our High Priest before God in Heaven!





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