By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
Can you imagine never having a clear conscience? Perhaps this is the reality in which you live? I remember a season of my life where my conscience screamed at me about the sinfulness of my soul. It was a time of reckoning that brought me to deep repentance. I was relieved when I felt Jesus take those burdens from me, and I felt intimacy with God restored.
For the people of Israel, the sacrifices made in the tabernacle of the Lord had to be done regularly. This regular repetition of sacrifice highlighted the continual brokenness of the individual that was in need to atonement and the inability of the sacrifices to make that atonement permanently.* It was as if the practices of the tabernacle said, “you are sinful, and there is nothing that can be done that will allow you to escape that.”
This sinfulness was devastating because it meant that separation from our Holy God was inescapable.* The author of Hebrews spends the first several verses of chapter 9 reminding the reader of the structure of the tabernacle. While not an exhaustive description, the author highlights enough to make this point: we are separated from the presence of God.*
The torn conscience of the individual only found temporary rest on the yearly day of atonement.* The conscience (an awareness of transgression and guilt) continually passed a verdict on their conduct.* The sacrifices and practices of the tabernacle did not genuinely deal with the sin inside of the person.* The guilty conscience remained unhealed.* The external practices did not change the person within.*
Truthfully, the curtains of the tabernacle are not what separated the people from God; it was their sinful conscience.*
Verses 1-10 of Hebrews 9 tell us three things:
God desires for His people to approach Him.*
God is particular about how people approach Him.*
The worship of God in the tabernacle focused on the presence of God, the holiness of God, and the sinfulness of the people.*
As we will see later in the book of Hebrews, these things are upheld by Christ, and He addresses the inner man quite completely and eternally.* God, desiring to remove the barriers to Himself (namely, our sinfulness), sent Jesus to remove that sin.
Jesus came, but is there something that you are doing to attempt to quiet your conscience? Have you been hiding the voice of your conscience behind religious activities or busyness?
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to find rest for your conscience through Jesus. Perhaps today God wants you to come to Him in the purity that only Jesus can offer. Maybe today God wants to remind you that your imperfection no longer holds you at a distance from Him. Perhaps today God wants you to worship in His presence in light of His holiness and your sinfulness. Maybe today God wants you to confess some things to Him.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Stedman, R. C. (1992). Hebrews (Heb 8:7–13). IVP Academic.
Grindheim, S. (2023). The Letter to the Hebrews (D. A. Carson, Ed.; pp. 398–406). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
France, R. T. (2006). Hebrews. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, pp. 107–110). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. (1998). Hebrews (pp. 280–287). Zondervan Publishing House.