Hebrews 9:1-15

Read Hebrews 9:1-15 

Helpful Background Information: 

• Hebrews 9 looks back to the Old Testament tabernacle and the sacrifices God gave Israel under the old covenant. The tabernacle contained two main sections: the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Priests regularly entered the first section to carry out their ministry, but only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and then only once each year on the Day of Atonement. And even then, he could not enter without bringing blood as a sacrifice for his own sins and for the sins of the people. These sacrifices taught Israel and us today that sinful people cannot simply enter the presence of a holy God. Sin brings guilt and requires atonement. Blood had to be shed, and cleansing had to take place to protect a sinful human from being destroyed in the presence of God.

• However, Hebrews explains that these sacrifices were never the final solution to sin. They could provide outward cleansing, but they could not completely cleanse a person's conscience or permanently deal with guilt before God. Jesus accomplished what those sacrifices could only point toward. He entered God's presence as our perfect High Priest, not with the blood of animals, but through His own blood, and thereby securing “eternal redemption” for His people.

Reflection Questions: 

• Why do you think God made access to the Most Holy Place so limited under the old covenant?

• Compare Hebrews 9:13–14 with 1 John 1:7–9. What do both passages teach about being cleansed from sin?

• According to Hebrews 9:14, what does Christ’s blood cleanse us for? How should forgiveness and cleansing change the way we live?

• How should the sufficiency of Jesus’s sacrifice give you confidence to confess your sin and seek restored fellowship with Him?