Hebrews 9:6-10: a reflection

6Now these things having been thus prepared, the priests go in continually into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the services, 7but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people. 8The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the Holy Place wasn’t yet revealed while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9This is a symbol of the present age, where gifts and sacrifices are offered that are incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect, 10being only (with foods and drinks and various washings) fleshly ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation.

The writer to the Hebrews describes the old tabernacle and its sacrifices, and points out their limitation: under that system, the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet open, and the gifts and sacrifices offered were incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect. The old sacrifices could deal with outward, ceremonial matters, but they could not cleanse the conscience or open the way into God's presence; they were a symbol, pointing forward to something better, imposed until a time of reformation. The old system could not do what was most needed: cleanse the conscience and open the way to God. That would come in Christ.

Notice the limitation of the old system: it could not cleanse the conscience or open the way to God. The sacrifices dealt with outward, ceremonial matters, foods and washings and fleshly ordinances; but they could not reach the conscience, could not truly cleanse the inner person, could not open the way into God's presence. The way into the Most Holy Place remained closed; the conscience remained unperfected. The old system was a symbol, pointing forward, unable itself to accomplish what was most needed. What the old sacrifices could not do, cleanse the conscience and open the way to God, awaited a better sacrifice, the sacrifice of Christ, who has now opened the way and can cleanse the conscience the old system could not reach.

That is worth resting in, for Christ has done what the old system could not: opened the way to God and can cleanse our conscience. We can carry a burdened conscience, feeling the way to God is closed, and try to deal with it by outward efforts that cannot reach the inner person; but the old sacrifices could not cleanse the conscience or open the way, and Christ has done both. Through Christ, the way to God is open, and the conscience the old system could not reach can be cleansed. When your conscience is burdened and the way to God seems closed, do not rely on outward efforts that cannot cleanse the conscience; Christ has opened the way and can cleanse it. Rest in Christ, who has done what the old system could not, opening the way to God and cleansing the conscience that the old sacrifices could not reach, as the writer says those sacrifices could not make the worshiper perfect in conscience; for what the old system could not accomplish, Christ has done, opening the way to God and cleansing our conscience, so that we may draw near through him.

Lord, the writer to the Hebrews describes the old tabernacle and its sacrifices, and points out their limitation: under that system, the way into the Most Holy Place was not yet open, and the gifts and sacrifices offered were incapable, concerning the conscience, of making the worshiper perfect. The old sacrifices could deal with outward, ceremonial matters, but they could not cleanse the conscience or open the way into your presence; they were a symbol, pointing forward to something better. The old system could not do what was most needed. Show me the limitation of the old system: it could not cleanse the conscience or open the way to you. The sacrifices dealt with outward, ceremonial matters; but they could not reach the conscience, could not truly cleanse the inner person, could not open the way into your presence. The way into the Most Holy Place remained closed; the conscience remained unperfected. The old system was a symbol, pointing forward, unable itself to accomplish what was most needed. What the old sacrifices could not do awaited a better sacrifice, the sacrifice of Christ. Let me rest in that, for Christ has done what the old system could not: opened the way to you and can cleanse my conscience. I can carry a burdened conscience, feeling the way to you is closed, and try to deal with it by outward efforts that cannot reach the inner person; but the old sacrifices could not cleanse the conscience or open the way, and Christ has done both. When my conscience is burdened and the way to you seems closed, keep me from relying on outward efforts that cannot cleanse the conscience; Christ has opened the way and can cleanse it, Lord. Help me rest in Christ, who has done what the old system could not, opening the way to you and cleansing my conscience, so that I may draw near through him.