Hebrews 9:1

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

Hebrews 9:1 (KJV)

Context

The book of Hebrews addresses Jewish Christians facing persecution and tempted to turn away from their faith in Jesus Christ. The author emphasizes the superiority of Christ and His new covenant over the old covenant and the sacrificial system of the Mosaic Law.

Meaning

The first covenant refers to the Mosaic Law, given by God to the Israelites through Moses. It included various laws, commandments, and regulations for worship, sacrifices, and the priesthood. The author acknowledges that the first covenant had ordinances or regulations regarding divine service.

The ordinances of divine service refer to the specific requirements and rituals established under the Mosaic Law for the worship of God. These regulations included the offering of sacrifices, observance of the feasts and festivals, rituals for purification, and other acts of worship. They were meant to be followed by the Israelites to maintain their relationship with God.

The first covenant also had a worldly or earthly sanctuary, referring to the tabernacle and later the temple in Jerusalem. The tabernacle was a portable tent structure used by the Israelites during their wilderness journey, and the temple was a permanent structure built in Jerusalem. These were the designated places where the Israelites offered their sacrifices and performed their worship rituals.

Biblical connections

The main purpose of Hebrews 9:1 is to set the stage for the comparison between the old covenant and the new covenant in subsequent verses. The author acknowledges the legitimacy and importance of the first covenant with its regulations and sanctuary. However, he will go on to explain that Christ’s sacrifice and the new covenant established through Him are superior and bring about a more perfect way of salvation.

In the following verses, Hebrews 9:2-14, the author details the tabernacle’s structure and the rituals performed by the high priest under the old covenant. Then, in Hebrews 9:11-14, he contrasts this with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who is portrayed as the High Priest of a new and better covenant, offering His own blood as the perfect sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins.

Application

Hebrews 9:1 reminds us that the old covenant’s worship system, though divinely ordained, was earthly and temporary. It pointed forward to the perfect and eternal redemption accomplished by Christ. As believers, we can rejoice that we no longer need to offer repeated sacrifices or observe earthly rituals, because Christ has fulfilled and superseded them all. Our worship is now grounded in His once-for-all sacrifice, and we can approach God with confidence through Him.

Reflection

Consider the contrast between the earthly sanctuary and the heavenly reality. The old covenant’s sanctuary was a physical place, but Christ now ministers in the heavenly sanctuary. This truth calls us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and to worship Him in spirit and truth, knowing that He has opened the way into the very presence of God.