The Earthly Holy Place

Hebrews 9

1 Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and a the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the 1 sanctuary; 3 b and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the c golden censer and d the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were e the golden pot that had the manna, f Aaron's rod that budded, and g the tablets of the covenant; 5 and h above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, i the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone j once a year, not without blood, which he offered for k himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that l the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered m which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience - 10 concerned only with n foods and drinks, o various 2 washings, p and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

  1. Cross References
    Exodus 25:8
    And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
    Hebrews 8:2
    A Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
    Hebrews 9:11
    But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
    Hebrews 9:24
    For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
  2. Cross References
    Exodus 26:31 - 35
    You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim.
    Exodus 40:3
    You shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and partition off the ark with the veil.
  3. Cross References
    Leviticus 16:12
    Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 25:10
    And they shall make an ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits shall be its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 16:33
    And Moses said to Aaron, "Take a pot and put an omer of manna in it, and lay it up before the LORD, to be kept for your generations.
  6. Cross References
    Numbers 17:1 - 10
    And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
  7. Cross References
    Exodus 25:16
    And you shall put into the ark the Testimony which I will give you.
    Exodus 34:29
    Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses' hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.
    Deuteronomy 10:2 - 5
    'And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke; and you shall put them in the ark.'
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 25:17
    You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width.
    Exodus 25:20
    And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat.
    Leviticus 16:2
    And the LORD said to Moses: "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
    1 Kings 8:7
    For the cherubim spread their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the ark and its poles.
  9. Cross References
    Numbers 18:2 - 6
    Also bring with you your brethren of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and serve you while you and your sons are with you before the tabernacle of witness.
    Numbers 28:3
    And you shall say to them, 'This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to the LORD: two male lambs in their first year without blemish, day by day, as a regular burnt offering.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 30:10
    "And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD."
    Leviticus 16:34
    This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year." And he did as the LORD commanded Moses.
    Hebrews 10:3
    But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
  11. Cross References
    Hebrews 5:3
    Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins.
  12. Cross References
    John 14:6
    Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
    Hebrews 10:20
    By a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.
  13. Cross References
    Galatians 3:21
    Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
    Hebrews 7:19
    For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.
  14. Cross References
    Leviticus 11:2
    Speak to the children of Israel, saying, 'These are the animals which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth:
    Colossians 2:16
    So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths.
  15. Cross References
    Numbers 19:7
    Then the priest shall wash his clothes, he shall bathe in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp; the priest shall be unclean until evening.
  16. Cross References
    Ephesians 2:15
    Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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