HEBREWS 17


     We will begin this lesson in Hebrews 9:1 "Then verily the first
[covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly
sanctuary."

      The Tabernacle in the wilderness, and the Temple in Jerusalem,
were the sanctuary spoken of here. As we said, in previous lessons,
Moses was given specific instructions by God of how it was to be
constructed. The book of Leviticus is devoted to the ordinances God
gave them to keep. For details on this read the lessons on Leviticus.
I will give 2 Scriptures, only, here to give you an idea of how God
was displeased with their past doings. Exodus 25:8 "And let them make
me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." Leviticus 18:3 "After
the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do:
and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall
ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances." This next
Scripture tells what God expects of them, if they are to follow Him.
Leviticus 18:30 "Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that [ye]
commit not [any one] of these abominable customs, which were committed
before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I [am] the LORD
your God."

     Hebrews 9:2 "For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein
[was] the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is
called the sanctuary."

     In our lessons in Exodus, we go into great detail about this
tabernacle in the wilderness and all of the spiritual significance the
furniture has. Verse 2 above  is speaking of the Holy place.  This
Tabernacle had three separate areas, this is the middle area.  This
candlestick holds the Light who is Jesus. This Light symbolizes Jesus
who is the Light of the world. John 8:12  "Then spake Jesus again unto
them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall
not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 1:5 "And
the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."
This leaves no doubt what this Light is. This table, and the Bread on
it also symbolizes Jesus who is the Bread.  There are 4 beautiful
Scriptures in the book of John that call Jesus the Bread.  I quote.
John 6:33 "For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven,
and giveth life unto the world." John 6:35 "And Jesus said unto them,
I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and
he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:48 "I am that
bread of life." John 6:51 "I am the living bread which came down from
heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the
bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of
the world." All of these Scriptures are in red in my Bible, which
means that Jesus Himself spoke them.

     Hebrews 9:3 "And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is
called the Holiest of all;"

     This Holiest of all was not to be entered by anyone, except the
high priest. This is where God dwelled. Everything in this Holiest
place was either 24 kt. gold or 24 kt. gold over-lay. Even the high
priest must not enter unworthily, or God would kill him. This veil,
separating the Holiest of all from the Holy place, was the one that
was torn from the top to the bottom when Jesus died on the cross.
Matthew 27:51 "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain
from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks
rent;" Jesus opened the way to the Father for us when He was
crucified.

     Hebrews 9:4 "Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the
covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot
that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the
covenant;"

     The smoke that went up from this golden censer was symbolic of
the prayers of the saints. It was refuelled twice a day, which means
to me that we should pray a minimum of twice a day. Revelation 8:3
"And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden
censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should
offer [it] with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which
was before the throne." The ark of the covenant was a shittim wood box
covered with 24 kt. gold.  This box was called by this name, because
it held the stone tablets which had the ten commandments written on
them.  The covering for this box was the mercy seat, which was 24 kt
solid gold.  This golden pot inside the ark, and the Manna that it
held, also symbolized Jesus as the Manna that fell from heaven to feed
the people. John 6:32 "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I
say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father
giveth you the true bread from heaven."  Aaron's rod that bloomed that
was in the ark, symbolized the priesthood. The rod bloomed to
recognize Aaron as God's first earthly high priest. Numbers 17:5 "And
it shall come to pass, [that] the man's rod, whom I shall choose,
shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the
children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you." If God approved
him, what was it to man?

     Hebrews 9:5 "And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the
mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly."

     Cherubims are mentioned 64 times in the Scriptures. No one knows
for sure just what they are. It seems as if they might be a type of
guard. They were placed with a flaming sword at the entrance of the
Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were driven out. They look at the Ark
in the Holiest place. They are in God's presence, so they are highly
honored.  This is one of the mysteries of God that will be revealed
later.

     Hebrews 9:6 "Now when these things were thus ordained, the
priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the
service [of God]."

     The priests, who were usually the sons of the high priest, were
allowed to go into the holy place, but not into the Holiest place.
Exodus 27:21 "In the tabernacle of the congregation without the veil,
which [is] before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it
from evening to morning before the LORD: [it shall be] a statute for
ever unto their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel."
This Scripture just makes it clear that the priests, as well as the
high priest, could come into the holy place.

     Hebrews 9:7 "But into the second [went] the high priest alone
once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and
[for] the errors of the people:"

     This is speaking of the day of atonement, when the high priest
carried blood into the Holiest place for the sins of the people and
himself.

     Hebrews 9:8 "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into
the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first
tabernacle was yet standing:"

     We discussed how at Jesus' crucifixion the way was opened to all
believers into the Holiest. John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me."































                             Questions 17

1.  The first covenant had ordinances of what?
2.  What 2 places does the sanctuary speak of?
3.  Which book in the Old Testament tells in detail about these
    ordinances?
4.  These Israelites were warned not to pick up the customs of whom?
5.  What things were located in the holy place?
6.  What things in the holy place were symbolic of Jesus?
7.  What is Jesus called in John chapter 8 verse 12?
8.  In what book of the Bible does Jesus call Himself the Bread?
9.  What is the area in the tabernacle called, that is behind the
    second veil?
10. Who was the only one allowed to go into the Holiest place?
11. What metal was all the furniture in the Holiest place?
12. How was the veil to the most Holy place torn when Jesus died on
    the cross?
13. What was in the Holiest place?
14. What was the smoke that went up from the golden censor symbolic
    of?
15. What was the ark made of ?
16. Why was it called the ark of the covenant?
17. What did the Manna symbolize?
18. What did Aaron's rod that bloomed symbolize?
19. Why had the rod bloomed?
20. What did the cherubims do in the Holiest place?
21. The author believes the cherubims to be what?
22. What did the cherubims have with them to keep the entrance to the
    garden of Eden?
23. Who were the priests, ordinarily?
24. Who was allowed into the holy place?
25. Once a year the high priest went into the Holiest place with blood
    for what purpose?
26. When was the way into the Holiest place opened?