Hebrews 9:1-15

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Sufficient and Insufficient Sacrifices

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Before the coming of Christ, there were many insufficient sacrifices in the temporary earthly tabernacle.

  2. Since the coming of Christ, there is one sufficient sacrifice in the permanent heavenly tabernacle.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Why settle for less when you already have much more?

QUESTIONS

  1. In Hebrews chapter 8, we saw that Christ, our High Priest, ministers in a better ________ and mediates a better ___________.

  2. What did the high priest do on the Day of Atonement?

  3. Where was the mercy seat located?

  4. The Day of Atonement is still an important day in the Jewish calendar. What is that day called?

  5. As great as that day was and is in Israel’'s history, what can it still not do?

  6. What is the point of Hebrews chapter 9?

  7. Name the three items placed in the Ark of the Covenant.

ANSWERS

  1. sanctuary, covenant

  2. On that day and on that day alone the high priest would take the blood of the atoning sacrifice into the Holy of Holies and place it on the mercy seat. See Leviticus 16.

  3. On top of the Ark of the Covenant

  4. Yom Kippur

  5. It still cannot remove sins.

  6. The many former sacrifices of the earthly tabernacle were imperfect and temporary. The present heavenly tabernacle with its one perfect sacrifice is perfect and permanent.

  7. a. the golden pot that had the manna b. Aaron’s rod that budded c. the tablets of stone with the Law These were all significant items in Jewish history.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Read Hebrews 9:10. The Greek word for “reformation” in this verse literally means “to put things right”. It was used in ancient times for setting a broken bone or repairing an old road. The point of chapter 9 is to show that things have been "put right" with the coming of Christ and the time of the new order and the New Covenant. It would be interesting to review the description of the furnishings and sacrifices of the tabernacle and see how each portion points forward to Christ. Such a study would enrich your appreciation of what has been put right in the new order.

  2. Read Hebrews 9:11 Consider the wealth of truth in the words, “But Christ…”

CHALLENGE

  1. The author of Hebrews was telling his audience that they had so much more in Christ than there was in Judaism. With the finished work of Christ on the cross and a perfect High Priest in heaven, why would they ever go back to Judaism? Christians today say that they would never settle for less than what is already available in Christ, but they do settle for less if they deny the finished work of Christ. Christ is sufficient.

KEY VERSES

  • “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands… ” Hebrews 9:11

  • “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Hebrews 9:12

  • “And for this reason, He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 9:15



Hebrews, New Testament, TalksDeb HarmsHebrews 9:1-15