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.

(3) And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

(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;

(5) And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly.

(6) Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

(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:

(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:

(9) Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;

(10) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

(11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

(12) Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

(13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:

(14) How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
 

(15) And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

(16) For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

(2) One part of the tabernacle was an outer area called The Holy Place. It contains a candle and a table with the shewbread.
 

(3) A second, inner area was room behind a veil. It was called The Holy of Holies.

(4) It contained the golden censer, and the Arc 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.

(5) And over the Arc Of The Covenant the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat; more about that some other time.

(6) These were the rules of worship. In the performance of their duties the priests had free access to the outer area.

(7) Into the second room behind the veil, the High Priest went alone once each year. He went with the blood which he offered for himself and for the sins of the people.

(8) Through these rituals and symbols the Holy Spirit was telling us something. That was, while this tabernacle stood, the way into the sanctuary was not yet revealed.

(9) We were being told that gifts and sacrifices could not perfectly cleanse even the officiating priest.

(10) The rules pertaining to meat and drink offerings and ritual washings were in force until our new high priest took office.

(11) But with the coming of the Messiah, we have a new High Priest of better things to come. He officiated in a heavenly tabernacle not made by men. Not in the temple in Jerusalem.

(12) His sacrifices are not of goats and calves, but of his own blood. With his own blood he entered into the Holy Place obtaining eternal redemption for us.

(13) For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling upon the unclean sanctified and the purifying of the flesh:

(14) Then how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purify your conscience from dead works enabling you to serve the living God?

(15) This is why he is the mediator of the New Covenant. His death paid the penalty for the sins committed under the Old Covenant. That clears the way for the those who are called to receive the promise of an eternal inheritance.

(16) In mans world under man's law all contracts must have an agreement and be sealed. The seal is usually the payment of money or the signature of the parties. The payment of money is called 'consideration'. A contract may read, "For one dollar and other good consideration...."

Two party covenants with God require a different kind of consideration to seal the agreement. That seal is the death of a sacrifice. In Hebrews the Covenant is called the Testament and the bull or goat that gave its life was called the Testator.

Covenant = Testament. Sacrifice = Testator.

(18) Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

(19) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

(20) Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

(21) Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

(22) And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

(23) It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

(24) For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

(25) Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

(26) For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

(27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Likewise, a contract is in force after payment is made. It is not in force until the money changes hands.

Again, a contract is in force after it is signed. It is not in force until signed by both parties.

(18) Both the Old Covenant and The New Covenants were sealed in blood.

(19-21) For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

In Exodus 24:3-10 Moses came from God with the proposed agreement and told it to the people, "And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do."

The people verbally agreed so, (4) "And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and (the next day) rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. (5) And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the Lord. (6) And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basons; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. (7) And he took the book of the covenant, (that he wrote) and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. (8) And Moses took the blood (of the dead testator), and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, (the consideration) which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words. (9) (Moses returns to God with the sealed agreement) Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: (10) And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

(22) The rituals of the Old Covenant called for the use of blood, because without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. That is the way it was in the earthly tabernacle.

(23) Since one is a pattern for the other, likewise the heavenly temple requires blood. But it requires a better blood of a better sacrifice.

(24) Christ did not enter into a man made earthy temple which was a pattern of the heavenly temple. Rather, he went into the real thing, the heavenly temple, and right into the presence of God. He did this for us. (Christ negotiates the new Covenant just as Moses did the Old Covenant.)

(25) Now Christ does not do this over and over as the earthly High Priest with the blood of others.

(26) If that were the case Christ would have to suffer over and over. But he did it once and for all by the sacrifice of himself.

(27) Just as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment: