I. Introduction
A. After God led the Israelites out of Egypt on their way to the promised land, He taught the people how He wanted them to approach Him. Just as they were living in tents as they journeyed through the wilderness, so He commanded them to build a tent for Him, where they could meet with Him: the tabernacle, the tent of meeting.
1. This rectangular tent, with only one access, was divided into two rooms divided by a thick, heavy curtain. The outer room was called the holy place, and the inner room was called the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies.
2. Only the priests were allowed in the Holy Place, where there were several pieces of furniture for ceremonial use: the altar of incense, the table of showbread, and the lampstand or menorah.
3. However, God’s presence dwelt behind the curtain — in the Holy of Holies, where the glory cloud of God’s presence hovered over a gold box called the ark of the covenant because it contained the original tablets of the ten commandments, which were the terms of the covenant.
4. Only the high priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, and that just once a year, on the Day of Atonement, to sprinkle sacrificial blood on and between the golden forms of two cherubim angels, which were on the cover of the ark — called the mercy seat — for the forgiveness of the people.
5. Did this sprinkled blood really provide forgiveness of sins for the people? Yes and no.
a. Verses 9 and 10 tell us that “According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.”
b. And then v.13 says that “the blood of goats and bulls sanctify for the purification of the flesh” (as opposed to the purification of the conscience, or heart, of a person).
c. So, it did provide outward, ceremonial forgiveness qualifying you to come into the temple area, but it didn’t provide actual, spiritual forgiveness that would qualify you to come into the heavenly throne room of God.
d. This OT system was like an object lesson to prepare us to understand the atoning work of Christ.
II. Fulfillment in Jesus
A. The coming of Jesus makes the lesson very clear.
B. For instance, He explained that it’s not really things like eating unclean food which make a person unclean, but true, spiritual uncleanness is something which resides in your soul, and comes out in specific acts of sin. In Mark 7:15–23 He said, “There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
C. You see, the tabernacle/temple structure was given to them in order to teach them that they were separated from God by their sin, that their access to God was blocked.
1. V.8-9a “By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9 (which is symbolic for the present age).”
2. In other words, the way into God’s presence was not open during the days of Israel’s tabernacle/temple, before Jesus came.
3. It seems that the Greek words translated “the present age” here refer to “the time then present,” i.e. the days of the OT tabernacle/temple. In other words, the closed veil was symbolic of the OT period, when the way to God had not been opened up.
D. The tabernacle/temple structure also showed them that their only hope of being able to enjoy God’s favor and fellowship was through their high priest and through sacrificial blood.
E. It was all in preparation for the coming of Jesus.
F. What happened when Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross? The curtain was torn (Mark 15:38), showing that Christ had now opened the way to fellowship with the living God.
G. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God!
1. He doesn’t disparage the old covenant. It was glorious.
H. Now by His death Christ has broken down the barrier that kept us away from God.
I. Jesus entered once for all into the holy place of God’s presence, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Heb.9:12)
J. The door is open. Christ has broken it down.
K. We can now confidently come before the throne of grace, not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done. (Hebrews 4:16)
L. The question is, will you go in? Or will we turn away?
M. Remember that the author of Hebrews is writing to Jewish people who have come to faith in Christ but are now being tempted and pressured to leave Christ and return to Judaism. The author is working very hard to persuade them that this is a very bad idea. Why would you go back to the world of bodily regulations and cleansing? Christ is the reality! He has provided real forgiveness and real access to God by shedding His blood for us!
1. The rituals of OT Judaism were mere reflections of the glory of Christ, and therefore it is insanity to leave the reality and return to the shadow! The OT was designed to prepare for and point forward to Jesus. So, it is absurd to turn away from Jesus in order to return to OT religion.
N. I changed the name of the sermon to: “How much more!” based on verse 14.
1. This is really the theme of Hebrews. How much more Jesus is! How much more Jesus has done!
2. How much more than the prophets of old. How much more than angels. How much more than Moses! How much more than the high priests of Israel. How much more than the sacrifices.
III. Temptation
A. One of mankind’s great problems is getting the picture mixed up with the reality. It’s called idolatry.
B. Look at everything in your life and say, “How much more Jesus is than this!”
1. Look at your career. Look at your body. Look at your family. Look at your friends. Look at your house. Look at your plans for your future. Look at the love your loved ones have for you.
2. “How much more Jesus is than this!”
C. Or look at the things in your life which tempt you. Sexual lust? Success? Being loved? Financial security? How much more Jesus is than all of these!
D. You’re never going to be able to resist temptation or overcome sin just by knowing that something is wrong.
1. The only way to resist temptation is to recognize that Jesus is far greater than the thing which looks so desirable.
2. Jesus is the real thing. Everything else is just an imitation.
E. Scams
1. How many of you have ever received an email from someone you didn’t know who wants to give you lots of money, maybe some Nigerian prince who needs your help getting a large sum of money out of his country? It’s called a scam.
2. Early in our marriage we fell for a promise of a grandfather’s clock if we would just sit through a spiel about a vacation property. The clock turned out to be about 4 inches tall.
3. Every time you’re tempted to sin, you’re being scammed.
4. It’s a lie! They’re trying to sell you a bill of goods!
5. Satan is trying to convince you that what you need, what will give you life, is not Jesus but some other thing.
F. The Bible tells us that everything created by God is good (1Tim.4:4), and that everything He created reflects His glory.
1. It’s not just the temple and the sacrifices and the high priests who pointed to Jesus. EVERYTHING was made to point to Jesus.
2. The problem is that often we worship the created thing instead of worshiping the creator (Rom.1:25). Just like the Jews who continue their temple worship even though the Reality has come, so WE tend to worship the reflection instead of the Reality. We worship the picture instead of the Truth which the picture pictures.
3. Sometimes those pictures of Jesus are so beautiful that they seem irresistible.
G. But Jesus is so much more!
1. If drugs make you feel good, how much more will the Spirit of Christ give you eternal happiness which doesn’t fade.
2. If alcohol makes you feel happy, how much more will the fullness of Christ’s Spirit satisfy your soul (Eph.5:18) and comfort you in pain.
3. If the closeness and thrill of sex gives you a high, much more will closeness with Christ light the fires of your soul.
4. If the beauty of the human form is captivating, how much more will we be exhilarated by the beauty of Christ when we see Him face to face.
IV. Mothers of young children
A. The last five weeks or so I’ve been living with a mother of young children. I know that they have their hands full!
B. You know that a marathon is a 26 mile race. Most of us would die before we could finish running 26 miles. But did you know that there’s something called a Juggling Marathon? Yes, it’s a 26 mile race while juggling! That’s what it’s like to be the mother of small children.
C. You are constantly aware of your need for help.
D. Imagine working in an office, and the president of your company pulls you aside and says, “My door is always open to you. Do not hesitate to come to me if you need ANYTHING. I am here for you.”
E. Well, that’s what God has said to you.
F. You don’t have to knock. You don’t have to wait. You don’t have to look presentable. You don’t have to be on top of all your projects.
G. His door is open to you. He is a very present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).
H. He gives encouragement, He gives wisdom, He gives strength, He helps you remember what’s important, He forgives repentant sinners, He gives peace even when chaos seems to be reigning.
I. Go to Him. Call out to Him. Remember how much He cares about you. Remember the special access He has granted to you.