Hebrews 9:6-10 (HCSB)
With these things set up this way, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing. This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience. They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of restoration.

The writer of Hebrews was very well-versed in the procedures of worship in the tabernacle and the temple. And now he sets up a powerful contrast between those rites and rituals and the economy of the New Covenant.

Twice a day, a priest would enter the Holy Place to burn a pinch of incense before the curtain shielding the Ark of the Covenant and to trim and refill the oil lamps. But they could go no further. They could approach the curtain, but were not allowed to enter God’s presence.

One day each year, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, one man, and one man alone, the high priest, could enter the Most Holy Place. With him he carried a bowl of blood from the bull that had been offered as the sin sacrifice for the nation of Israel to pay for their sins. He would stand at the entrance to the Most Holy Place, dip his finger into the blood, and flick it onto the front of the gold mercy seat between the cherubim. Then he exited the tabernacle and sacrificed a goat that had been chosen for the sin offering. He would then take the blood of the goat into the Most Holy Place and sprinkle it seven times on the mercy seat. This blood offering atoned for the sins of the high priest, and for the sins of the nation (Leviticus 16:11-17).

All this ritual happened out of the sight of the very people for whom it was being performed. The all-powerful, all-holy God could not be approached by the “normal” people. And even the high priest approached the ark with fear and trembling, realizing that he could be struck down by God’s hand without warning if he approached in an unacceptable or unworthy manner.

The writer explains that these sacrifices and annual rituals, while they were accepted by God as making atonement for the sins that people had committed, were unable to clear the conscience of the worshippers. They were unable to transform their hearts and minds and make the people holy, because they were all external actions, treating external symptoms.

Clearly something more was needed. Something that would work all the way into a person heart and soul. But that would have to wait until the coming of the Messiah, who would not only provide forgiveness, but transformation. Who would not only bring the blood sacrifice into God’s presence, but who would open the way for “normal” people to come in as well.

Father, thank You that Jesus has fulfilled all that was promised in these rituals and sacrifices. And thank you that He did far more than that, making it possible for us to be cleansed inside and out, and making a way for us to come to You personally, and to be able to live in Your presence forever. Amen.