Letter to the Hebrews Volume 88

 The Necessary Death of the Mediator of the New Testament Part 1

Hebrews 9:15 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. KJV Note: CEV=Contemporary English Version

The Hebrew people during the time of the Old Covenant or the Old Testament were prepared, prophesied to, and preached to continually by God the Father or Jehovah God or the Lord God during those days by and through His anointed Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial, Daniel, Amos, and others to look for the coming Messiah (our Lord Jesus Christ) who would replace this Old Covenant with a New Covenant written by His own Blood that would take away all the sins of the Hebrew people who lived during the Old Covenant, that is, would be the redemption of transgressors from the guilt and punishment of those sins which were committed in the time of the Old Covenant. Likewise, Christ sacrifice of Himself was not only to redeem all those who lived under the Old Covenant and looked forward in time to His coming, but it would redeem all in and under the now New Covenant who look backward in time to His coming and dying for the sins of the world. Therefore, we now find the writer of Hebrews declaring these words, "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." (Hebrews 9:15) (KJV), to them then and to us now concerning efficacy, this meaning, the capacity or power to produce a desired effect and in this case, cause, or circumstance the desired effect of Jesus Christ death on the Cross at Calvary and His subsequent resurrection from the dead three (3) days later, and then His final ascension back to heaven many days later makes Him alone (John 14:6) the only way for sinful humanity to come to God. In Hebrews 9:15, the little English phrase 'the mediator' is translated by the Greek word mesitēs meaning a go between, that is, (simply) an internunciator, or (by implication) a reconciler (intercessor): - mediator. The death of our Lord Jesus Christ ushered in the New Testament and made the Old Testament null and void. His death opened up a new way of access to God for any sinner who would come to Him for redeemption of their sins and transgressions. The stain of human sin is so dirty and filthy and offensive to God the Father that there is but one cleaning solution that can wipe it clean from His sight and render the human sinner acceptable to Him and that one cleaning solution is the Blood of the Lamb, that is, the Blood of Jesus Christ.

When the writer of Hebrews writes these words, 'they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance', he means that all who come to God the Father through our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ receive all that was promised to Abraham and his descendants in the Old Covenant, as it is so clearly, completely, and competently written for us by the Apostle Paul with these words, "And because of what Jesus Christ has done, the blessing that was promised to Abraham was taken to the Gentiles. This happened so that by faith we would be given the promised Holy Spirit. My friends, I will use an everyday example to explain what I mean. Once someone agrees to something, no one else can change or cancel the agreement. That is how it is with the promises God made to Abraham and his descendant. The promises were not made to many descendants, but only to one, and that one is Christ. What I am saying is that the Law cannot change or cancel God's promise that was made 430 years before the Law was given. If we have to obey the Law in order to receive God's blessings, those blessings don't really come to us because of God's promise. But God was kind to Abraham and made him a promise. What is the use of the Law? It was given later to show that we sin. But it was only supposed to last until the coming of that descendant who was given the promise. In fact, angels gave the Law to Moses, and he gave it to the people. There is only One God, and the Law did not come directly from Him. Does the Law disagree with God's promises? No, it doesn't! If any law could give life to us, we could become acceptable to God by obeying that law. But the Scriptures say that sin controls everyone, so that God's promises will be for anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ. The Law controlled us and kept us under its power until the time came when we would have faith. In fact, the Law was our teacher. It was supposed to teach us until we had faith and were acceptable to God. But once a person has learned to have faith, there is no more need to have the Law as a teacher. All of you are God's children because of your faith in Christ Jesus. And when you were baptized, it was as though you had put on Christ in the same way you put on new clothes. Faith in Christ Jesus is what makes each of you equal with each other, whether you are a Jew or a Greek, a slave or a free person, a man or a woman. So if you belong to Christ, you are now part of Abraham's family, and you will be given what God has promised." (Galatians 3:14-29) (CEV).  Here is what John Wesley had to say of Hebrews 9:15, "And for this end he is the Mediator of a new covenant, that they who are called - To the engagements and benefits thereof. Might receive the eternal inheritance promised to Abraham: not by means of legal sacrifices, but of his meritorious death. For the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first covenant - That is, for the redemption of transgressors from the guilt and punishment of those sins which were committed in the time of the old covenant. The article of his death properly divides the old covenant from the new."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 87

 The Heavenly Sanctuary Part 2

Hebrews 9:13-14 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: 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? KJV

During the days of the earthly Levitical priesthood, the Hebrew people were required to offer up sacrifices to God for the ceremonial cleansing of themselves from sin. The sacrifices that were required were the best bulls, goats, and heifers from their live stock. This process would re-admit the offending person or persons back into the Hebrew/Jewish Tabernacle or Temple to participate in worship with the rest of the congregation. However, these sacrifices only cleansed the person or persons flesh from uncleaness, as it is written here by the writer of Hebrews, "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:" (Hebrews 9:13) (KJV). According to Hebrew/Jewish law during that time, any person who had come into physical contact with a dead body was considered to be 'unclean' and no longer were allowed entrance or access into the Tabernacle or Temple to participate in worship. This English word 'unclean' is translated by the Greek word koinoō which means to make (or consider) profane (ceremonially): - call common, defile, pollute, unclean. Therefore, we find that the only way a person back then could render themselves clean would be to sacrifice a heifer and then sprinkle themselves with the ashes of that heifer to purify their flesh from the defilement of coming into physical contact with a dead body. We find the complete detailing of the requirement documented for us by Moses with these words, "And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even." (Numbers 19:16-19) (KJV).

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 9:13, "Referring still to the great day of atonement, when the offering made was the sacrifice of a bullock and a goat. For an account of this, see Numbers 19:2-10. In verse 9, it is said that the ashes of the heifer, after it was burnt, should be kept 'for a water of separation; it is a purification for sin.' That is, the ashes were to be carefully preserved, and being mixed with water were sprinkled on those who were from any cause ceremonially impure. The 'reason' for this appears to have been that the heifer was considered as a sacrifice whose blood has been offered, and the application of the ashes to which she had been burnt was regarded as an evidence of participation in that sacrifice. It was needful, where the laws were so numerous respecting external pollutions, or where the members of the Jewish community were regarded as so frequently 'unclean' by contact with dead bodies, and in various other ways, that there should be some method in which they could be declared to be cleansed from their 'uncleanness.' The nature of these institutions also required that this should be in connection with 'sacrifice,' and in order to this, it was arranged that there should be this 'permanent sacrifice' - the ashes of the heifer that had been sacrificed - of which they could avail themselves at any time, without the expense and delay of making a bloody offering specifically for the occasion. It was, therefore, a provision of convenience, and at the same time was designed to keep up the idea, that all purification was somehow connected with the shedding of blood. Mingled with water, and sprinkled on the unclean. The word 'unclean' here refers to such as had been defiled by contact with dead bodies, or when one had died in the family, etc.; see Numbers 19:11-22.  Makes holy so far as the flesh or body is concerned. The uncleanness here referred to related to the body only, and of course the means of cleansing extended only to that. It was not designed to give peace to the conscience, or to expiate moral offences. The offering thus made removed the obstructions to the worship of God so far as to allow him who had been defiled to approach him in a regular manner. Thus, much the Apostle allows was accomplished by the Jewish rites. They had an efficacy in removing ceremonial uncleanness, and in rendering it proper that he who had been polluted should be permitted again to approach and worship God. The Apostle goes on to argue that if they had such an efficacy, it was fair to presume that the Blood of Christ would have far greater efficacy, and would reach to the conscience itself, and make that pure."

The writer of Hebrews now contrast those ritual and ceremonial sacrifices to God for the outward cleansing from defilement to the once and for all willing sacrifice of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ for the sins of all humanity with these next words written here, "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?" (Hebrews 9:14) (KJV). The English word 'offered' is translated by the Greek word prospherō meaning to bear towards, that is, lead to, tender (especially to God), treat: - bring (to, unto), deal with, do, offer (unto, up), present unto, put to. The English phrase 'without spot' is translated by the Greek word amōmos which means unblemished (literally or figuratively): - without blame (blemish, fault, spot), faultless, unblameable. So then, we find that Jesus Christ sacrifice to God the Father was willingly and without spot or blemish, meaning that He alone satisfied the requirement for humanity to be able to approach God the Father by living a perfectly sinless life, having not sinned ever (during His 33 years on earth) in word, thought, or deed, as we are once again reminded by this very same writer of Hebrews with these words, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15) (KJV). When the writer of Hebrews declares these words 'who through the eternal Spirit', he means not the Holy Spirit who is the third (3) person of the Trinity, but Christ own Spirit which is Eternal as He Himself is Eternal, therefore, we find the supernatural quality in the Blood of Jesus Christ that no animal sacrifice could ever contain. Therefore, also the contact with His Blood by any of us human sinners gives us not only an outward cleansing from sin, but an internal cleansing in our souls or inner man or inner woman that enables, energizes, and empowers our soul to want to serve Him and to love to serve Him and to love to give to Him only all the glory for anything done in His Name, as it is so elequently written by the Apostle Paul in His first letter to brother Timothy with these words, "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17) (KJV). The English word 'purge' is translated by the Greek word katharizō which means to cleanse (literally or figuratively): - (make) clean, purge, purify. The English word 'conscience' is translated by the Greek word suneidēsis which means co-perception, that is, moral consciousness: - conscience. The little English phrase 'to serve' is translated by the Greek word latreuō which means to minister (to God), that is, render religious homage: - serve, do the service, worship. In other words, it is the Blood Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ that alone can purify the inner man or inner woman and give to the soul the desire to worship God, to reverance God, to love God, and to serve God by praying, writing, ministering, pastoring, teaching, witnessing, and many other things done for the Glory of God alone.

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 9:14, "This expression is understood two ways: 1. Of the Holy Ghost Himself. As Christ's miraculous conception was by the Holy Spirit, and He wrought all His miracles by the Spirit of God, so His death or final offering was made through or by the Eternal Spirit; and by that Spirit He was raised from the dead, 1 Peter 3:18. Indeed, through the whole of His life He was justified by the Spirit; and we find that in this great work of human redemption, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were continually employed: therefore the words may be understood of the Holy Spirit properly. 2. Of the eternal Logos or Deity which dwelt in the Man Christ Jesus, through the energy of which the offering of His humanity became an infinitely meritorious victim; therefore the Deity of Christ is here intended. But we cannot well consider one of these distinct from the other; and hence probably arose the various readings in the MSS. and versions on this article. Instead of by the Eternal Spirit, by the Holy Spirit, is the reading of D*, and more than twenty others of good note, besides the Coptic, Slavonic, Vulgate, two copies of the Itala, Cyril, Athanasius sometimes, Damascenus, Chrysostom, and some others. But the common reading is supported by ABD**, and others, besides the Syriac, all the Arabic, Armenian, Ethiopic, Athanasius generally, Theodoret, Theophylact, and Ambrosius. This, therefore, is the reading that should be preferred, as it is probable that the Holy Ghost, not the Logos, is what the Apostle had more immediately in view. But still we must say, that the Holy Spirit, with the Eternal Logos, and the Almighty Father, equally concurred in offering up the sacrifice of the human nature of Christ, in order to make atonement for the sin of the world. Purify your conscience. The term purify should be everywhere, both in the translation of the Scriptures, and in preaching the Gospel, preferred to the word purge, which, at present, is scarcely ever used in the sense in which our translators have employed it. Sin in general, or acts to which the penalty of death is annexed by the law."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 86

 The Heavenly Sanctuary Part 1

Hebrews 9:11-12 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; 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. KJV

Now we find once again the writer of Hebrews turning his attention or his focus back up to heaven where he will discuss, define, and detail for us the One and only true sanctuary or tabernacle or temple and that is the actual Body of our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven right at this very moment, Christ Body is the true place of worship for every redeemed sinner then and now, as the writer of Hebrews begins his writing with these words, "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;" (Hebrews 9:11) (KJV). The little English phrase 'being come' is translated by the Greek word paraginomai meaning to become near, that is, approach (have arrived); by implication to appear publicly. In other words, once and for all time and eternity at what God the Father had decided was the necessary, natural, and needful or needed time to send Christ Jesus into this world of woe for the redeemption of sinners, He did so, as it is written with these words by the Apostle Paul, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:4-5) (KJV). All human beings are God's creation, but not all are His adopted children, who are only those human beings who have trusted Jesus Christ alone for their salvation from sin, death, and hell. When the writer declares in Hebrews 9:11 these words concerning our Lord Jesus Christ as High Priest, 'an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect Tabernacle', he is speaking of the resurrected glorified Body of our Lord Jesus Christ in heaven seated at the right hand of God the Father and through Him now sitting on a Throne of Grace with all our sin covered under His Blood, we now have access to God, that is, personal communion and communication with God at any time, in any place without any need to go through some other human being plus we have our conscience purged and purified from guilt and sin.

Here is what Alexander MacLaren said of Christ passing into heaven for us, "The priest’s office of old culminated in his entrance into the Holy of Holies, to present the blood of sacrifice. Christ’s priesthood is completed by His ascension and heavenly intercession. We necessarily attach local ideas to this, but the reality is deeper than all notions of place. The passage speaks of Jesus as ‘entering into the holy place,’ and again as entering ‘heaven itself for us.’ It also speaks of His having entered ‘through the greater and more perfect tabernacle,’ the meaning of which phrase depends on the force attached to ‘through.’ If it is taken locally, the meaning is as in chapter 4:14, that He has passed through the [lower] heavens to ‘heaven itself’; if it is taken instrumentally (as in following clause), the meaning is that Jesus used the ‘greater tabernacle’ in the discharge of His office of priest. The great truth underlying both the ascension and the representations of this context is, as verse 24 puts it, that He appears ‘before the face of God,’ and there carries on His work, preparing a place for us. Further. we note that Jesus, as priest representing humanity, end being Himself man, can stand before the face of God, by virtue of His sacrifice, in which man is reconciled to God. His sinless manhood needed no such sacrifice, but, as our representative, He could not appear there without the blood of sacrifice. That blood, as shed on earth, avails to ‘put away sin’; as presented in heaven, it avails ‘for us,’ being ever present before the divine eye, and influencing the divine dealings. That entrance is the climax of the process by which He obtained ‘eternal redemption’ for us. Initial redemption is obtained through His death, but the full, perfect unending deliverance from all sin and evil is obtained, indeed, by His passing into the Holy Place above, but possessed in fact only when we follow Him thither. We need Him who ‘became dead’ for pardon and cleansing; we need Him who is 'alive for evermore' for present participation in His life and present sitting with Him in the heavenly places, and for the ultimate and eternal entrance there, whence we shall go no more out."

Next the writer of Hebrews wants to make perfectly clear that only One Blood sacrifice remains for the sins of humanity and that was done and done by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ on the Cross at Calvary when He willingly allowed His Blood to be shed for the sins of humanity, as it is written here, "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." (Hebrews 9:12) (KJV). Jesus Christ as Man entered into heaven for me presenting His Blood as my payment for all my sins, therefore, through Him and His sacrifice for me at the death of my tent, my house, my body, then the real me, my soul that resides within it can enter into the presence of God the Father without any of the stain, soil, spot, or stigma of my sin before Him because it all has been washed clean by the Blood of the Lamb my Lord Jesus Christ, as it is written, "And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:13-17) (KJV).

Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of Christ offering Himself up in sacrficial death for humanities sin, "The contention that the priestly office of Jesus begins with His entrance into the presence of God is set aside by the plain teaching of this passage, which regards His death as the beginning of His priestly work. What, then, are the characteristics of that offering, according to this Writer? The point dwelt on most emphatically is that He is both priest and sacrifice. That great thought opens a wide field of meditation, for adoring thankfulness and love. It implies the voluntariness of His death. No necessity bound Him to the Cross. Not the nails, but His, love; fastened Him there. Himself He would not save, because others He would save. The offering was ‘through the Eternal Spirit,’ the divine personality in Himself, which as it were, took the knife and slew the human life. That sacrifice was ‘without blemish,’ fulfilling in perfect moral purity the prescriptions of the ceremonial law, which but clothe in outward form the universal consciousness that nothing stained or faulty is worthy to be given to God. What are the blessings brought to us by that wondrous self-sacrifice? They are stated most generally in verse 26 as the putting away of sin, and again in verse 28 as being the bearing of the sins of many, and again in verse 14 as cleansing conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Now the first of these expressions includes the other two, and expresses the blessed truth that, by His death, Jesus has made an end of sin, in all its shapes and powers, whether it is regarded as guilt or burden, or taint and tendency paralysing and disabling. Sin is guilt, and Christ’s death deals with our past, taking away the burden of condemnation. Thus verse 28 presents Him as bearing the sins of many, as the scapegoat bore the sins of the congregation into a land not inhabited, as ‘the Lord made to meet’ on the head of the Servant ‘the iniquities of us all.’ The best commentary on the words here is, ‘He bare our sins in His own body on the tree.’ But sin has an effect in the future as in the past, and the death of Christ deals with that, So verse 14 parallels it not only with the sacrifice which made access to God possible, but with the ceremonial of the red heifer,’ by which pollution from touching a corpse was removed. A conscience which has been in contact with ‘dead works’ (and all works which are not done from ‘the life’ are so) is unfit to serve God, as well as lacking in wish to serve; and the only way to set it free from the nightmare which fetters it is to touch it with ‘the blood,’ and then it will spring up to a waking life of glad service. ‘The blood’ is shed to take away guilt; ‘the blood’ is the life, and, being shed in the death, it can be transfused into our veins, and so will cleanse us from all sin. Thus, in regard both to past and future, sin is put away by the sacrifice of Himself. The completeness of His priestly work is further attested by the fact, triumphantly dwelt on in the lesson, that it is done once for all, and needs no repetition, and is incapable of repetition, while the world lasts."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 85

 Limitations of the Earthly Service Part 4

Hebrews 9:10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. KJV Note: CEV=Contemporary English Version

In the last study/commentary, the writer of Hebrews spoke more of the necessity of the required physical items within the tabernacle, however, in this last verse that speaks to the limitations of the tabernacle service he will speak more to the physical duties required of the Hebrew/Jewish people during the actual tabernacle service (performed primarily by the lower level Hebrew priest) with these next words, "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." (Hebrews 9:10) (KJV). When the writer declares that these acts of worship were they 'which stood only in meats and drinks', he refers to the Hebrew people abstaining from certain meat to eat as they had been commanded by the Lord God to do, as it is written with these words documented for us by Moses, "And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase." (Deuteronomy 14:8) (KJV). However, these commands from God eventually were abused by the Hebrew people as time went on, for God never meant them to become an all consuming part of their worship to Him because it was merely an outward observance which was given to them mainly for their health and physical well being and to differentiate them from other people on the earth. However, we know that they turned it into something spiritual when this was not its purpose at all. The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossian Church declared those former observances of clean and unclean meats to be now during the Gospel dispensation null and void with these words, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." (Colossians 2:16-17) (KJV). The writer of Hebrews also declares the other forms of outward physical observances done in the tabernacle service to be of no more value to the then Hebrew people and to all of we Christians today and of every era and generation when he goes on to add, 'and divers washings, and carnal ordinances' which means the cups and bowls and platters used during the tabernacle worship. Over time the Hebrew priest and high priest had turned these normal routine acts of service into something that was declared to be spiritual worship, however, our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ had been looking down from heaven and was offended by what they had made or turned the tabernacle and temple worship into and He made them fully aware with these words when He came to the earth as the God/Man, "You blind leaders! You strain out a small fly but swallow a camel. You Pharisees and teachers are show-offs, and you're in for trouble! You wash the outside of your cups and dishes, while inside there is nothing but greed and selfishness. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of a cup, and then the outside will also be clean. You Pharisees and teachers are in for trouble! You're nothing but show-offs. You're like tombs that have been whitewashed. On the outside they are beautiful, but inside they are full of bones and filth. That's what you are like. Outside you look good, but inside you are evil and only pretend to be good." (Matthew 23:24-28) (KJV).  The reason for the anger from our Lord Jesus Christ is that the Hebrew people (His people) would so take His Word, His Decrees, and His Ordinances and turn them into superficial, sanctimonious, spiritual worship of God when these things were never meant to be spiritual at all seeing that they were merely outward fleshly acts of service that should have only been done as duty and nothing more. All of these things written in Hebrews 9:10 were completely carnal acts of service that could only affect the human flesh and never the human heart or inner man or inner woman.

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 9:10, "He had already mentioned eucharistic and sacrificial offerings, and nothing properly remained but the different kinds of clean and unclean animals which were used, or forbidden to be used, as articles of food; together with the different kinds or drinks, washings, baptisms, immersions, sprinklings and washings of the body and the clothes, and carnal ordinances, or things which had respect merely to the body, and could have no moral influence upon the soul, unless considered in reference to that of which they were the similitudes, or figures. Rites and ceremonies pertaining merely to the body. The word carnal is not used here, nor scarcely in any part of the New Testament, in that catachrestical or degrading sense in which many preachers and professors of Christianity take the liberty to use it. These rites and ceremonies were enacted, by Divine authority, as proper representations of the Gospel system, which should reform and rectify all things. The time of reformation, the time of rectifying, signifies the Gospel dispensation, under which every thing is set straight; every thing referred to its proper purpose and end; the ceremonial law fulfilled and abrogated; the moral law exhibited and more strictly enjoined; (see our Lord’s sermon upon the mount); and the spiritual nature of God’s worship taught, and grace promised to purify the heart: so that, through the power of the eternal Spirit, all that was wrong in the soul is rectified; the affections, passions, and appetites purified; the understanding enlightened; the judgment corrected; the will refined; in a word, all things made new." Here also is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 9:10, "The idea is, that the ordinances of the Jews, in connection with the services of religion, consisted much of laws pertaining to what was lawful to eat and drink, etc. A considerable part of those laws related to the distinction between clean and unclean beasts, and to such arrangements as were designed to keep them externally distinct from other nations. It is possible also that there may be a reference here to meat and drink offerings. The various ablutions which were required in the service of the tabernacle and the temple - washing of the hands, of the victim that was to be offered, etc. It was for this purpose that the laver was erected in front of the tabernacle Exodus 30:18; Exodus 31:9; Exodus 35:16, and that the brass sea and the lavers were constructed in connection with the temple of Solomon; 2 Chronicles 4:2-5; 1 Kings 7:26. The Greek word here is 'baptisms.' 'Or, rites, or ceremonies.' Greek 'Ordinances of the flesh;' that is, which pertained to the flesh or to external ceremonies. The object was rather to keep them 'externally' pure than to cleanse the conscience and make them holy in heart. 'Laid on them' - It does not mean that there was any 'oppression' or 'injustice' in regard to these ordinances, but that they were appointed for a temporary purpose. The word rendered here 'reformation' - means properly 'emendation, improvement, reform.' It refers to putting a thing in a right condition; making it better; or raising up and restoring what is fallen down. Passow. Here the reference is undoubtedly to the Gospel as being a better system - 'a putting things where they ought to be.' The idea here is, that those ordinances were only temporary in their nature, and were designed to endure until a more perfect system should be introduced. They were of value 'to introduce' that better system; they were not adapted to purify the conscience and remove the stains of guilt from the soul."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 84

 Limitations of the Earthly Service Part 3

Hebrews 9:9 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;  KJV

As we declared in the very last study/commentary, all of the furniture and items required by God the Father for the Hebrew/Jewish people to have in the tabernacle were just a figure or type of the great thing yet to come for them and for the rest of humanity when Christ came to take away humanities wall or barrier (sin) to the Throne of God, therefore, we now read these words next from the writer of Hebrews, "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;" (Hebrews 9:9) (KJV). The English phrase at the very beginning of this verse 'was a figure' is translated by the Greek word parabolē which means a similitude ('parable'), that is, (symbolically) fictitious narrative (of common life conveying a moral), apoth gm or adage: - comparison, figure, parable, proverb. In other words, the tabernacle worship was a comparison or symbolic form of worship that pointed to the coming of something or someone much better in the future that would replace the similitude and in this case that someone being the coming of the Hebrew/Jewish Messiah our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. When the writer says that this figure was 'for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices', he means that the tabernacle worship during that present Old Covenant time came with the requirement of the worshipper bringing gifts and animal sacrifices to God that were spotless and the best of their respective herds, as it is written and documented for us with these words, "And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;" (Leviticus 9:1-3) (KJV). The rather lengthy English phrase "make him that did the service perfect' used in Hebrews 9:9 is translated by the Greek word teleioō meaning to complete, that is, (literally) accomplish, or (figuratively) consummate (in character): - consecrate, finish, fulfil, (make) perfect. The English phrase 'to the conscience' is translated by the Greek word suneidēsis meaning co-perception, that is, moral consciousness: - conscience. In other words, all of the observances of the detailed rituals that marked the tabernacle worship could not and did not cleanse any of the Hebrew/Jewish people of their guilty conscience concerning their sin and their continued sinfulness, for no matter how spotless or without blemish the lambs, goats, bullocks, or calves were, their blood did not have the power to cleanse the worshipper's conscience from guilt or from dread and therefore it required endless repition still without accomplishment.

Here is what Vincent's Word Studies had to say of Hebrews 9:9, "Having shown that the division of the tabernacle proved the imperfection of the worship, the writer will now show that the Levitical ritual did not accomplish the true end of religion. The radical defect of the Levitical system was its inability to deal with the conscience, and thus bring about the 'perfection' which is the ideal of true religion. That ideal contemplated the cleansing and renewal of the inner man; not merely the removal of ceremonial uncleanness, or the formal expiation of sins.' Here is also what Matthew Henry had to say of Hebrews 9:9, "That the first tabernacle was only a figure for the time then present. It was a dark dispensation, and but of short continuance, only designed for awhile to typify the great things of Christ and the Gospel, that were in due time to shine forth in their own brightness, and thereby cause all the shadows to flee away and disappear, as the stars before the rising sun. That none of the gifts and sacrifices there offered could make the offerers perfect as pertaining to conscience; that is, they could not take away the desert, or defilement, or dominion, of sin; they could not deliver conscience from a dread of the wrath of God; they could neither discharge the debts, nor resolve the doubts, of him who did the service. A man might run through them all in their several orders and frequent returns, and continue to do so all his days, and yet not find his conscience either pacified or purified by them; he might thereby be saved from corporal and temporal punishments that were threatened against the non-observers, but he could not be saved by them from sin or hell, as all those are who believe in Christ." Note: 'Let us never forget that all those Hebrews who died before the arrival of the Messiah (Jesus Christ) were saved by God the Father for believing in the Messiah and looking forward to His coming to deliver and liberate the Hebrew/Jewish people, just as now all are saved by looking back to His arrival and His sacrificial, soilitary, and substitutionary death on the Cross at Calvary for humanities sin."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 83

 Limitations of the Earthly Service Part 2

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: KJV

The actuality of only the Hebrew high priest being permitted into the second (2) room of the tabernacle and he only being allowed to do so once every year was then a testimony to the then Hebrew people that the way directly to God the Father was not yet made available to them or to anyone on the earth at that time, as it is written by the writer of Hebrews with these words, "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:" (Hebrews 9:8) (KJV). In Hebrews 9:8, the writer of Hebrews uses the English word 'signifying' which is translated by the Greek word dēloō meaning to make plain (by words): - declare, shew, signify. God the Holy Spirit is the One making it clear and plain to us that during that time in human history God the Father was not allowing humanity access directly to Himself. It is quite often difficult for many of us to understand why God/Jehovah/Yahweh required all the meticulous detailed physical forms and items or instruments of worship depicted for us in the tabernacle by the Hebrew people and also the very detailed commands given to Moses for the type of materials that he must use in constructing the then tabernacle and later the Temple where the Hebrew/Jewish people would gather to worship. The English word 'way' used in Hebrews 9:8 is translated by the Greek word hodos meaning (as used here) figuratively a mode or means. In other words, the method by which a sinful human being could be granted access to the Throne of God was not yet appropriated. Job asked a couple of very relevant questions when he said, "Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker? (Job 4:17) (KJV) and the answer to each one ofcourse is no. God the Father through the Old Testament way of worship for the Hebrew/Jewish people meant to, made clear, and  manifested the absolute reality of His purity and holiness by His unobtainable access in order to create a desire within the Hebrew/Jewish people to want full access to Him preparing them for the only way, that is, the only Person who could give them this unobstructed access to His Throne. God is so pure that He cannot and does not allow sinful human beings access to Himself without a covering for their sin and that covering thankfully now has been provided, that being the Blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ our Lord. God the Father chose the timing that He did in sending our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to the earth to be not only the Messiah or the Deliverer for the Hebrew/Jewish people, but indeed the Deliverer for all of humanity who will accept Him and His sacrificial, solitary, and substitutionary death for each and everyone of us sinful human beings and make us acceptable to God the Father and allow us unfettered, unchained, and uninterrupted access to the Throne of God as this same writer of Hebrews declared to us earlier in this same letter with these words, "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16) (KJV).

Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 9:8, "Who appointed all this. The whole arrangement in the service of the tabernacle is represented as having been under the direction of the Holy Spirit, or this was one of His methods of teaching the great truths of religion, and of keeping them before the minds of people. Sometimes that Spirit taught by direct revelation; sometimes by the written word, and sometimes by symbols. The tabernacle, with its different apartments, utensils, and services, was a permanent means of keeping important truths before the minds of the ancient people of God. That is, showing this truth, or making use of this arrangement to impress this truth on the minds of people that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest.n Into heaven - of which the Most Holy place in the tabernacle was undoubtedly designed to be an emblem. It was the place where the visible symbol of God - the Shekinah - dwelt; where the blood of propitiation was sprinkled, and was, therefore, an appropriate emblem of that holy heaven where God dwells, and whence pardon is obtained by the blood of the atonement. The way to heaven was not opened or fully understood. It was not known how people could appear before God, or how they could come with the hope of pardon. That way has now been opened by the ascension of the Redeemer to heaven, and by the assurance that all who will may come in His name. While as the first tabernacle was yet standing - As long as it stood, and the appointed services were held in it. The idea is, that until it was superseded by a more perfect system, it was a 'proof' that the way to heaven was not yet fully and freely optioned, and that the Holy Spirit 'designed' that it should be such a proof. The Apostle does not specify in what the proof consisted, but it may have been in something like the following. (1) It was a mere 'symbol,' and not the 'reality' - showing that the true way was not yet fully understood. (2) It was entered but once a year - showing that there was not access at all times. (3) It was entered only by the High Priest - showing that there was not free end full access to all the people. (4) It was accessible only by Jews - showing that the way in which all men might be saved was not then fully revealed. The sense is, that it was a system of types and shadows, in which there were many burdensome rites and many things to prevent people from coming before the symbol of the divinity, and was, therefore, an 'imperfect system.' All these obstructions are now removed; the Saviour - the great High Priest of His people - has entered heaven and 'opened it to all true believers,' and all of every nation may now have free access to God."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 82

 Limitations of the Earthly Service Part 1

Hebrews 9:6-7 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 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: KJV

The writer of Hebrews now begins to describe the services that took place daily within the tabernacle for the worship of Jehovah God/Yahweh and in so doing he will point out or detail the limitations or restrictions of these services for the majority of the Hebrew people. The reality of the tabernacle service of God was that the non-priest of the Hebrew people had very limited access to participation in the worship service, whereas, the priest were required to do much, more, and most of the everyday commonplace task within the first part of the tabernacle (which part the common Hebrew people were not allowed) such as lighting the lamps, changing the shewbread, burning incense, and sprinkling the blood of the sin offerings, as written and documented for us by Moses with these words, "And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at evening, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations." (Exodus 30:7-8) (KJV). Therefore, we read these words from the writer of Hebrews here, "Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God." (Hebrews 9:6) (KJV). The fact that the Hebrew people themselves were not allowed to participate in the 'service of God' in the first part of the tabernacle testifies to the limited access they had to actual worship of Jehovah God or Yahweh. Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of Hebrews 9:6, "Or prepared and got ready; that is, when the tabernacle was finished, and set up, and provided with all its vessels and furniture: the first part of the tabernacle, which was called the holy place, here the common priests went continually every day, morning and evening; the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read, 'the outward tabernacle', in distinction from the innermost part of the tabernacle, or the most holy place: accomplishing the service of God; by offering sacrifices, burning incense, and trimming the lamps, which they did every day: the priests entered into the holy place every day for service; but they might not go in at any other time but the time of service the phrase, 'of God', is not in the text, but is a supplement; and it was usual with the Jews to call the worship of the temple, and especially that part of it which lay in sacrifices, 'the service'."

As we have already learned from the writer of Hebrews earlier in this epistle, the second (2) part of the tabernacle referred to as the 'holy of holies' was only accessible to the high priest and even he only entered once a year to perform services to Jehovah God/Yahweh, as it is written here with these words, "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:" (Hebrews 9:7) (KJV). The English word 'errors' used in this verse by the writer of Hebrews is the key word in this text and it is translated by the Greek word agnoēma (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning a thing ignored, that is, shortcoming: - error. God the Father made this provision for the Hebrew/Jewish people to every year wipe clean all their sins of ignorance by having the Hebrew/Jewish high priest enter into the 'holy of holies' alone once every year with a blood sacrifice for himself and for the rest of the Hebrew Nation, as it is written with these words by this same writer earlier in this letter speaking of the high priest, "For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." (Hebrews 5:1-4) (KJV). Also as it is written and documented for us by Moses with these words, "And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness." (Leviticus 16:14-16) (KJV). Here is what Albert Barnes had to say of Hebrews 9:7, "The second room, called the most holy place; Hebrews 9:3. On the great day of atonement; Exodus 30:10. On that day he probably entered the Holy of Holies three or four times, first to burn incense, Leviticus 16:12; then to sprinkle the blood of the bullock on the mercy-seat, Leviticus 16:14; then he was to kill the goat of the sin-offering, and bring that blood within the Veil and sprinkle it also on the mercy-seat, and then, perhaps, he entered again to bring out the golden censer. The Jewish tradition is, that he entered the Holy of Holies four times on that day. After all, however, the number of times is not certain, nor is it material, the only important point being that he entered it only on one day of the year, while the holy place was entered every day. That is, he bare with him blood to sprinkle on the mercy-seat. This was the blood of the bullock and of the goat - borne in at two different times. The blood of the bullock was offered for himself and for his house or family - thus keeping impressively before his own mind and the mind of the people the fact that the priests even of the highest order were sinners, and needed expiation like others; Leviticus 9:7. The blood of the goat was offered for them; Leviticus 16:15. The word rendered 'errors' - ἀγνόημα agnoēma - denotes properly 'ignorance, involuntary error;' and then error or fault in general - the same as the Hebrew משׁגה mishgeh - from שׁגה shaagah - 'to err.' The object was to make expiation for all the errors and sins of the people, and this occurred once in the year. The repetition of these sacrifices was a constant remembrancer of sin, and the design was that neither the priests nor the people should lose sight of the fact that they were violators of the Law of God."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Letter to the Hebrews Volume 81

 The Earthly Sanctuary Part 2

Hebrews 9:3-5 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; 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; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. KJV

The writer of Hebrews continues his description of the worship place of Jehovah God by the Hebrew people by now further detailing the arrangement or the layout of the interior of the tabernacle with these next words in verse 3, "And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;" (Hebrews 9:3) (KJV). After the Hebrew worshipper would open the first veil from the outside to enter into the sanctuary or the holy place, then they would see a second veil that divided the sanctuary from within and behind this second veil was called the 'holy of holies' or 'the most holy place' where none other than the high priest was allowed to enter, as documented for us by Moses with these words, "And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy." (Exodus 26:31-33) (KJV). Here is what Albert Barnes said of Hebrews 9:3, "The second or inner veil, here referred to, divided the holy from the most holy place. It was made of the same materials as the other, though it would seem in a more costly manner, and with more embroidered work. On this veil the figures of the cherubim were curiously wrought. The design of this veil was to separate the holy from the most holy place; and in regard to its symbolical meaning we can be at no loss, for the Apostle Paul has himself explained it later in this chapter. 'The tabernacle', that is, the inner tabernacle; or what more properly was called the tabernacle. The name was given to either of the two rooms into which it was divided, or to the whole structure. It was called 'the Most Holy place;' 'the Holy of Holies;' or 'the Holiest of all.' It was so called because the symbol of the divine presence - the 'Shekinah' - dwelt there between the Cherubim."

The writer of Hebrews now describes, delineates, and details exactly what was placed behind the second veil always and at all places where the Hebrew/Jewish people would sojourn and at all times with these next words, "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;" (Hebrews 9:4) (KJV). The 'golden censor' was that which contained the incense used in the worship of Jehovah God by the high priest only on the great day of atonement, as written for us by Moses with these words, "And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil:" (Leviticus 16:12) (KJV) and these words, "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God." (Leviticus 23:26-28) (KJV). The 'ark of the covenant' contained the tables or tablets of the covenant, wherein, the Ten Commandments were written on those stone tables or tablets by the very 'Finger of God' and also was the golden pot that had manna and also Aaron's rod that budded, it was a box or chest overlaid with solid gold that was four (4) feet long and two and a half (2.5) wide and high, as it is written for us again by Moses with these words, "And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat." (Exodus 16:15) (KJV), and with these words, "And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness. And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds." (Numbers 17:7-8) (KJV), and finally with these words, "And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee." (Exodus 25:10-16) (KJV).  

The last significant thing that was kept behind the second veil wherein was the 'holy of holies' was the mercy seat, as written for us with these words, "And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly." (Hebrews 9:5) (KJV). Over the top of the 'ark of the covenant' were the 'cherubims' of glory, which signifies two in number and it is translated by the Greek word cheroubim (used this one time in the New Testament) which is the plural of Hebrew origin [H3742] which means also imaginary figure; 'cherubim' (that is, cherubs or kerubim): - cherubims, see Exodus 25:17-22. The English word 'shadowing' is translated by the Greek word kataskiazō (used this one time only in the New Testament) meaning to overshade, that is, cover: - shadow. The English word 'mercyseat' is translated by the Greek word hilastērion meaning an expiatory (place or thing), that is, (concretely) an atoning victim, or (specifically) the lid of the Ark (in the Temple): - mercyseat, propitiation, see Leviticus 16:2 and Leviticus 16:13. We see then that these physical items that were overlaid with solid gold testified to their supreme importance in the worship of Jehovah God in the earthly tabernacle and they were a picture of the real and true 'holy of holies' in heaven where the Throne of Jehovah God/Yahweh resides in actuality for all time, as we get a glimpse of this reality from these words by the Apostle John, "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a Throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the Throne. And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the Throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the Throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the Throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the Throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the Throne, and round about the Throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to Him that sat on the Throne, who liveth forever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the Throne, and worship Him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the Throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." (Revelation 4:1-11) (KJV).  

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…