Letter to the Hebrews Volume 92

 The Amazing Greatness of Jesus Christ's Sacrifice Part 1

Hebrews 9:23 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. KJV Note: CEV=Contemporary English Version

Everything on the earth that God the Father commanded Moses to build and construct, that is, the tabernacle and later on the Hebrew Temple were patterns or examples of what was in heaven where God the Father was continually worshipped by the holy angels, arc angels, and seraphim with complete obedience and reverence, as it is written here with these words from the Book of Revelation written by the Apostle John, "Right then the Spirit took control of me, and there in heaven I saw a throne and someone sitting on it. The one who was sitting there sparkled like precious stones of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne. Twenty-four other thrones were in a circle around that throne. And on each of these thrones there was an elder dressed in white clothes and wearing a gold crown. Flashes of lightning and roars of thunder came out from the throne in the center of the circle. Seven torches, which are the seven spirits of God, were burning in front of the throne. Also in front of the throne was something that looked like a glass sea, clear as crystal. Around the throne in the center were four living creatures covered front and back with eyes. The first creature was like a lion, the second one was like a bull, the third one had the face of a human, and the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and their bodies were covered with eyes. Day and night they never stopped singing, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, the all-powerful God, who was and is and is coming!' The living creatures kept praising, honoring, and thanking the one who sits on the throne and who lives forever and ever. At the same time the twenty-four elders knelt down before the one sitting on the throne. And as they worshiped the one who lives forever, they placed their crowns in front of the throne and said, 'Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory, honor, and power. You created all things, and by your decision they are and were created.'" (Revelation 4:2-11) (CEV).

Therefore, having documented the absolute greatness of the worship of God the Father taking place in heaven, we now find the writer of Hebrews documenting for us the absolute necessity of the earthly pattern of the heavenly worship of God requiring and calling for and demanding that every single earthly item used in the Hebrew worship of Almighty God be sprinkled with the blood of the sin offerings from the people, including even the building itself, as it is written for us by the author of Hebrews with these very next words in verse 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." (Hebrews 9:23) (KJV). The English word 'patterns' is translated by the Greek word hupodeigma meaning an exhibit for imitation or warning (figuratively specimen, adumbration, that is, a sketchy, imperfect or faint representation): - example, pattern. The little English phrase 'should be purified' is translated by the Greek word katharizō meaning to cleanse (literally or figuratively): - (make) clean, purge, purify. All of those things used in the tabernacle and latter on the Hebrew/Jewish Temple were patterns or trace representations of the things in heaven, as we remember just a little while back in this same epistle when the writer of Hebrews wrote these words, "Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount." (Hebrews 8:5) (KJV). All of these things used in the worship service of God needed to be cleansed just as the people needed cleansing, as it is written and documented by Moses with these words, "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 16:16) (KJV).

Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 9:23, "The tabernacle and all its utensils, services, etc., must be purified by these, viz.: The blood of calves and goats, and the sprinkling of the blood and water with the bunch of hyssop bound about with scarlet wool. These are called patterns, exemplars, earthly things, which were the representatives of heavenly things. And there is no doubt that every thing in the tabernacle, its parts, divisions, utensils, ministry, etc., as appointed by God, were representations of celestial matters; but how far and in what way we cannot now see. Purification implies, not only cleansing from defilement, but also dedication or consecration. All the utensils employed in the tabernacle service were thus purified though incapable of any moral pollution. But the heavenly things themselves - Some think this means heaven itself, which, by receiving the sacrificed Body of Christ, which appears in the presence of God for us, may be said to be purified, i.e., set apart for the reception of the souls of those who have found redemption in His Blood. Others think the Body of Christ is intended, which is the tabernacle in which His Divinity dwelt; and that this might be said to be purified by its own sacrifice, as He is said, John 17:19, to sanctify Himself; that is, to consecrate Himself unto God as a sin-offering for the redemption of man. Others suppose the Church is intended, which He is to present to the Father without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. As the entrance to the holy of holies must be made by the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrifice, and as that holy of holies represented heaven, the Apostle's meaning seems to be that there was and could be no entrance to the holiest but through His Blood; and therefore, when by a more perfect tabernacle, Hebrews 9:11-12, He passed into the heavens, not with the blood of bulls and goats, but by His own Blood, He thus purified or laid open the entrance to the holiest, by a more valuable sacrifice than those required to open the entrance of the holy of holies. It was necessary, therefore, for God had appointed it so, that the tabernacle and its parts, etc., which were patterns of things in the heavens, should be consecrated and entered with such sacrifices as have already been mentioned; but the heaven of heavens into which Jesus entered, and whither He will bring all His faithful followers, must be propitiated, consecrated, and entered, by the infinitely better sacrifice of His Own Body and Blood."

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…