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…