To explain Jesus' superiority to the traditional priesthood, the author shifts his attention from the covenant (Heb 8) to the sanctuary. The sanctuary was where the priest carried out his ministry and where God dwelled among the Israelites. The sanctuary was set up in two rooms. The outer room, the Holy Place, was reserved for the priests (6). They entered the Holy Place to give sacrifices and offerings on behalf of their people. The inner room, the Most Holy Place, was reserved only for the high priest who could enter once a year after a purification process (7).

The Israelites were privileged to have God's presence among them. But their limited access also signified the seriousness of their sin. The food and drink gift and sacrifice paid for sins temporarily, but they did not clear sin away completely (10). The high priest could not enter the inner room without first cleansing known and unknown sins every year. Although the annual ritual did not solve sin, it alludes to a better way to enter God's presence. Only Jesus' sacrifice on the cross completed the whole process of cleansing sins so we can stand before God. Jesus cleanses not only our body, but also our soul through his holy blood.


Application: Father, thank you for the privilege we enjoy as we pray and worship you. Please help me to repent my sins before you each day as I remember that you are holy.
One Word: Jesus is the completion of the covenant