Hebrews 9:7-11 "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: (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: (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; (10) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation. (11) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come ..."
In the last several chapters, the writer has been contrasting the office and
work of the high priest under the law with the person, work, and office of our
Lord. Now he is going to get to the very heart of the work of Jesus. In
Hebrews 9:9, he tells us each priest under the Levitical order (under the law)
and the tabernacle ..."was a figure for the time then present.... imposed on
them until the time of reformation." Now in Hebrews 9:11, he begins with
the words, "But Christ being come an high priest...." As I look
at the definition of one word in this passage, I realize chapters 9 and 10
might be slow going. I pray I won't be too tedious in sharing my thoughts with
you.
The writer is taking the thought of chapter 7 and reforming it into a more
clear manifestation, or more clearly showing, his subject. Let us look at the thoughts for today. "For the priesthood being changed, there is
made of necessity a change also of the law." (Hebrews 7:12) "For the
law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the
which we draw nigh unto God." (Hebrews 7:19) The priesthood has been
changed; that is, the priesthood has been reformed into a better, and more
clear, manifestation. The priests, under the law, served for a time and for a
particular reason. They served until the reformation came about. They did that
for which they were appointed, "but (now) Christ being come (is) the high
priest of good things to come." Which brings me back to the word,
reformation.
The meaning of the word, reformation, in the original language means "to
channel an act in a perpendicular manner, as a mountain lifting above the
plain." Once, we were traveling to Colorado to see our daughter. As
we came out of Kansas (the tabletop state) and drove into Colorado, I began to
notice something in the distance. As we continued to drive, it seemed as though
the Rocky Mountains were literally rising up out of the plains. At first, I
wondered what I was seeing, but then as we got closer, I was amazed at the
sight of the Rocky Mountains. Again, the key being... "As we got
closer."
The blood of animals sacrificed under the law rolled sins forward, as if it
were in a horizontal position. But when Christ came as the Great High Priest of
good things to come, our sins were not rolled forward, they were dealt with in
an eternal sense. Jesus did not offer the blood of animals. He offered His own
blood as payment in full for our sins. He offered His blood as payment in full
and that offering was accepted. How do we know the offering was accepted?
Just as the priests under the law walked out of the Holy of holies after
offering the animal blood, Jesus walked out of the Holiest of all after His
blood offering had been accepted. Debt was paid in full. This is that
better hope (calm assurance) that was brought in by the work of the Great High
Priest, Jesus Christ. The closer we seek to walk with Christ and the more
we seek to study His work of redemption, the more clearly we will see Him
"rising above the plain" in our observance.