“Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.”
Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness — the chapter shifts from the new covenant's superiority to detailed description of the old tabernacle system. Regulations (dikaiōmata) for worship establish the external structure through which Israel approached God. The earthly sanctuary (hagion kosmikon) is real and divinely appointed but ultimately a shadow of the true tent.
Church Fathers on Hebrews 9:1
He has shown from the Priest, from the Priesthood, from the Covenant, that that [dispensation] was to have an end. From this point he shows it from the fashion of the tabernacle itself. How? This, he says, [was] the “Holy” and the “Holy of Holies.” The holy place then is a symbol of the former period (for there all things are done by means of sacrifices); but the Holy of Holies of this that is now present. And by the Holy of Holies he means Heaven; and by the veil, Heaven,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!