Hebrews 9:1–10

Earthly and Heavenly Worship

9The first covenant had rules for worship and an earthly place for worship as well. ^2*A Tent was put up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place. In it were the lamp-stand and the table with the bread offered to God. ^3*Behind the second curtain was the Tent called the Most Holy Place. ^4*In it were the gold altar for the burning of incense and the Covenant Box all covered with gold and containing the gold jar with the manna in it, Aaron’s stick that had sprouted leaves, and the two stone tablets with the commandments written on them. ^5*Above the Box were the winged creatures representing God’s presence, with their wings spread over the place where sins were forgiven. But now is not the time to explain everything in detail.

^6*This is how those things have been arranged. The priests go into the outer Tent every day to perform their duties, ^7*but only the High Priest goes into the inner Tent, and he does so only once a year. He takes with him blood which he offers to God on behalf of himself and for the sins which the people have committed without knowing they were sinning. ⁸The Holy Spirit clearly teaches from all these arrangements that the way into the Most Holy Place has not yet been opened as long as the outer Tent still stands. ⁹This is an illustration which points to the present time. It means that the offerings and animal sacrifices presented to God cannot make the worshipper’s heart perfect, ¹⁰since they have to do only with food, drink, and various purification ceremonies. These are all outward rules, which apply only until the time when God will establish the new order.