Paul mentions the custom by which the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies only once a year, so that at all other times it remained inaccessible. In this inaccessibility, the author sees the incompleteness of the covenant associated with...
Paul mentions the custom by which the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies only once a year, so that at all other times it remained inaccessible. In this inaccessibility, the author sees the incompleteness of the covenant associated with Moses.
Indeed, the world can become the Kingdom only when the innermost sanctuary, the place of God's presence, is opened to the world, opened to creation, which must be transfigured by the action of that presence. But the point is that, in the spiritual condition presupposed by the Mosaic covenant, it could not be opened. The sanctuary could open only if nothing hindered the sanctification of creation, if creation were free from the power of the evil in which the world lies after the Fall. But the Mosaic covenant was insufficient for such liberation; otherwise, there would have been no need for the Messiah to come.
Moreover, in a certain sense, an earthly sanctuary understood as established once and for all and sufficient in itself for a full spiritual life could separate seekers and the people as a whole from the Throne of Glory, which is the only true altar, the spiritual archetype of all earthly altars. Here the same effect was at work that Paul described more than once in his letters: making the Torah absolute, even the inward Torah, could hide from a person the very path to which it pointed.
The Torah is like a spiritual compass that helps us keep to the path. But a compass is needed precisely so that we can travel the path, not contemplate its needle and turn that into our chief or even our only spiritual exercise. The same could happen—and often did happen—with Yahwistic worship: the outward forms of the earthly sanctuary became valuable in themselves, while the purpose for which it had been created receded into the background.
In that case, the outward forms could obscure not only the essence of what took place in the earthly sanctuary, but also the Throne that it prefigured.
9
9:8 The Holy Ghost evidently showing - By this token.That the way into the holiest - Into heaven. Was not made manifest - Not so clearly revealed. While the first tabernacle, and its service, were still subsisting - And remaining in force.
9:9 Which - Tabernacle, with all its furniture and services. Is a figure - Or type, of good things to come Which cannot perfect the worshipper - Neither the priest nor him who brought the offering. As to his conscience - So that he should be no longer conscious of the guilt or power of sin. Observe, the temple was as yet standing.
9:10 They could not so perfect him, with all their train of precepts relating to meats and drinks, and carnal, gross, external ordinances; and were therefore imposed only till the time of reformation - Till Christ came.