A Worship that was to Foreshadow What was to Come (vv.1-5)
a. Regulation of worship then vv.2-5 You will notice the Old Testament especially Leviticus was full of regulations for worship. Fast-forward to the New Testament and we have no regulations for worship.
b. A description of the Ark of the Covenant and the arrangement of the tabernacle vv.4-5
c. Why could they not now speak in detail? v.5
- The ark had disappeared.
- It’s very possible that God had destroyed it because Jesus is the final Ark!
- Animal sacrifices did not take place after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70AD.
A New Worship Guaranteed Full Access to God (vv.6-8)
The priest only entered the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement, once a year. He would sprinkle blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. This once a year offering and the limit of when a person could enter or who could enter showed that mankind was sinful before a Holy God. Now, Jesus has made access to God through His sacrifice once and for all who place faith in Him.
a. The ministry of the priest v.7 The priest according to Lev. 16 would carry the blood of the sacrificed animal for the atonement of his sins and the sins of the people. They would perform these duties everyday within the holy place, but not in the Holy of Holies, that was once a year.
b. The indication through the Holy Spirit v.8 Christ tore the veil between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. God was announcing that all people could come into His presence through faith, in the final and finished work of Jesus Christ.
A New Worship Focuses on the Ultimate Gift and Not the Offerings. (vv.9-10)
The gifts and sacrifices mattered, but they could not cleanse the depth of our hearts the way that Christ does. Although they were tangible and necessary at one time, God sent Christ to be the final offering!
a. Old Worship was a symbol of what was to come. v.9New
b. Worship makes old worship imperfect vv.9-10