Scripture Reading : Hebrews 9
Theme : Superiority of Jesus Christ over Old Testament Rituals
- A better sanctuary. The author once again reminds the Hebrews of the items of the Tabernacle. But his focus is on the “Most Holy Place”, where the high priest can only go in once a year, on the Day of Atonement, after first offering a blood sacrifice for his own unintentional sins, and then for the unintentional sins of the people. However, the blood of animals cannot remove the sins of man completely. Only by the blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, can a sinner be completely justified and declared righteous. By His death, Jesus “entered once for all into the holy places”, which was proven when “the curtain of the temple was torn in two” (Matthew 27:51), signifying that the way into God’s presence was now opened. Christ did not only enter the “Most Holy Place” of the earthly temple; He has entered “into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” (Hebrews 9:24)
- A better sacrifice. The high priest brought animals as sacrifices and offerings to God, but the blood of animals did not offer a final solution to sin, since the high priest had to do it year after year. On the other hand, by shedding His own blood and dying on the cross, Jesus secured “eternal redemption” (9:12), and He only need to do it once (9:28). The concept of the superiority of Jesus’ sacrifice is further expanded by the author in Hebrews 10.
Praying the Scripture
- The Old Testament rituals did not provide sinners with direct access to God. On the other hand, Jesus Christ, by His death, opened the way for sinners to draw near to God. Let us thank Jesus for opening the way to God by shedding His own blood to “purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:14b)
- Hebrews 9:27 says “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” However, “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” (Hebrews 9:28) Let us thank Jesus for putting “away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Hebrews 9:26), and also pray that we will eagerly wait for Him.
经文：希伯来书9
主题：耶稣基督超过旧约礼仪
- 更好的圣所。作者再一次提醒希伯来人有关帐幕里的各物品。然而，他的焦点是“至圣所”，是大祭司一年一次（赎罪日）才能进入的地方，且要带着血先为自己的无意的过错献上，再为百姓无意的过错献上。可是，动物的血是无法完全洗净人的罪的。唯有藉着神之子耶稣基督的血，罪人才能全然称义，宣告洁净。藉着祂的死，耶稣“只一次进入圣所”，就当“殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半”之时（太27:51），其表示到神面前的路已开拓了。基督并没进入地上圣殿的“至圣所”；祂“乃是进了天堂，如今为我们显在神面前”（24节）。
- 更好的祭物。大祭司带动物向神献祭，但动物的血并不是解决罪的最后方案，因为大祭司每年都要那么做。可是，耶稣舍了自己的血，死在十字架上，从而“成了永远赎罪的事”（12节），且只需要一次被献。作者在希伯来书10章更为我们拓展了耶稣超过祭物的概念。
用经文祷告
- 旧约礼仪并没有为罪人提供直接通往神的道路。可是，耶稣基督借着他的死，为罪人敞开了亲近神的通道。让我们为耶稣开拓往神的通道感谢祂，因为祂是借着自己的宝血洗净我们的心，除去我们的死行，使我们侍奉那永生神（14节）。
- 希伯来书9:27说：“按着定命，人人都有一死，死后且有审判。”然而，“基督既然一次被献，担当了多人的罪，将来要向那等候他的人第二次显现，并与罪无关，乃是为拯救他们”（28节）。让我们感谢耶稣“把自己献为祭，好除掉罪”（26节），并求我们会急切盼望祂来。
