Hebrews Chapter Nine, Appearing Before God

 

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

 

The author contends that Jesus, as our High Priest, did not enter the earthly tabernacle during His ministry. The writer makes it clear that Jesus, regarding His human advent, came from Judah, and not Levi, and therefore would not officiate at the altar, Hebrews 7:13, 14.

Furthermore, he points out that the holy places made with hands are mere copies of the genuine, and that our Lord, bearing His offering, entered Heaven before the presence of the Father. We do not know specifically when this historical event transpired, only that it happened between His resurrection and ascension. Jesus says in John, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father,” John 20:17. At this point in our Lord’s return, He had not come into the Father’s presence, proclaiming His triumph over sin, death and Satan. But He had gone into the lower parts of the earth and declared it to the enemy, the disobedient spirits that seduced the daughters of men in Noah’s time, 1 Peter 3:19, 20. Furthermore, the Old Testament saints arose upon His triumphant death, proclaiming Him in Jerusalem, Matthew 27:52, 53.

 

Their duration for this ministry would expire when, “he ascended up on high, [and] led captivity captive,” Ephesians 4:8, 9, KJV. Entering Abraham’s Bosom, where the faithful dead awaited Him prior to His crucifixion, He emptied it, and brought the first fruits of His victory into Heaven, where patience gave way to glory. This would undoubtedly have included the OT saints that returned to Jerusalem, rising from their graves after His death. We are told it is appointed for men to die once, and after that the judgment, Hebrews 9:27. Therefore, Matthew never intended to make it seem as though these people lived out their lives again; their purpose was to be a witness to the victory of the Christ, just like the first generation of the church after Pentecost declared their witness of Jesus’ resurrection and the eternal life found only in Him.

 

Two verses in a row make the point abundantly clear that the earthly sanctuary was merely a copy of the genuine, and that Christ our Lord was not a partaker of this method of sacrifice. This point had already been focused upon earlier in the epistle, alluding to the abundance of priests and sacrifices. The priests were prevented by death from continuing, while the oblations never reached the spiritual filth man genuinely needed cleansing from, Hebrews 7:23, 10:2. The contrast is being elegantly demonstrated that, while the Mosaic system was in effect it had not the power to complete or perfect the worshiper. The priests never had rest, while the sacrifices never ceased. This notion attests to the reality of what mankind must do, in any way, to contribute to our salvation. We must work, and we must pay, forever. That forever, however, will be in the Lake of Fire burning with brimstone, separated from God as we spend eternity in punishment for our sins; for that is the price of sin’s payment.

 

Conversely, Christ fully paid on our behalf, as man’s representative, what we in our sinful nature could not. The Son of God entered into Heaven itself, before the throne of the Father, and as Scripture states, “He shall see the labor of His soul and be satisfied,” Isaiah 53:11.

 

Finally, on whose behalf did Jesus appear in the presence of God? He appeared, “for us.” The Christ came to this world for us, to redeem us. Generally, Jesus is the Savior of all men, but specifically, or individually, He is the Savior of those who look for His redemption, and receive it by faith, Luke 2:38, John 1:12. Jesus suffered and died for us. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God,” 1 Peter 3:18. Jesus, “was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification,” Romans 4:25. All that our Lord accomplished was for humanity’s salvation, something He did on our behalf. This truth makes boasting void, Romans 3:27. Boasting would (and could) only come from any contribution on man’s behalf to our salvation. Paul, in his excellent defense of salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone (Romans chapter 4), forbids boasting. Why? Because he is convinced (as should we be) that Jesus deserves all of the glory for what has been accomplished. We are the recipients of God’s unmerited favor, His condescending grace.