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.
Hebrews 9:23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
The writer insists, “it was necessary” that the copies of the heavenly things be purified with blood: symbolic of the sacrifice Christ our Lord would make on our behalf, to reconcile us to God. Beginning with verse 16, we read about the testament, and the testator’s death, putting said testament into power, or effect, verse 17.
Of special note is the conclusion to verse 22. Without shedding of blood there is no remission. Remission of sin is of course what the writer is alluding to. One may remit sin one of two ways, and only one of two. We may place our faith in Christ, whose substitutionary death on the cross paid for our sin by taking the punishment in our stead. Or we may die for our own sin and receive the punishment due: eternity separated from the Creator in the Lake of Fire.
Hebrews 9:18 Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. [19] For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and the people, [20] saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God commanded you.” [21] Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. [22] And according to the law almost all things are purified wit blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
The first covenant was the Sinaitic covenant, made between Yahweh and the people of Israel, after He led them out of Egypt and judged their gods. The record states it as such: “Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also that nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions,” Genesis 15: 12-14.
