What does Hebrews 9:1 mean?

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. Hebrews 9:1

Explanation

The verse in question, Hebrews 9:1 from the King James Version, indicates that the first covenant, which is commonly understood as the Mosaic Covenant, given to the people of Israel, involved prescribed rituals and worship, which are referred to as “ordinances of divine service.” The “worldly sanctuary” mentioned in the verse refers to the physical place where this worship took place, specifically the Tabernacle, and later, the Temple in Jerusalem. This sanctuary was considered the earth-bound counterpart to the heavenly sanctuary.

The term “worldly” distinguishes the physical and impermanent nature of the sanctuary from the spiritual and eternal. The verse sets the stage for the subsequent verses, which contrast the old covenant with the new, emphasizing the limitations of the former and the supremacy of the new covenant established through Jesus Christ.

Historical Context

The Book of Hebrews was written to an audience that was familiar with the Jewish sacrificial system and the Levitical priesthood. In the context of the early Christian community, there was significant discussion about the role of the old covenant laws and rituals given the final sacrifice made by Jesus. This particular verse reflects an understanding of the finality and completeness of Christ’s sacrifice in contrast to the repeated animal sacrifices of the old covenant.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, Hebrews 9:1 highlights the transition from the old to the new covenant. Different Christian traditions may interpret the significance and obsolescence of the old covenant in various ways. Protestant theologians often emphasize the “finished” work of Christ that makes the old sacrificial system unnecessary. Catholic and Orthodox theologians may recognize a more nuanced relationship between the old covenant and the understanding of liturgy and sacramental life in the new.

Practical Applications

The concept of moving from the old to the new can serve as a metaphor for personal transformation in the lives of believers. The idea is that just as the old covenant with its worldly sanctuary was transcended by something greater, so too individuals are called to grow beyond past ways of living and understandings into a fuller relationship with the divine.

Cross-References

• Exodus 25:8 – “And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.”
• Leviticus 16:2 – “And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.”
• Hebrews 8:5 – “Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.”
• Hebrews 10:1 – “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word translated as “ordinances” is δικαιώματα (dikaiōmata), meaning decrees or regulations. The term “divine service” is λατρεία (latreia), referring to the service or worship rendered to God. The word for “worldly” is κοσμικός (kosmikos), which could be understood as “secular” or “earthly,” suggesting the human-constructed nature of the sanctuary as opposed to the divine or heavenly.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient religions, there are myths and structures devoted to gods where worship and rituals were conducted. The Hebrew sanctuary parallels such phenomena but is seen within the Abrahamic tradition as the one true space where God chose to make His presence known. Comparison could be made to temples in ancient Greek or Roman culture, but unlike these polytheistic contexts, the Hebrew sanctuary was singularly focused on the worship of Yahweh.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern scientific understandings do not directly inform the interpretation of this verse as it speaks to religious rituals and spaces rather than natural phenomena. However, archaeology can provide insight into the historical validity of the structures and events referenced in this verse, such as the existence of the Tabernacle and the Temple.

Commentaries

Commentaries on this verse offer a variety of interpretations but commonly agree on the temporal nature of the old covenant’s sanctuary and ordinances. Matthew Henry’s commentary emphasizes how the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly holy place that foreshadowed the greater work of Christ. The Pulpit Commentary addresses the distinction made between the services and sacrifices of the old covenant as “symbols and shadows” versus the realities found in Christ.