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Hungering and Thirsting After Righteousness
Hebrews 9:1-14
Criminal investigations are filled with plot twists, anti-climaxes, and bombshells. Sometimes they’re heartbreaking - unsolved cold-cases; other times, justice is served after many years. A cold case from years ago was reopened when evidence was discovered in the basement of a demolished building. The developer’s daughter had vanished over 20 years ago. She was never found by the police. And so he spent years and his own money to fund children’s safety programs, neighborhood watches, and police programs. He became a well-known philanthropist. But he had a deep dark secret. He was responsible for his daughter’s death and cover up. When discovered, he was ask why he was so over-the-top in his philanthropy when he was guilty for the crime. He’d spent all those years hiding and trying to cleanse his conscience through his works. But his conscience was not cleansed. His sin was eventually found out. And his work and philanthropy became nothing.
That’s the power of an unclean conscience. When we have sins and faults that are not atoned for, the guilt’s still there. We either shift the blame to others to increase their guilt and lessen ours; we ignore it; or we try to cleanse it. By ourselves, we can never. But people will turn to almost anything to do it. They cover it by works of charity and religious activities. They escape it by being busy - work, leisure, relationships. They dull it through alcohol, drugs, or sin. But nothing can silence a guilty conscience. There’s still a hungering and thirsting after righteousness.
Only Christ is the way to cleanse a guilty conscience. We’ve been studying the New Covenant. And we’ve seen how it’s better. Here the author supports his thesis in three points. Firstly, the Old Covenant atonement was a complicated system that was for show. Secondly, the Old Covenant atonement only cleansed sins of ignorance and ceremonial defilement. Thirdly, only the New Covenant atonement truly cleanses all sins.
Firstly, the Old Covenant atonement was a complicated system, that was for show. Now, remember that the Old Covenant sacrificial was designed to be faulty, ineffective. People weren’t saved by it. It was ineffective; even though it was elaborate. Verse 1 - “Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” It was a divine service. The word “service”, latreia - from where we get idolatry - refers to the physical acts of worship that the priests did. And it was elaborate. How elaborate? The tabernacle, was an enclosure of white linen curtains - 45 by 22 meters. Inside was a large bronze altar with horns at each corner to tie the sacrifices. Behind it was the bronze washbasin, for the priests to wash before serving in the tabernacle proper. To enter the Holy Place, or the first sanctuary, you would need to pass through the first curtain from outside. What was inside? Verse 2 says, “For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.” This was a flat roofed tent, 4.5 meters high, 4.5 maters wide, and 14 meters long. It was supported by 4 gold columns on 4 silver bases. Inside were two rooms - the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. In the first room, at the south side was a seven-branched lamp stand crafted of 34 kilograms of gold. This was needed because there was no window. At the north was the table of shewbread, with 12 loaves representing the 12 tribes.
At the west, there was a thick veil of embroidered linen. This separated the first room from the second room - which was the Holy of Holies. As verse 3 says, this second veil barred access from the people to God, who was said to be in the Holiest place of all. This second room was a perfect cube - 4.5 by 4.5 by 4.5 meters. Verse 4 describes this room - “Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant.” The golden censer, or the altar of incense, was just outside of the room, but verse 4 connects it with the Holy of Holies because on the most important day of the Jewish calendar - the Day of Atonement - it would be dragged in front and into the Holiest of Holies.
Inside the Holy of Holies was the most important item - the ark of the covenant. It was a box of acacia wood covered in and out with gold. Inside was the jar of manna, the rod of Aaron, and the stone tablets of the 10 commandments. Covering this box was the mercy seat. If it was not covered, the items inside would condemn the people. The manna was a reminder that the people complained about God’s provision. The rod of Aaron was a reminder that the people rebelled against God’s leadership. The 10 Commandments was a reminder that the people would not keep God’s law. With the mercy seat, God’s judgment was appeased.
Verse 6 says that two golden angels adorned this cover. They marked out God’s presence on earth. We know that God is everywhere; but he’s with his people in a special way. In Israel he dwelt on the Mercy Seat between the angels. Psalm 80:1 says, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.” It was God’s earthly throne. It reflected God’s glory on earth. It was the earthly representation of the heavenly throne of grace.
The Old Covenant worship and the tabernacle was so elaborate that the author could not describe every single detail - verse 5, he says, “we cannot speak particularly, in detail.” If the furniture was elaborate, what the priests did was more so. Verse 6 tells us they entered the first room to serve God. They ensured that the lamps, wicks, and oil were in order and all seven lights lit day and night. They also kept the altar of incense burning morning and evening. The coal was ordained to have been taken from the bronze altar, and the proportion of incense was specifically prescribed, verse 6. The priests also replenished the table of showbread with twelve fresh loaves each Sabbath day after they ate at the table to symbolize the fellowship they had.
There was a lot of things going on. They were busily performed in front of that veil, which blocked them from the Holy of Holies. For 364 days the veil was closed; but on the Day of Atonement, which was the 10th day of the 7th month, the high priest would open it and enter in. This was the high point of elaborateness but ineffectiveness. Now, 7 days before that, the High Priest would rehearse everything he would do. He also had to keep himself isolated - to avoid anything that would defile him such as touching a dead body or a leper. On that day, he cleansed himself ritually. He took off his priestly robes, and put on a simple white linen. Then he placed his hands on a bull and confessed his sins and the sins of his family. After that, he slaughtered it and saved some of its blood. Then he took 2 goats. He cast lots to determine which one would be sacrificed to God, and which would be the scapegoat.
After this, he washed himself; then went into the tabernacle. He took a piece of burning coal from the altar of incense and put it on a pan, went through the veil to the Holy of Holies, put the coal on the ground, and poured 2 handfuls of incense on the coal. Thick smoke covered the mercy seat, and blocked him from God’s dangerous glory. While God’s mercy seat covered the judgment, yet it was too glorious for him to approach. We learn that he had to approach it with blood, verse 7; he couldn’t enter without blood. Which is why after making that screen of smoke, he then exited. He took the bowl of bull’s blood, reentered and sprinkled it on the mercy seat through the cloud of incense. Then he sprinkled it in front of the mercy seat 7 times. After that, he exited, sacrificed one goat, cleansed himself, and reentered into the Holiest place and did the same with the goat’s blood. He exited the third and last time, took the blood of the bull and goat and sprinkled it on the brazen altar as he had done with the mercy seat. Thereafter, he would lay his hands on the scapegoat and confess all the sins of the nation. And that goat was led far into the desert, symbolizing that the sins of the people were removed from them. This was to have brought great joy to the people. Jewish tradition says that the priest then took off his linen garments, put on his full robes, and took the people and entertained them in his home. There was a feast and the people would dance in the vineyards. This day was the most important day of the year. It was complicated but meant to be celebratory. Their sins had been cleansed!
But had they been cleansed? Did this atonement cleanse all sins? Despite all the sacrifices according to the ceremonial laws and the gallons of blood spilled; did the people returned home, with a cleansed conscience? Verse 9 clearly tells us that all of the complicated and elaborate sacrifices were symbolic, that “both gifts and sacrifices…could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.” They couldn’t cleanse the conscience. Why not? Yes, we saw last week that it was to point people to Jesus.
Because secondly, the Old Covenant atonement only cleansed sins of ignorance and ceremonial defilement. They didn’t actually cleanse any real sins. Despite being elaborate, they did nothing lasting for the people. We learn in verse 7 that the High Priest offered the blood of atonement for himself and the errors of the people. Errors - in Greek - agnoema - sins committed in ignorance. We read earlier in Numbers 15:24-25 - which tells us that for the sins of ignorance, which are unknown to the people, a burnt offering, meal offering, and sin offering can be sacrificed. But what about willful and rebellious sins? Numbers 15:30-31 says this - “But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.” There wasn’t an atonement designed for willful and high-handed sins. Which is why the man who picked up sticks in violation of the Sabbath commandment was stoned in Numbers 15.
Verse 10 also says such sacrifices were carnal ordinances. They were external rituals governing outward purification. The use of blood and ashes, verse 13, was used to purify the flesh. When a person touched a dead body, he was ceremonially unclean. He couldn’t approach God until he was sprinkled with water mixed with the ashes of a heifer. It was external, not internal. The people were forgiven for sins of ignorance and impurity, but not their defiant, willful, intentional, and high handed sins. Their conscience was still unclean. But folks, we don’t usually feel guilt for our sins of ignorance. We feel guilty for sins done against conscience. They are the ones which trouble us. But this ineptness of the Old Covenant, despite its complicated rituals, was meant to point people to Christ. We saw this last week. After David sinned with Bathsheba and killed Uriah; in a premeditated and intentional way, Nathan confronted him. And he acknowledged that he could bring no sacrifice. He could only plead in Psalm 51 - “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness.” And he knew God wanted true internal sacrifices of a broken spirit and contrite heart. And God heard David’s prayer. It was faith and repentance from his heart that was the agent that led him to Christ - to be saved by Christ. The purpose of these ceremonies were, as verse 9 says, “a figure for the time then present” and they would last, as verse 10 says, “until the time of reformation.” David knew that they only represented something better to come. When was that time of reformation?
We see thirdly, only the New Covenant atonement cleanses all sins. There was a reformation. Since the Old Covenant couldn’t remove willful sins to cleanse the conscience, Christ came to purify the conscience. Willful sins can be cleansed because Christ, as high priest, arrived into the real heaven with a better sacrifice. Verse 11 - “But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.” He appeared in heaven, to the real tabernacle, at his ascension, and brought himself. Whereas the High Priest could go in once a year with the blood of an inferior sacrifice, sprinkling the mercy seat through a cloud of smoke that hid him; Christ simply brought himself and sat down. There, he intercedes for us. He has a great title - high priest of good things to come. Because of him, we have all good things. Some are yet to come, but some have come. What we have now is complete forgiveness of all sins. We see a comparison in verses 13 and 14. Verse 13 - the blood of bulls and goats, and the ashes of a heifer can only purify the flesh. “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:” But what does Christ do? Verse 14 his blood purifies and purges the conscience. “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” How much more? One washed outwardly, ceremonially; the other did the real washing. Willful sins can be cleansed because Christ obtained an eternal redemption, verse 12. The adjective “eternal” is wonderful. What this tells us is that this redemption was in God’s eternal plan. Christ’s death was meant to cleanse the sins of those in the Old Covenant, verse 15 - “And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” How was Adam forgiven? By looking to Christ, being taught by the sacrifice and promise. How was Abraham washed of God sins? By believing in God’s promises. How were the Old Testament saints saved and forgiven? By understanding that the sacrifices pointed to the atonement of Christ. The law and the sacrifices of the Old Covenant were meant to drive people to God in repentance for their willful sins - to cry out what must I do to be saved, in order that they might obtain the redemption of Christ by faith. Just like David - he knew his sins could not be atoned for by mere blood sacrifices - he had to trust in God alone for cleansing from Christ’s sacrifice. And the result of this cleansing was a clear conscience and service. Which is why verse 14 says that when our consciences are purged from dead works, we will serve the living God.
And that’s a vital point. It’s so important for us to understand this. Because we have been forgiven, it affects our entire lives. Our conscience is clear to serve God. Yes we sin, but we come to God in repentance. When we think upon Christ’s sacrifice, and what he’s done on the cross, we’re again assured of our standing before God - how much he loves us. And it’s from that kind of heart of gratitude that we serve him. But often the problem is this. We turn the fruit into the means of cleansing. The man was guilty for his part in his daughter’s death. If he came clean and confessed, his conscience would be cleared. But he used philanthropy to cleanse his conscience - which could never do it. Many of God’s people are at odds with one another. You see each other in church for years but have had a great falling out. But you don’t repent, but have learned to greet one another. And you mistake your cordial relations for true reconciliation. “Oh, we’re on talking terms already.” Your conscience is not clean. Or you’ve been living in sin, but turn up to church, and soothe your conscience by saying you’ve at least done that. But all your service is nothing. Leave your gift at the altar and make right, then you can serve acceptably, because you’re acceptably cleansed.
And Christ’s death and humility can help you to be humble. He stretched out his hands and died, so that he can clasp them together and bring you and God together in peace. You’ve already come humbly to God for forgiveness. And he can help you to come humbly to those that you’re at odds with to seek reconciliation. Nothing else will cleanse your conscience but Christ. Because he died for you, you can serve him acceptably in this way. We do so many things - even in service - not out of love and a clear conscience, but to clear our conscience. That’s no way to live in the New Covenant. What are ways you’re seeking to clear your conscience?
How’s your conscience today? Are there sins you’re struggling with? Perhaps today’s word has uncovered a false and insufficient method of atonement and you’re still guilty. That’s not a bad thing. William Perkins, the puritan said, “The conscience is not to be healed if it be not wounded.” Let us then go to Christ - not to work to pay it off - but to ask God for forgiveness. And then, we can serve him by living a holy life. Conscience can be cleared by sacrifice, from that fountain of blood. When we are plunged beneath it, we lose all our guilty stains.
1
1. Old Covenant Atonement Was a Complicated System that Was for Show
A. It was elaborate but ineffective
B. The height of elaborate ineffectiveness
2. Old Covenant Atonement Only Cleansed Sins of Ignorance and Ceremonial Defilement
A. It was for errors and ceremonial defilement
B. They pointed to Christ
3. Only the New Covenant Atonement Truly Cleanses All Sins
A. All sins cleansed by Christ
B. Cleansed people serve Christ
Conversation for Change:
1. How is your service like to the living God? On what basis do you judge its adequacy?
2. What are some wrong ways that you have tried to assuage your conscience without coming before God and others in repentance?
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2025, Rev. Mark Chen
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