Hebrews 9:1-10
Happy Thanksgiving, y’all!!
By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing, which is symbolic for the present age). According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper… (vv. 8-9) I have to keep reminding myself that the author is writing to Jews who are alive before the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 A.D. With that in mind, the way that I read these two verses is that the phrase, as long as the first section is still standing could be referring to any individual who is still holding on to Jewish customs of the daily sacrifices being offered at the Temple. For those people, that “first section (of the Temple) is still standing” and they have not accepted Jesus as their Messiah. Those gifts and sacrifices being offered therein fall far short of that for which Jesus has sacrificed. It’s so easy to feel sorry for those very serious Jews today who continue to watch and wait for their Messiah. Will God honor their longing?? Sad…
Slava Bohu!