Sharper Iron — The New Covenant in Christ: Jesus Enters the Heavenly Holy Place by His Blood

Rev. Kyle Mietzner, battalion chaplain with the 10th Mountain Division of the United States Army at Fort Drum, NY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Hebrews 9:1-14.

The author of Hebrews details both the sanctuary and the services of the old covenant. He takes us on a tour of the tabernacle, working his way toward the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. There the high priest would go only once a year with blood to make atonement for sins. When Christ appeared, He brought to fulfillment both the sanctuary and the services of the old covenant. He entered the heavenly holy place with His own blood to secure an eternal redemption for those who trust in Him. His forgiveness cleanses our consciences so that we truly serve the living God.

“The New Covenant in Christ” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is best understood as a sermon preached to those who have gathered for the Divine Service, exhorting them to continued faithfulness to Jesus. As the Son of God and our Brother, Jesus is both our exalted King and faithful High Priest who is truly present with us so that we might fix our eyes on Him.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Hebrews 9:1-14

The Earthly Holy Place

9 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. ²For a tent^[a] was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence.^[b] It is called the Holy Place. ³Behind the second curtain was a second section^[c] called the Most Holy Place, ⁴having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. ⁵Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

⁶These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, ⁷but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. ⁸By 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 ⁹(which is symbolic for the present age).^[d] According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, ¹⁰but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

Redemption Through the Blood of Christ

¹¹But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come,^[e] then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) ¹²he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. ¹³For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify^[f] for the purification of the flesh, ¹⁴how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our^[g] conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

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Footnotes

Hebrews 9:2 Or tabernacle; also verses 11, 21
Hebrews 9:2 Greek the presentation of the loaves
Hebrews 9:3 Greek tent; also verses 6, 8
Hebrews 9:9 Or which is symbolic for the age then present
Hebrews 9:11 Some manuscripts good things to come
Hebrews 9:13 Or For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies
Hebrews 9:14 Some manuscripts your

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).