Hebrews 9:21 Commentary and Bible Study

Even the tabernacle had to be cleansed along with all its utensils, and this was done with blood sprinkled on them. This was either done at the dedication of the tabernacle (Exodus 40:9), as other items were said to be sprinkled with blood (Exodus 29:21), though only the holy oil is mentioned in Exodus 40, or else, John Owen suggests, it was done on the Day of Atonement. Why was it done? Wasn’t the tabernacle and its furnishings ordained by God and carefully constructed by Moses according to the divine pattern? This first of all teaches that anything that is used in the service of God must be holy. Christ’s offering was acceptable to God because he was without sin. Every thought, every motive, every goal, every act of will was pure, both in his divine and human natures. The earthly tabernacle to be a fitting pattern of the heavenly must reflect this. But the earthly tabernacle was constructed with human hands, and fallen men officiated as priests within it. The symbols of divine worship had to be purified, at least outwardly, to lift them up the level of the heavenly realities which they were to represent. For the same reason, the law required Aaron to offer sacrifices for himself, which were no part of the representation of Christ’s offering for us.