“It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience–” (Hebrews 9:9).
One of the more prominent aspects of Jesus’ ministry involved His use of parables. A parable is a teaching method that uses a short story that serves to illustrate a spiritual truth or moral lesson. A parable works by taking a familiar custom from everyday life and using it to demonstrate a hidden spiritual reality. For example, Jesus’ parables used illustrations that were easy to understand and associate with Biblical truths that were more difficult to grasp.
This teaching method takes on greater significance when we examine the word “symbolic” (or “figure”) here in Hebrews 9:9. “Symbolic” is derived from the word parabole in the original language of this passage and forms the basis for our modern-day word “parable.” So just as Jesus’ parables point the way to deeper spiritual truths, the tabernacle (along with its offerings and furnishings) represents an object lesson as well.
We can draw several parabolic applications from the tabernacle and its associated practices. For instance, consider the work of the Levitical priests. Since the high priest was the only person who was permitted to enter the Holy of Holies (and then only once a year), his work demonstrated that access to God was highly restricted. The repetitive nature of those Levitical sacrifices tells us that an all-inclusive offering for sin was unavailable under the Old Covenant. Then there was the fact that the priests were required to offer sacrifices for their personal sins before they could minister to others.
In addition to these external examples, there is also the matter of our internal consciences. Under the New Covenant, we are told, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”(1 John 1:9). But our passage from Hebrews 9:9 reminds us that this was not the case under the Old Covenant: “…under the old system, gifts and sacrifices were offered, but these failed to cleanse the hearts of the people who brought them” (TLB). Those sacrifices had no effect upon the internal attitudes of those who offered them, but that will be a subject for discussion in our next study.
So, these Old Covenant practices served as living parables that illustrated the need for something better. As our author has reiterated throughout this epistle, Jesus is that better way.