THE PARABLE OF THE TABERNACLE
#605 THE PARABLE OF THE TABERNACLE
Scripture Exodus 25:1-9; Hebrews 9:6-14 Orig. 2/17/1973
Rewr. 8/27/1990
Passage:
Exodus 25:1-9
25 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram skins dyed red and another type of durable leather[a]; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
Hebrews 9:6-14
6 When everything had been arranged like this, the priests entered regularly into the outer room to carry on their ministry. 7 But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning. 9 This is an illustration for the present time, indicating that the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper. 10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
The Blood of Christ
11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here,[a] he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining[b] eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,[c] so that we may serve the living God!
Purpose: Continuing a PM series on Old Testament parables, here describing the tabernacle and its latent type teaching fulfilled in Christ.
Keywords: Symbolism of Christ Hebrews History Tabernacle
Old Testament Parables
Timeline/Series: Old Testament Parables
Introduction
Recall of the function of the Hebrew High Priest is surely appropriate here. Yearly, on the 10th day of the 7th month (October), the Day of Atonement was celebrated as the most sacred day of the year.
On this one day, the High Priest took the fresh blood of sacrifice into the Holy of Holies, where he alone was permitted to enter. He renewed Israel’s covenant with God by sprinkling the blood upon the ‘throne of Jehovah,’ the Mercy Seat covering the Ark of the Covenant. Contained herein were their most treasured relics: the urn of manna, the rod of Aaron, and the two tablets of the covenant. (See Hebrews 9:4, Numbers 17:10.)
Returning from this mediatorial act, the High Priest then chose a living animal (goat), placed both of his own hands on the head of the goat and confessed the sins of the people. The animal was then driven away to suffer death at the hand of providence, thus becoming the blood offering wrought at God’s hand for all the sins of Israel.
The blood offering in the Holy of Holies covered unwittingly committed sin in the Holy Place. Consciously committed sin of the people was transferred to the scapegoat (Leviticus 16:10), for the transference of their guilt to the goat.
The parable (Hebrews 9:9—parabolē) calls to mind all the rich imagery of the Hebrew religion, but it will also graphically depict three underlying differences that we will consider momentarily.
I. A Brief Exposition of Exodus 25-31. Exodus 25:8, “And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.”
1. Basically, there are three themes covered in this second book of scripture.
a. Chapters 1-18 cover the Exodus, itself. The people are set free.
b. Chapters 19-24 present the law in its basic form. (Chapter 20—Ten Commandments.)
c. Remaining chapters describe every aspect of the tabernacle. (Chapters 25-40.)
i. Sanctuary, above, meant holy place.
ii. The word came to have meaning relative to material of the sanctuary.
S. Baxter (E15p76): “. . . the problem with which the various philosophies of life seek to deal is that of human freedom, responsibility, and privilege. Liberty without law is license. Responsibility without freedom is bondage. Liberty and responsibility together, without privilege—without rewards and punishments—lack motive and meaning. Here, in the Exodus, the Law, and the Tabernacle, we see these three things—in the Exodus, liberty; in the Law, responsibility; in the Tabernacle, privilege.”
2. The construction and refinement of the tabernacle was forced into two parts.
a. Moses was given the design (Exodus 25-31);
b. Idolatry invaded the camp and the plan is suspended. (Exodus 33:7)
i. Temporary replacement (Exodus 33:7)
ii. God descends in covenant.
c. The tabernacle is completed. Exodus chapters 35-40. Baxter, p95, “The Tabernacle was not designed with a view to any merely architectural impressiveness. It was designed to be a symbolical and typical expression of wonderful spiritual truth.”
II. A Description of the Tabernacle. Exodus 25:9, "According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, . . . even so shall ye make it.”
1. There was to be an outer court on a west to east axis 100 by 50 cubits (150 by 75 feet).
a. Total of 60 pillars—5 cubits apart.
b. Each would stand 5 cubits high.
2. Within this outer court was to be a sanctuary (divided).
a. Oblong (10 x 30 cubits on same axis).
b. A veil would separate the two parts.
i. Holy Place—priestly function
ii. Holy of Holies—High Priest on Day of Atonement
III. The Furnishings of the Tabernacle are Seven. Exodus 25:9, “According to . . . the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.”
1. Interestingly, there are seven times in scripture when this is reiterated. Exodus 25:9,40; 26:30; 27:8; Numbers 8:4; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:5.
a. New Testament words fashion or pattern: both Greek tupos
b. 5179 in HGSB—prototype
2. There are two articles in the Outer Court.
a. Brazen Altar—the first approach to Holy God is through atoning sacrifice.
b. Next is the Laver—sacred water for priestly cleansing.
3. Only thusly is the Holy Place entered by the priests.
a. On the right (north) is shewbread—here is both bread and drink decreeing sustenance in the spiritual life.
b. On the left (south) is the seven branched candelabrum—declaring spiritual illumination.
c. Deeper in the room is the Golden Altar of Incense—incense has always represented supplication (prayer).
4. Before us now is the veil separating the Holy of Holies.
a. Remember, only the High Priest enters here, and he only once a year on Day of Atonement.
b. The Throne inside consists of two parts.
i. The Ark: a gold-covered acacia chest—declaring the covenant.
ii. Above the Ark, the Mercy seat with cherubim—representing God’s presence.
IV. That Leaves Us to Determine What is Represented for the Future, Hebrews 9:8, “. . . The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, . . . which was a figure for the time then present.”
1. The seven articles represent seven symbolic teachings.
a. The altar—atonement
b. The laver—forgiveness
c. Shewbread—sustenance
d. Candlestick—illumination
e. Incense—supplication
f. Ark—covenant relationship
g. Mercy Seat—access to God
Job 13:3, “Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.”
Job 40:2, “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?”
Thus, there stands the critical issue of approach to God.
Job 42:5, “My ears have heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.
2. Look for a moment at a parallel to these seven teachings in John’s gospel
a. The Brazen Altar—John 1:29,36, John beholds “the Lamb of God!”
b. The Laver—John 3:5, “Except a man be born of water, and of the spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
c. Shewbread—John 4:10, “living water,” and John 6:51, “living bread.”
d. Candlestick—John 8:12, “I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.” See John 9:5.
e. Altar of Incense—
i. Just outside the veil—John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”
ii. Intercession—John 14:13, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified . . . Son.”
f. Jesus approaches as High Priest—John 17:1, “Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy son also may glorify thee.”
g. Covenant—John 20:17, “I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” John 20:19, “Peace be unto you.” John 20:22, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost.” John 20:29, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou has believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet . . . believed.”
3. Time has permitted us only to look at the Tabernacle and its furnishings.
a. They have revealed a likeness in even small detail to Christ.
b. They illustrate the person and work of the Redeemer.
c. There is type-teaching as well in the offerings, in the priesthood, etc.
Conclusion
The Post-Exilic Temple contained a Holy Place, and a Holy of Holies, but it was empty. No Ark, no tablets, no rod, no manna, no Mercy Seat, but the High Priest kept up his seduction. Hebrews 9:14, “. . . how much more shall the blood of Christ . . . purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” “Jesus Christ has revealed the living God whose Spirit inhabits not dead places and things, but the hearts of His believers.” (B74p141)
Links
Baxter: https://www.preceptaustin.org/exodus-25-commentary