Hebrews 9:1-28
9:1-5 Humanity itself has been on a journey of evolution of faith. This chapter of Hebrews explains to us the nature of humanity's belief and communication with God before the concept of spirituality was introduced. Humanity's understanding of God was rudimentary at best. The limitations of the human mind (having not yet even reached the period of Enlightenment, when humanity truly began to uncover the intricacies of life) disallowed them from understanding God as a spiritual concept. Therefore, humans needed first a more tangible way to understand the concept of God. This was accomplished through the construction of a physical sanctuary, representative of God.
9:6 Continuing in the representation of God and the order of life, "special" places existed within the physical sanctuary to represent that the closer to faith a person was, the more accessible become God. Only the people who possessed faith and purity of compassion and authentic repentance for their mistakes would enter these special places.
9:7 Having evolved spiritually and intellectually, we understand broader and more visceral concepts. Yet the fundamental principles remain. We offer our gifts (talents and abilities) to the service of God: helping His children overcome various tribulations. We offer the sacrifices which come from having and expressing humility.
9:8 And yet our most personal and intricate relationship with God could not and did not come until the rudimentary-in-nature use of the physical sanctuary was graduated from. If you put a baby in a chair at the table, it's entirely unsuitable for them. The concept is too far from their understanding, they do not fit into the seat, cannot see over the table and are not able to properly utilize the materials. So we start off by putting a baby in a high-chair. We support their growth and introduce complex concepts in increments, while supporting them physically and intellectually (and emotionally) according to the current and specific stage they are in.
9:9-10 The use of this earthly sanctuary was primarily for earthly, material desires. Without the heightened sense of consciousness, people were not necessarily concerned with deepening their spirituality or even in bettering their character. The concept the learned at the time was largely: trust in your creator, do not be evil and receive the possessions which make your life more comfortable (food, shelter, water).
We achieve quite differently through spirituality today and it is much because of the spiritual concepts introduced and established in the New Testament. The New Testament which proclaims personal purpose and potential and cooperation on a universal and spiritual scale. Yes, a relationship with God helps you to obtain and retain basic human rights and needs but there is a second part: we have a mission here.
9:7 Having evolved spiritually and intellectually, we understand broader and more visceral concepts. Yet the fundamental principles remain. We offer our gifts (talents and abilities) to the service of God: helping His children overcome various tribulations. We offer the sacrifices which come from having and expressing humility.
9:8 And yet our most personal and intricate relationship with God could not and did not come until the rudimentary-in-nature use of the physical sanctuary was graduated from. If you put a baby in a chair at the table, it's entirely unsuitable for them. The concept is too far from their understanding, they do not fit into the seat, cannot see over the table and are not able to properly utilize the materials. So we start off by putting a baby in a high-chair. We support their growth and introduce complex concepts in increments, while supporting them physically and intellectually (and emotionally) according to the current and specific stage they are in.
9:9-10 The use of this earthly sanctuary was primarily for earthly, material desires. Without the heightened sense of consciousness, people were not necessarily concerned with deepening their spirituality or even in bettering their character. The concept the learned at the time was largely: trust in your creator, do not be evil and receive the possessions which make your life more comfortable (food, shelter, water).
We achieve quite differently through spirituality today and it is much because of the spiritual concepts introduced and established in the New Testament. The New Testament which proclaims personal purpose and potential and cooperation on a universal and spiritual scale. Yes, a relationship with God helps you to obtain and retain basic human rights and needs but there is a second part: we have a mission here.
9:11-12 Once graduated from our high-chair, so to speak, humanity's ability to understand spiritual concepts became possible and thereby rendered the coming of spirituality manifested: the Messiah, Jesus. And Jesus's message obliterated the need for physical sanctuaries. He exemplified and taught humans of the personal, spiritual and direct contact with God. No building or animal sacrifice was required.
9:13-14 God told humanity outright that sacrifices were not the way to establish a personal connection with Him:
Isaiah 1:11 New King James Version“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord.“I have had enough of burnt offerings of ramsAnd the fat of fed cattle.I do not delight in the blood of bulls,Or of lambs or goats.
Jesus instructed and showed us a new way to perceive of and grow our relationship with God. Our connection with Him is developed through our soul, our spirit, the spiritual life within these earthly vessels (our bodies). Through our thoughts and intentions and love and emotion, words and actions rather than through sacrifice we are known and helped and loved by God.
9:15 The death of Jesus became redemption for humanity's previous, ignorant and selfish lifestyles. Not because God required vengeance but because a Soul offered to come here on earth to teach these spiritual concepts... even knowing it would result in His earthly death. An earthly death He must have accepted in order for the concept or spirituality and life after earth to be understood and believed.
9:16-17 As this faith is representative of life, life is required to justify and establish it. If Jesus had come and not died, He could not have resurrected in an example to humanity that this was a philosophy of LIFE, even beyond the supposed limits of earth and earthly bodies.
9:18-22 Although understood now to us as a barbaric action, humanity has always required actual life-and-death scenarios to understand... well, the nature of life and creation. Blood has become symbolic now: we dedicate ourselves to this philosophy of faith and life and love rather than actual blood. Only life can purchase life (not money ,not fame, not power). A devotion to being in service to life (promoting it, inspiring it, defending it, creating it) is our only way and return to spiritual, eternal life.
9:18-22 Although understood now to us as a barbaric action, humanity has always required actual life-and-death scenarios to understand... well, the nature of life and creation. Blood has become symbolic now: we dedicate ourselves to this philosophy of faith and life and love rather than actual blood. Only life can purchase life (not money ,not fame, not power). A devotion to being in service to life (promoting it, inspiring it, defending it, creating it) is our only way and return to spiritual, eternal life.
9:23-24 This philosophy has not been made with material. This earth lightly reflects the spiritual life, which is deeper, brighter, more colorful, more dynamic and lasting and energetic. Jesus came to teach us about Spirit and how inferior earthly things are to It (in example: the tabernacle).
9:25-26 Jesus's sacrifice was (is) comprehensive. It does not need to be reiterated. His profoundly humble and compassionate manifestation on the earth was enough to absolve, teach and lead humanity. Spiritual life supersedes earthly life. What is done by Spirit is complete, eternal, invulnerable.
9:28 For those who absorb and learn and follow, when Spirituality manifests itself on earth again, it will be to welcome them to eternity (a concept we are now more able to grasp).
9:25-26 Jesus's sacrifice was (is) comprehensive. It does not need to be reiterated. His profoundly humble and compassionate manifestation on the earth was enough to absolve, teach and lead humanity. Spiritual life supersedes earthly life. What is done by Spirit is complete, eternal, invulnerable.
9:28 For those who absorb and learn and follow, when Spirituality manifests itself on earth again, it will be to welcome them to eternity (a concept we are now more able to grasp).
