What does Hebrews 9:9 reveal about the conscience under the old system? The Old Tabernacle: A Symbol with Limits Hebrews 9:9 — “It is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper.” What the Verse Tells Us about Conscience • The sacrifices were real, but they served as “a symbol,” pointing beyond themselves. • They addressed outward impurity, yet left the inner man—his conscience—unfinished and uneasy. • “Cannot perfect” underscores a built-in inadequacy; the worshiper walked away ritually cleansed yet still burdened by an awareness of guilt. Further Evidence from the Old Testament • Psalm 40:6-8 hints at the insufficiency of sacrifices: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire…” • Micah 6:6-8 asks whether multiplied offerings can appease God, concluding that true righteousness springs from the heart. These passages foreshadow the very conscience problem Hebrews highlights. The System’s Built-in Shortcomings • Repetition: Daily and yearly offerings (Hebrews 10:1-3) reminded Israel of sin instead of removing it. • External focus: Washings, animal blood, priestly rituals cleansed “the flesh” (Hebrews 9:13) but not the conscience. • Restricted access: Only the high priest entered the Most Holy Place, and only once a year (Hebrews 9:7), signaling incomplete reconciliation. Why Conscience Matters • Conscience is the inner witness that either accuses or excuses (Romans 2:15). • A guilty conscience keeps people at a distance from God (Genesis 3:8). • True fellowship requires a conscience “sprinkled clean” (Hebrews 10:22). Christ: The Better Remedy • Hebrews 9:14 — “How much more will the blood of Christ… cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God!” • Unlike animal blood, His sacrifice is once for all (Hebrews 10:10). • Through His finished work, believers receive bold access to God (Hebrews 10:19-20). Living in the Light of a Cleansed Conscience • Confident service: With guilt removed, we “serve the living God” (Hebrews 9:14). • Ongoing assurance: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). • Practical holiness: Freed from inner turmoil, we pursue obedience from the heart (1 Peter 1:15-16). In short, Hebrews 9:9 exposes the old system’s inability to resolve the deep need of the human conscience, preparing the way for Christ, whose superior sacrifice provides the complete cleansing the Law could only symbolize. |
    |