What does "once a year" in Hebrews 9:7 teach about Old Testament atonement? The Scene Behind Hebrews 9:7 “Only the high priest entered the second room, and only once a year, and never without blood…” (Hebrews 9:7) • The “second room” is the Most Holy Place (Leviticus 16:2). • “Once a year” refers to the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16:29-34). • Access was forbidden to everyone else, even to the high priest on ordinary days (Exodus 26:33). Why God Limited Entry to a Single Day • God’s holiness: continual reminder that sin bars humanity from His immediate presence (Isaiah 59:2). • The people’s sinfulness: an annual event engraved the reality of ongoing guilt (Leviticus 16:21-22). • The priest’s own need: he had to offer blood “for himself” first (Hebrews 9:7; Leviticus 16:11). • Divine appointment: frequency was set by God, not human whim (Leviticus 23:27). What “Once a Year” Teaches About Old-Covenant Atonement 1. Limited access – Only one man, one day, one place. – Sin created a barricade symbolized by the veil (Exodus 26:33; Hebrews 9:8). 2. Repetition reveals insufficiency – Annual sacrifices could “never, by the same sacrifices… make perfect” (Hebrews 10:1). – Each return visit broadcast that sins were only covered, not removed (Hebrews 10:3-4). 3. Substitution through blood – “Never without blood” (Hebrews 9:7) echoes Leviticus 17:11: “the life of the flesh is in the blood.” – The innocent bore the penalty that the guilty might live. 4. Corporate forgiveness – The high priest represented the entire nation (Leviticus 16:15-16). – Atonement was both individual and communal, fostering unity in repentance. 5. Grace within judgment – God provided a path, though narrow, for reconciliation (Leviticus 16:30). – Even the rigorous restrictions were an act of mercy, not cruelty. How “Once” Under the Old Covenant Points to “Once for All” in the New • Contrast: annual vs. eternal—“He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood” (Hebrews 9:12). • Fulfillment: the veil torn at Christ’s death (Matthew 27:51) signals open access. • Sufficiency: “By one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). • Mediation: Jesus now “always lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25), replacing the yearly mediator. Takeaways for Today • Sin is serious; God never trivializes guilt. • Blood atonement is God’s designated remedy, culminating in Christ’s sacrifice. • Access to God is no longer restricted to a calendar date or sacred architecture—Christ opened the way. • Gratitude replaces anxiety: we rest in a finished atonement, not an annual reprieve. |
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