Topical Bible: Holy of Holies: The High Priest: Alone to Enter, Once a Year

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Holy of Holies, also known as the Most Holy Place, is the innermost and most sacred area of the ancient Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem. It is here that the presence of God was believed to dwell, above the Ark of the Covenant, between the cherubim on the mercy seat. The Holy of Holies was separated from the rest of the Tabernacle or Temple by a veil, signifying the holiness and separateness of God from sinful humanity.

Biblical Description and Significance

The Holy of Holies is first described in the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, as detailed in the book of Exodus. God instructed Moses on the specific dimensions and materials to be used, emphasizing the sacredness of this space (Exodus 26:33-34): "Hang the veil from the clasps and place the ark of the Testimony behind the veil. The veil will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Put the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place."

The Role of the High Priest

The High Priest held the unique and solemn responsibility of entering the Holy of Holies. This entrance was permitted only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), as prescribed in Leviticus 16. On this day, the High Priest would perform a series of rituals to atone for his own sins and the sins of the people of Israel. Leviticus 16:2 states, "The LORD said to Moses: 'Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.'"

Rituals and Symbolism

The rituals performed by the High Priest included the offering of sacrifices and the sprinkling of blood on the mercy seat, symbolizing the atonement of sins and the reconciliation between God and His people. The High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies with incense, creating a cloud that would cover the mercy seat, as a protective measure against the direct presence of God (Leviticus 16:12-13).

The exclusivity of the High Priest's access to the Holy of Holies underscores the gravity of sin and the necessity of mediation between God and humanity. The High Priest served as a representative of the people, bearing their sins and seeking God's forgiveness on their behalf.

The Veil and Its Significance

The veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple was a constant reminder of the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity. This barrier was symbolically removed at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as described in the New Testament. Matthew 27:51 records, "At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split." This event signifies the new access to God made possible through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, who is described in the book of Hebrews as the ultimate High Priest (Hebrews 9:11-12).

Conclusion

The Holy of Holies, with its restricted access and profound rituals, highlights the holiness of God and the seriousness of sin. The role of the High Priest, entering alone once a year, points to the need for a mediator, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who provides believers with direct access to God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 9:7
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether the Priesthood of Christ Endures for Ever?
... consummation of Christ's sacrifice was foreshadowed in this, that the high-priest
of the Old ... In like manner Christ entered into the Holy of Holies"-that is ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priesthood of christ.htm

The Intercession of Christ
... into the heavens, entered into the holy of holies with His ... the ends of the earth,
while His holy name is ... He saw Joshua the high priest, who, in that character ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xlvii the intercession of.htm

The Mystic Meaning of the Tabernacle and Its Furniture.
... So the high priest, putting off his consecrated robe (the universe, and the creation ...
washes himself, and puts on the other tunic"a holy-of-holies one, so ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vi the mystic meaning of.htm

Hebrews ix. 5-Jan
... mean for instance, the Heaven is a veil, for as a veil it walls off the Holy of
Holies; the flesh ... "But Christ" (he says) "being come an High Priest": he did ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xv hebrews ix 5-jan.htm

Interpretation of Holy Scripture. --Inspired Interpretation. --The ...
... Thus, the provision that the high-priest alone should enter, once a year, into the
Holy of Holies, not without blood, he interprets as follows ,""the Holy ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon v interpretation of holy.htm

Hebrews ix. 24-26
... 3125] [Sacrifice] was once for all offered, [and] carried into the Holy of Holies. ...
Luke 22:19.) It is not another sacrifice, as the High Priest, but we ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xvii hebrews ix 24-26.htm

Scriptural Types.
... sanctuary daily to burn incense and perform the other prescribed services; but the
high priest alone was permitted ... In respect to the holy of holies, we have ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxxvii scriptural types.htm

Letter viii. To Demophilus, Therapeutes. About Minding Ones Own ...
... one shall be in the rank of his own service, and alone the High Priest [110] shall
enter into the Holy of holies, and once only throughout the year [111] , and ...
/.../letters of dionysius the areopagite/letter viii to demophilus therapeutes.htm

The Rent Veil
... presumption and of profane intrusion into the secret place of the Most High. ... for
even the holy place, which was the vestibule of the Holy of Holies, was for ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/the rent veil.htm

What is the Sanctuary?
... he looked within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. ... the priests ministered
daily in the holy place, while once a year the high priest performed a ...
/.../the great controversy between christ and satan /23 what is the sanctuary.htm