Hebrews 8:5 (NIV) – They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Hebrews 8:5 (Message Bible) – These priests provide only a hint of what goes on in the true sanctuary of heaven, which Moses caught a glimpse of as he was about to set up the tent-shrine. It was then that God said, “Be careful to do it exactly as you saw it on the Mountain.”
The Writer of Hebrews tells us about Jesus the High Priest. He tells us that Jesus is superior to all Priests who ever served. Jesus is a High Priest in the original Sanctuary in heaven, while other Priests served in a Sanctuary that was a copy.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that when Moses made the earthly Sanctuary, he was instructed by God to do an exact copy. God showed Moses the heavenly Sanctuary. Then God told Moses, “do it exactly as you saw it.”
Do not rationalize if the plan is sensible. Do it exactly as you saw it. Do not look at what is practical or not. Do it exactly as you saw it. Your based experts may suggest variations. Do it exactly as you saw it.
When you study the Sanctuary, every piece of it has a meaning. It is a representation of God’s plan of salvation for humanity. Therefore it had to be done exactly or else the meaning would change. To change any detail would change the meaning God wanted to communicate. Therefore, Moses was told, do it exactly as you saw it.
When you read the Bible, apply it to your life exactly as you saw it. To adjust application according to your feelings and circumstances may changes the good purposes God had for you. Do it exactly as you saw it!
The Sanctuary gate represented Jesus the gate to life through which sheep get in. The lamb and all animals being sacrificed, represented Jesus the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The Priest represented Jesus our High Priest. Do it exactly as you saw it.
The altar of sacrifice represented the cross where Jesus would die. The bronze water basin at the entrance represented Jesus the water of life. The bread at the holy place represented Jesus the bread of life. The light at the holy place represented Jesus the light of the world. Do it exactly as you saw it!
The altar of incense at the holy place represented the ministry of Jesus in heaven, where He prays for us. The law of God in the most holy place represents the character of God. The ark of the covenant represents the throne of God, also known as the mercy seat. Do it exactly as you saw it!
The outer compound represents the world where we live in and where Jesus came to die. The holy and most holy place represents heaven where God dwells. The Sanctuary being at the center of Israel community represents the supposed centrality of salvation and things of God in our lives. Do it exactly as you saw it!
The doors and gate faced east. Jesus would return from the eastern skies. This represents a constant focus on the second coming of Jesus. The book of Titus tells us, looking forward to the blessed hope the appearing of our Lord and Savior. Do it exactly as you saw it!
Every aspect of the Sanctuary had a salvific meaning. To change any aspect may seem innocent and nothing to worry about, but it would easily render useless what God was trying to communicate and make it meaningless. Do it exactly as you saw it!
Hebrews 8:5 (NIV) – They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
Hebrews 8:5 (Message Bible) – These priests provide only a hint of what goes on in the true sanctuary of heaven, which Moses caught a glimpse of as he was about to set up the tent-shrine. It was then that God said, “Be careful to do it exactly as you saw it on the Mountain.”
God wasn’t petty when He said, do it exactly as you saw it. We must just do exactly what the Bible says and what God has revealed. We may not understand everything, but over time we will understand what God had for us. Therefore, for now, we must just do exactly as He tells us without alteration. Do it exactly as you saw it!
The Sabbath is Saturday, not Sunday and not any day of your choice. Do it exactly as you saw it. There are clean and unclean food that we can eat and those we should avoid. Do it exactly as you saw it. There is a recommended behavior in the Bible for a believer. Do it exactly as you saw it!
Forgive your enemies and love them. Do it exactly as you saw it. God promises to revenge against those who hurt us, therefore we should not revenge or hold grudges. Do it exactly as you saw it.
We can worship online and enjoy following services online, but where there is accessible fellowship and we are not sick, God says, we should not stop meeting together as some are in the habit of doing. Do it exactly as you saw it. What you don’t understand you will understand later. For now, do it exactly as you saw it!
As we read scripture, we see many things. Do it exactly as you saw it. That doesn’t mean reading without interpretation, no! We must properly interpret scripture then do it exactly as we saw it. We see many things as we are preached to and taught. If it is consistent with scripture, do it exactly as you saw it!
May God help us to do it exactly as we saw it. May God forgive us for changing what we saw to suit our circumstances. May God save us from people who change what God says. May we do it exactly as we saw it. In Jesus’s name, Amen!
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