v1: An explanation of some of the details of the first covenant, and their fulfilment in Christ. It is emphasised that many details are not explained here (v5), and that the first covenant was only ever temporary (v10).

v2-5: The tabernacle, the earthly sanctuary, was central to worship under the old covenant. It was "set up", or 'prepared'; just as Christ's body was prepared for Him (10.5).

In the first room, the Holy Place, the priests regularly entered (v6), and presented sacrifices for sins (10.11).

In the Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies), behind the veil, the priest entered once each year (v7). See v11-12 for its fulfilment in Christ.

v6: The priests entered the Holy Place offering repeated sacrifices.

v7: The offering made, on the Day of Atonement, for sins of ignorance, i.e: the sinful nature of man. Jesus Christ had no such sinful nature, and thus had no need of this sacrifice.

v8: The very existence, and the continuing presence, of the tabernacle demonstrated that access to the real Holy Place was not available to all.

v9: All the gifts and sacrifices could never make the worshipper perfect; and were symbolic for the person and ministry of Christ.

v10: The temporary plan. Something better was brought in after the "time of the new order". Thus, by implication, we are wrong to return to the old ways. Someone wisely noted that we must not use those ceremonies which God once appointed for worship; and we should not use those ceremonies which God never appointed.

v11: Christ is the High Priest of the good things that have come, true spiritual salvation. The greater and more perfect tabernacle is Himself.

v12: With His own blood, Jesus Christ has entered the Most Holy Place once for all. There is no need for an annual repetition, for He has obtained eternal redemption.

v13: The value of the blood of goats and bulls; it was not totally useless, but not perfectly effective, since it achieved the sanctifying of the flesh.

v14: The blood of Christ brings deeper cleansing, the purging of the conscience, bringing in hope and assurance. The purpose of His death; "that we may serve the living God." This is a call throughout the NT; Matt 5.16; John 9.4; Titus 2.41; Rev 22.12.

We are delivered from 'dead works;' the NIV margin has 'useless rituals,' meaning any practice without life and faith. In 1 Cor 13.1-3, Paul refers to works done without love, which are similarly 'dead works.'

v15: Christ is the better mediator; by His death He achieved these wonderful things. Those who are called into salvation receive the promised eternal inheritance. We must therefore never belittle the importance of Christ's death.

v16-17: The link between a will and a covenant, being the same Greek word, is used to explain further the benefits of Christ's death for us. Through death others receive the inheritance; until the death the will has no effect. The words of intention are written before the death, but they only come into effect at death. Thus the wonderful promises of God are brought into effect through the death of Jesus Christ.

v18: The first covenant was also based on death, through the shedding of blood. The first covenant started with the sprinkling of blood. The blood of Jesus Christ is much more effective, see v14, 22.

v19-21: See Ex 24.1-8, where Israel promised to live under the first covenant. Although Moses used the blood to signal the commencement of the old covenant, the principle of shedding of blood goes back as far as Gen 3, where an animal was slain to provide Adam and Eve with covering (atonement).

v22: It was therefore no coincidence that "nearly everything" had to be cleansed with blood. By this means the principle was established that "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."

 ‘For the death of the sacrifice was only a means towards an end, that end being the shedding and the sprinkling of the blood.’ (Alfred Edersheim, The Temple, its Ministry and Service)

v23: The copies (the shadow, 8.5) of the heavenly things; it was necessary that they accurately reflected what was to come; those sacrifices were therefore similar to the better sacrifices. The heavenly things demanded better sacrifices, which are fulfilled in Christ.

v24: The holy place in the tabernacle was a copy of the true holy place. It was into this holy place that Christ has entered, to appear in God's presence. Christ never entered the temple in Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice.

The writer emphasizes the single sacrifice. John Bunyan says, ".. had offered one, one only, one once, but one, sacrifice ..." (Prayer)

v25: Nor is there any need for a repeated sacrifice; eternal redemption is achieved in one offering. The High Priest entered the Most Holy Place with the blood of another (Lev 16.11-15), and only one man could enter (Lev 16.17).

v26: The foolish concept, that Christ would have had to suffer many times. He has died "once for all" to deal with the whole sin problem. This is perhaps the central statement of His priestly work.

The ‘end of the ages (world),’ descriptive of the whole time from Christ’s death through until His return. The phrase implies that the things of this world will, one day, draw to a close. Further the promises of God will inevitably be fulfilled.

v27: Even so, each one will have to face judgment after death.

v28: Christ will reappear, like the High Priest returning from the Most Holy Place, not to deal with sin, for that is put away, but for salvation to be announced. v12 refers to Christ entering the Most Holy Place; this verse explains His return to the people. The people are waiting for Him to return, and all the promises will be fulfilled.