Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. 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: The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernaclewas yet standing… ~Hebrews 9:6- 8

Impactful truths can be missed when reading the book of Hebrews if we are not following the flow of thought being expressed by the writer. This is especially true in the middle portion of the epistle, because he speaks of things which Bible students may feel they have a background knowledge in, and consequently the student may actually miss what is being said.

Take for instance, the tabernacle. I had always read the words, the first tabernacle, in verse 8 as a reference to the entire tabernacle of Moses (the outer court, the inner court, and the Holy of Holies). However, as I pondered the teaching in Hebrews regarding the Holy of Holies, my understanding was opened and I realized I had been reading this text wrong. 

It dawned on me that the writer of Hebrews refers to each tented compartment within the tabernacle of Moses, as a tabernacle. He uses the term tabernacle, to refer to the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. He calls the Holy Place, the first tabernacle, and he calls the Holy of Holies the second tabernacle.

Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all… ~ Hebrews 9:1-3 

Now even the first covenant had regulations for divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. For a tabernacle was equipped, the outer sanctuary, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Most Holy Place… Hebrews 9:1-3 ~ NASB

The Amplified Bible says, Behind the second veil there was another tabernacle [the inner one or second section] known as the Holy of Holies…

The Berean Literal Bible says, Now behind the second veil was a tabernacle, being called the Holy of Holies.

The writer of Hebrews viewed each tented compartment of the tabernacle as a tabernacle. So when he mentions the first tabernacle in verse 6, we should follow his flow of thought and understand that he is referring to the inner court, and not the complete structure that we know as the tabernacle of Moses (the outer court, inner court, and Holy of Holies).

This clarification is a key component in understanding what the writer of Hebrews is teaching us regarding the High Priestly Ministry of Jesus and the new and living way that is opened to us through Jesus.

Under Moses, the High Priest entered alone, once a year. 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… ~ v 7 

Under the law, the lone entrance by the High Priests into the Most Holy Place (the 2nd tabernacle) was the continual reminder that reconciliation had not yet come. This correlates with what the writer of Hebrews will tell us in chapter 10 regarding the sacrifices offered by the High Priests.

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. ~ Hebrews 10:3

In contrast, Jesus entered the Most Holy Place in Heaven with no intention of staying there alone, because he put away sin by the sacrifice of himself (9:26). The separating veil has been removed through Jesus who came in the flesh and dwelt, (“tabernacled”) among us. Through Jesus, the holy place (the believer’s walk of faith), and the Most Holy Place (Christ in the presence of God), have become one with no separating veil.

Through the Holy Spirit the two compartments have become one, and we can dwell daily in the presence of God through the Spirit that our Heavenly Father has bestowed on us through the Son who is the radiance of his glory.