Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place,
The cross references for Hebrews 9:3 relate to the concept of a Most Holy Place and the separation of the Holy Place from it. They also touch on the importance of the veil and the ark of the testimony in the separation of the two areas, as well as the tearing of the veil in Matthew 27:51 which symbolizes the new access to the Most Holy Place. All of these references point to the idea of a special place set apart from the rest of the temple and accessible only to the High Priest.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Exodus 26:31-33: “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. | Both passages refer to the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle. Hebrews 9:3 explains that the Most Holy Place was behind the second curtain, while Exodus 26:31–33 provides details about the veil, including that it was made with cherubim skillfully worked into it and was hung on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold. |
| Exodus 40:3: And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. | Both passages refer to the same physical structure, the Tabernacle, which was the dwelling place of God among his people. Hebrews 9:3 is describing the second section of the Tabernacle, the Most Holy Place, which was separated from the first section by a curtain. Exodus 40:3 is referring to the Ark of the Covenant, which was placed in the Most Holy Place and had a veil placed over it. |
| Exodus 40:21: And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses. | Both passages refer to the tabernacle in the Old Testament. Hebrews 9:3 describes the Most Holy Place, which was the innermost part of the tabernacle. Exodus 40:21 describes the veil of the screen, which was used to separate the Most Holy Place from the rest of the tabernacle. The veil represented the barrier between God and humanity. |
| Matthew 27:51: And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. | Both passages describe the curtain of the temple being torn in two. Hebrews 9:3 explains that the curtain was located in the Most Holy Place, which was only accessible to the High Priest. Matthew 27:51 describes the moment when the curtain was torn in two, which symbolized the fact that Jesus had opened the way for all people to approach God. This event also caused an earthquake and the splitting of rocks, which demonstrated the power of Jesus' sacrifice. |
| Hebrews 9:8: By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing | Both passages refer to the tabernacle, which was a tent-like structure that was used for worship in the Old Testament. Hebrews 9:3 describes the Most Holy Place, which was the inner chamber of the tabernacle. Hebrews 9:8 explains that the way into the Most Holy Place has not yet been opened, as long as the first section of the tabernacle is still standing. This is a reference to the death of Jesus, which opened the way for believers to enter the Most Holy Place. |
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the beauty of Your creation and for the gift of Your holy Word. We thank You for the veil that You instructed Moses to hang in the tabernacle, separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. We thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus, whose death tore the veil in two, and opened up the way for us to have direct access to You. We thank You for the Holy Spirit, who guides us and reminds us that the way into the holy places is still open to us. We thank You for the privilege of being able to approach You and draw near to You in prayer. We ask that You would continue to reveal Yourself to us, and that You would fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may be ever mindful of Your presence and power in our lives. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
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