“It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience (Hebrews 9:9).”
There may be no more compelling typological figures in the Old Testament than those of the High Priest, the tabernacle, and the sacrifices offered there; all of which find their antitypical fulfillment in Christ. Through the implementation of this earthly priesthood and house of God that remained in the midst of His people, God prepared men for the deeper spiritual reality Jesus would usher in under the New Covenant.
Aaron, the brother of Moses, served in the role of High Priest representing all of the children of God and serving daily in the tabernacle with the blood of daily sacrifices to atone for their sins. The inspired writer tells us, “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Therefore it was necessary that THE COPIES of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Hebrews 9:22-23).” The practices in the tabernacle were but copies, or types, of the real work of intercession by our High Priest, Jesus Himself (Hebrews 8:1).
Aaron was specially designated as the only one who could enter into the holy of holies (Hebrews 9:8) and present blood before the mercy seat to atone for his sins for those of all the people (Leviticus 16:2-3, 17, 24). In so doing, the High Priest was entering into the very presence of God with a blood sacrifice. All of this was pointing to the fulfillment of this typology as Christ entered into heaven itself, on our behalf, to atone for sins in the very presence of God the Father (Hebrews 9:11-15).”
As Aaron performed his duties in the holy place of the tabernacle he was instructed to wear an elaborate breastplate with 12 different types of jewels placed in gold settings, each bearing the name of a tribe of Israel. Matthew Henry saw in this a foreshadowing of Christ’s priestly service as He intercedes in the heavenly realm carrying the names of each of the Father’s precious children on His heart. Imagine your name engraved on the heart of Jesus and represented by a costly gem (1). He not only bears your name upon His heart but He carries you in his bosom as He intercedes for you (Isaiah 40:11).
Those animal sacrifices offered there were but a token of the real sacrifice of Jesus Himself for our sins (Hebrews 10:1). The life of the substitute animal was in the blood (Leviticus 17:11) which was accepted to atone for sins (Leviticus 1:3-5). Jesus is the antitype of all of these former sacrifices in that he redeemed us with His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19).
The tabernacle made by men, a temporal tent, was but a shadow of the true dwelling of God in heaven (Hebrews 8:1-5). It was to be a daily reminder to the people that God dwelt in the midst of them. We too are to have this continual awareness that God abides in our presence perpetually (1 Corinthians 6:19). The great antitype of the figure of the earthly dwelling for the Divine is that God is now constructing a holy house for Himself and has set Christ as the chief cornerstone of that building (Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:6). And just as the High Priest wore a breast plate with precious jewels to represent the people, our heavenly Father is erecting this holy home, brick by brick, with the people He adores. The Apostle wrote; “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5).” Christian, you are a part of God’s forever home and have been made a priest in His house and your service to Him is both for now and forever (1 Peter 2:9) with Jesus serving as our High Priest.
“Which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ (Colossians 2:17).”