“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” (Hebrews 9:6–7, KJV 1900)
In life, there are certain exclusive clubs in which only the members can enter. Kids often set these types of clubs up where certain kids cannot enter for a variety of reasons. They may want to get in, but are excluded. It is a very sad things to be excluded. However, consider what it might have been like to be an Israelite under the Old Covenant.
The author of Hebrews is speaking about the Old covenant dispensation in these verses. Under this dispensation, the Mosaic law established the Tabernacle, the priesthood, and the sacrificial system. Inside the Tabernacle there were two sections, the holy place, and the most holy place. In the most holy place was the ark of the covenant. This place was separated by a veil from the holy place.
Now, the priests continually entered the holy place, but only the high priest could enter the holiest place and this only once every year on the Day of Atonement. The people of the nation of Israel were twice removed from access to God. They could not even enter the holy place, much less the holiest place, the place of God’s manifest presence. Yes, they were excluded. The priests and high priest ministered for them by performing their respective duties. All of this was under the Old Covenant.
Jesus initiated the New Covenant by shedding His blood on the cross. The Scripture tells us that when Christ died on the cross the veil that separated the holy place from the holiest place in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matt 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). The significance of this is that Jesus has removed the veil that separated man from God. No longer must people be excluded. We now have access to God by faith in Jesus Christ alone. Jesus is our great high priest, who continuously ministers for us and we have access to God in Him.
Renewing the Heart 