Hebrews 9:1-10 - The Earthly Ministry Of The Old Covenant

¹ So indeed the first covenant had its regulations for worship and its earthly sanctuary. ² For the first or outer part of the tent, which is called the holy place, was equipped with the lamp and table and the presentation bread. ³ But behind the second curtain is the tent that is called the holy of holies, ⁴ with its golden incense-altar and the chest for the covenant, completely covered with gold, and in it a golden jar which held the manna, Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets on which the covenant was written; ⁵ and above the chest were the winged creatures, the symbols of God's glorious presence, overshadowing the mercy seat, of which I cannot now speak in detail.

⁶ With these arrangements completed in this way, the priests in conducting their official services regularly go into the outer part of the tent of worship; ⁷ but into the second or inner part nobody but the high priest may go, and he only once a year, and never without blood which he offers for himself and for the sins committed in ignorance by the people. ⁸ By this the Holy Spirit was showing that there was as yet no access to the real sanctuary while the outer tent was still in existence, ⁹ for it is merely a symbol of the present time in connection with which gifts and sacrifices are repeatedly offered though they cannot make the conscience of the worshiper perfect, ¹⁰ since they deal only with food and drink and various washings, that is, with mere material regulations which are in force only until the time of setting things straight.