Holy places. Greek hagia (see on chs. 8:2; 9:8, 25).
Made with hands. See on v. 11.
Figures. Greek antitupa, “copies,” “representations.” Our English word “antitype” comes from this Greek word, although we generally use “antitype” for that which is foreshadowed by the type. The Greek word may refer either to the original or to the copy. It occurs only once more in the NT (1 Peter 3:21).
Heaven itself. Here the “greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands” (v. 11) is equated with “heaven itself.” “The heavenly temple, the abiding-place of the King of kings, where ‘thousand thousands minister unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him,’ that temple filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where seraphim, its shining guardians, veil their faces in adoration — no earthly structure could represent its vastness and its glory” (PP 357).
Now. The author emphasizes the thought that Christ is already functioning as high priest. He is appealing to his readers to cease placing any dependence on the old Levitical system and to take full advantage of the glorious privileges provided by the new covenant (cf. on v. 9).
Presence of God. In contrast with the high priest of the earthly sanctuary (see on v. 8), who could appear only in the presence of the manifestation of the Deity in the Shekinah glory (see on Genesis 3:24), and that only once a year.
For us. Or, “in behalf of us.” He makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father” (see on 1 John 2:1).
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