8:1-2 What does the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man refer to here?
8:1-2 What does the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man refer to here?
This refers to heaven itself, God's dwelling place. Heaven is designated in scripture as the true tabernacle, and it is in this sanctuary that Jesus is seated at God's right hand and officiates as high priest. This is where He entered in bearing His own blood after His death on the cross (CP 9:11-12, 24; 10:19-20).
The example and shadow, or type of the true tabernacle in the Old Testament was the earthly tabernacle that Moses built, and the sanctuary where Jesus now officiates was typified by the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat, upon which the earthly high priest sprinkled the blood of the sin offering on the day of atonement, were situated (CP 8:5 with Ex 25:1, 8-10, 17-22; Lev 16:11-17).
The "example and shadow of heavenly things" (KJV), in He 8:5 does not mean that there are actual buildings in heaven which were copied in the earthly tabernacle, but that the heavenly realities were adequately symbolized and represented in the earthly tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, the Ark of the Covenant and the mercy seat etc. These were the "figures of the true" spoken of in He 9:24.
(See also comments on He 4:14-16, 7:25, 8:6, 9:1-10.