5 The work that these priests do is really only a copy and a shadow of the things that are in heaven. That is why God warned Moses {\cf2\super [82]} when Moses was ready to build the Holy Tent {\cf2\super [83]} : “Be sure to make everything exactly like the pattern I showed you on the mountain.” {\cf2\super [84]}
5 who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
5 [But these offer] service [merely] as a pattern and as a foreshadowing of [what has its true existence and reality in] the heavenly sanctuary. For when Moses was about to erect the tabernacle, he was warned by God, saying, See to it that you make it all [exactly] according to the copy (the model) which was shown to you on the mountain. [Exod. 25:40.]
5 who serve that which is a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, even as Moses is warned of God when he is about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern that was showed thee in the mount.
5 They serve in a place that is a copy and shadow of the heavenly meeting tent. This is indicated when Moses was warned by God when he was about to set up the meeting tent: “See that you follow the pattern that I showed you on the mountain in every detail”.
5 gifts which serve as mere examples and shadows of the heavenly things. And so it was answered to Moses, when he was about to complete the tabernacle: "See to it," he said, "that you make everything according to the example which was revealed to you on the mountain."
5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered to Moses, when he was to finish the tabernacle: See (saith he) that thou make all things according to the pattern which was shewn thee on the mount.
David had made plans for all parts of the temple. David gave those plans to Solomon. David gave him all the plans for the yard around the Lord’s temple, and for all the rooms around it. David gave him the plans for the temple storerooms and for the storerooms where they kept the holy things used in the temple.
This is how the lampstand was made: It was made from hammered gold, all the way from the gold base {at the bottom} to the gold flowers {at the top}. It looked just like the pattern that the Lord had shown to Moses.
But God warned the wise men in a dream. God warned them not to go back to Herod. {\cf2\super [24]} So the wise men went home to their own country a different way.
“The Holy Tent {\cf2\super [144]} was with our ancestors in the desert. God told Moses how to make this tent. He made it like the plan that God showed him.
The law {\cf2\super [119]} gave us only an unclear picture of the good things coming in the future. The law is not a perfect picture of the real things. The law tells people to offer the same sacrifices {\cf2\super [120]} every year. The people who come to worship God continue to offer those sacrifices. But the law can never make those people perfect.
Noah was warned by God about things that Noah could not yet see. But Noah had faith and respect for God. So Noah built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong. And Noah became one of those people who are made right with God through faith.
Be careful and don’t refuse to listen when God speaks. Those people (Israelites) refused to listen to him when he warned them on earth. And those people did not escape. Now God is speaking from heaven. So now it will be worse for those people who refuse to listen to him.
This is an example for us today. This shows that the gifts and sacrifices {\cf2\super [103]} that were offered to God were not able to fully cleanse the person who was worshiping God. Those sacrifices could not make that person perfect in his heart.
In the future, if it happens that your children say that we do not belong to Israel, then our children can say, ‘Look! Our fathers who lived before us made an altar. That altar is exactly like the Lord’s altar {at the Holy Tent}. We do not use this altar for sacrifices—this altar is proof that we are part of Israel.’