
Psalms 15 posed a serious question of concern:
Psalm 15:1-5 KJV
Lord , who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? [2] He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. [3] He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. [4] In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord . He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. [5] He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
It was buttressed by Psalms 24
Psalm 24:3-4 KJV
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord ? or who shall stand in his holy place? [4] He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
A pure heart... a pure heart... a pure heart... God is holy. God's hill is holy. A man that must ascend here must be holy in and out.
The outward holiness was still very likely as at the time that scripture was written. The Pharisees wash outside hands habitually (Matthew 7:5). They wash the outside of the cup..
*[[Mat 23:25]] KJV* Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
(Also Luke 11:39)
External qualities of good conduct, praying and fasting regularly, giving to the poor and having good deeds, they are so excellent so much that Jesus dedicated them a righteousness saying "THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES"
*[[Mat 5:20]] KJV* For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 18:11-12 KJV
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are , extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. [12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
However, the inside has always been a problem because THE HEART IS INACCESSIBLE by deeds.
Jeremiah confessed.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things , and desperately wicked: who can know it? [none but] I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
The inside is deceitful and tricky: you could be deceived to think you're clean if you count on your gullible eyes.
Such was the case of the "holy" Isaiah who used to think he's pure above others until Isaiah 6 when He that can try the heart to know it's true state made him see his wretchedness. Then he cried.,
Isaiah 6:5 KJV
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of UNCLEAN lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
Psalm 14:1-3 KJV
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. [2] The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. [3] They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
So the question: who shall enter into God's hill is magnified. Who is qualified? Remember God, who alone knows the heart, has concluded all under sin: you may think you're OK to go in, but Isaiah tried it and he saw how true God's conclusion is. "Holy" Moses attempted the same. He asked to see God's glory but he saw God's "back" showing him God's not at peace with men including himself. So who shall enter into God's hill?
The answer?
Hebrews 9:8 KJV
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
The Holy Ghost was passing a message in all these scriptures that man cannot come... Yes, your sins have separated you from your God (Isaiah 59:1-2) but a man will soon come and make peace by His blood and will bring many sons unto glory, the glory Moses was begging to see.
So when you read those verses and similar ones, you'll be a good Bible student to interprete that was because the way into the holy hill was not yet manifest. But today,
Hebrews 9:11-12 KJV
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood HE ENTERED... Alleluia!
Did he entered just for himself? No!
he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption FOR US .
The verse is saying, we don't need a repetitive entering. In fact, we don't need to enter individually... so NO PERSONAL ASSESSMENT or personal examination must be passed.
Once He entered and that is just ENOUGH! Oh great joy He entered having secured eternal redemption for us! Today we have an eternal redemption if the above scripture is anything to go by. This is the glory of the new covenant. Alleluia!