The ordinary Levi priests were limited to the first part of the tabernacle in their service.

Hebrews 9:6 "Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services." (NKJV)

The high priest alone could serve in the Holiest of all, and that was limited to once a year.

Hebrews 9:7 "But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance;" (NKJV)

The Levitical repetitive offerings meant that nothing permanent was ever accomplished by the Aaronic priesthood, all of which affirms the superiority of Christ's sacrifice and Priesthood. The thought of the writer is that just as the earthly high priest passed through the first part of the tabernacle in entering the Holiest of all, Jesus passed through the heavenlies into the holiest of all in heaven where God dwells. The wonder of the new covenant is that in Christ the way to the Holiest of all is open to all of us as believer priests.

Hebrews 9:8 "the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing." (NKJV)

The meaning of "still standing" given in the NIV Study Bible clears up possible misunderstanding "As long as the Mosaic system with its imperfect priesthood and sacrifice remained in effect".

At the crucifixion the veil was rent and the new and living way into the true sanctuary of God was opened. The old was marked as instructive but ineffective (Hebrews 9:9-10 ). The Hebrews were not to overestimate the greatness of the earthly tabernacle, but rather they were to see its only greatness consisted in the fact that it pictures 'the greater and more perfect tabernacle'.

Hebrews 9:11 "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation." (NKJV)

Hebrews 9:12 "Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." (NKJV)

The once for all sacrifice of Himself indicates its continuing unbroken efficacy. As believers we obtain not a mere temporal, ritualistic outward cleansing (Hebrews 9:13 ), but eternal redemption. The blood of Christ is efficacious. His offering was through the Holy Spirit. That is, He was obedient to the eternal purpose through strengthening by the eternal Spirit. His offering was without blemish and acceptable to God (Hebrews 9:14 ). Such is the power of His sacrificed blood that it can:

Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? " (KJV)

So that you can set aside useless rituals and feel yourself free in the presence of God - rendering unhindered service to your living God. "Dead works" are certainly religious acts done in an attempt to merit salvation. They include all outward acts in which there is no real spiritual life and devotion to God.

C.H. Spurgeon appealed from the text: "Let us have no more dead works, no more dead singing, no more dead praying, no more dead preaching, no more dead hearing,....a living God must be served in a living way."