Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 9:10

"[being] only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation." — Hebrews 9:10 (ASV)

The externality of the old way is brought out from another viewpoint. It concerned only matters like “food and drink and various ceremonial washings.” There is no problem about the mention of food, for the OT had some strict food laws (Leviticus 11). But drink is not so prominent. Priests were to abstain from alcoholic drinks while engaged in their ministry (Leviticus 10:8–9), and there were limitations on the Nazirites (Numbers 6:2–3). No one was allowed to drink from an unclean vessel (Leviticus 11:33–34). And, of course, there were libations accompanying some of the sacrifices (e.g., Numbers 6:15, 17; 28:7–8), several ceremonial lustrations (such as those performed by the priests in their ministry; Exodus 30:20), and a variety of washings for defiled people (Leviticus 15:4–27; Leviticus 17:15–16; Numbers 19:7–13). All such things the author dismisses as “external regulations.” They have their place, but only “until the time of the new order.” The new covenant Christ brought has replaced all the merely external regulations of the old way.