Testament.
Paul says, Colossians 1:19,20, "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell, and having made ( margin , making) peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him I say, whether they be things on earth or things in heaven." When "things on earth" are spoken of in connection or contrast with "things in heaven", no one can understand them all to be in the same place. "Things in heaven" are to be reconciled as well as "things on earth".
If they needed reconciling they were unreconciled; if unreconciled, then unclean in some sense in His sight.
The blood of Christ is the means, and Christ Himself, the agent of reconciling to the Father both the things in heaven and the things on earth.
People have an idea that in heaven where our Saviour has gone, every thing is, and always was perfect beyond change or improvement.
But He said, "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you." He went into heaven, and Paul says that the "building of God, an house not made with hands" is in the heavens; 2Corinthians 5:1. 23 For what did He go to His Father's house? "To prepare a place for you." Then it was unprepared, and when He has prepared it, He will come again and take us to Himself. - Again, Hebrews 9:23, "It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these." What were the patterns? "The tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry," (verse 21), which constituted the worldly Sanctuary; verse 1.
What were the heavenly things themselves?
The greater and more perfect tabernacle (verse 11), and the good things and the holy things (verses 11, 12). - These are all in heaven itself. "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself," verse 24.
Paul here shows that it was as necessary to purify the heavenly things, as it was to purify their patterns, the worldly.