Hebrews 10:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,

NIV: by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

NASB: by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh,

CSB: he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)--

NLT: By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

KJV: By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

NKJV: by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

The overall theme of the book of Hebrews is that God's new covenant is superior to the old covenant. This does not make the old covenant wrong, or meaningless. Rather, God has always intended the Old Testament's system of priests and animal sacrifices to point towards the eventual Messiah. Given all of the Scripture and evidence supporting Jesus' role as the Promised One, the writer argues, Christians should be extremely confident in their faith.

One of the most striking features of the old covenant was the curtain separating certain holy places from entry by the people. Behind this curtain was the holiest of all rooms in the temple, where only the high priest could enter, once per year, bringing a sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:6–7). The very existence of this curtain implied a separation between God and man (Hebrews 9:8).

Christ's sacrifice on our behalf, however, removes this barrier (Hebrews 9:11–14). This was most dramatically symbolized at Jesus' crucifixion, when this very temple curtain was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50–51).

Hebrews 10:19–25 is an encouraging bridge between two major sections of the book of Hebrews. Earlier verses completed a long, detailed explanation of why the new covenant is superior to the old covenant. This section is meant to inspire Christians to be confident, courageous, and uplifted in living out their faith. The following passage is perhaps the sternest warning given in this letter about the danger of ''falling away'' from the faith.

God's own words, found in the Old Testament Scriptures, declare His intention to replace the old covenant with a new covenant. Jesus fulfills all of these prophecies, and all of the symbolism found in the system of priests, the tabernacle, and animal sacrifices. Knowing that Jesus Christ is, undoubtedly, God's remedy for our sin, we should be encouraged in holding on to our faith in the face of persecution. However, that same confidence means dire spiritual consequences for those who know Christ's salvation, but choose to act in defiance of His will.

Chapter 10 completes the long, detailed explanation of why the new covenant is superior to the old covenant. Starting in chapter 7, the writer gave various arguments and Scriptures to support this idea. The theme of these points is that God had always intended to send Jesus, as the real fulfillment of the old covenant's symbolism. The second half of this chapter transitions into more practical ideas, including an extremely dire warning about the dangers of apostasy.

The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.

Accessed 5/3/2024 4:17:17 AM