What Old Testament practices does Hebrews 10:20 fulfill or replace? A Fresh Path Opened: Hebrews 10:20 “by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body.” What the Old Curtain Meant • Exodus 26:31-34 describes a richly woven veil that shut off the Most Holy Place. • Its purpose: keep sinful humanity from God’s immediate presence (Isaiah 59:2). • Only one man, the high priest, could cross it, and only once each year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:2, 34). • Blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat to cover sin temporarily (Leviticus 16:15-16). Christ’s Body—The New Curtain • At the crucifixion “the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51), God’s own sign that the barrier was gone. • Hebrews equates that veil with Christ’s flesh: as His body was torn, the old curtain lost its purpose. • Now, instead of forbidding access, His pierced body invites us in (John 14:6). Practices Fulfilled or Replaced • The annual Day of Atonement ritual (Leviticus 16) – Replaced by one perfect offering “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). • The continual animal sacrifices for sin (Exodus 29:38-42; Hebrews 10:11) – Fulfilled in the single, sufficient sacrifice of Jesus’ own blood (Hebrews 9:12). • The priestly mediation system (Numbers 18:7) – Superseded by Christ as eternal High Priest (Hebrews 7:23-25), and believers become a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). • Physical separation from the Most Holy Place – Replaced by direct, confident access “by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19; Ephesians 2:18). Supporting Passages that Echo the Shift • Hebrews 6:19-20 – Jesus is the forerunner who anchors us inside the veil. • Hebrews 9:8-12 – The old sanctuary pointed to the present reality unveiled by Christ. • 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 – In Christ the veil is removed from the heart. • Colossians 2:17 – Old covenant rituals were “a shadow,” Christ is the substance. Why This Matters Today • No more rotating door of sacrifices—His work is finished (John 19:30). • Access is personal and immediate; guilt need not hold us back (Hebrews 4:16). • Worship is no longer tied to a single earthly location (John 4:21-24). • The church lives out a priestly calling: declaring His praise and interceding for others. Hebrews 10:20, then, marks the end of the curtain era and the dawn of unbroken fellowship with God, all secured by the torn body and risen life of Jesus. |
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