How does Hebrews 13:10 emphasize the superiority of Christ's sacrifice over the old altar? Setting the Scene • Hebrews 13:10 says, “We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.” • The writer draws a sharp line between the old covenant priesthood at the earthly tabernacle and the new covenant altar provided in Christ. The Unique Altar We Have • “We have an altar” points to something present, permanent, and spiritual, not a stone structure in Jerusalem. • That altar is the cross—where Christ offered Himself “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). • No more animal blood, no more daily offerings (Hebrews 10:11–12). Why the Old Priests Cannot Eat From It • Under the law, only Levitical priests could partake of sacrificial meals (Leviticus 6:26). • But at Christ’s altar, the Levitical order has no standing; its rituals are now obsolete (Hebrews 8:13). • Access is granted only through faith in the Son, not through lineage or temple service (John 14:6). Superiority of Christ’s Sacrifice • Finality: “He offered one sacrifice for sins for all time” (Hebrews 10:12). • Purity: “How much more will the blood of Christ cleanse our conscience” (Hebrews 9:14). • Heavenly location: He ministers “in the true tabernacle set up by the Lord” (Hebrews 8:2). • Shared privilege: Every believer—man, woman, Gentile, Jew—may “draw near with a sincere heart” (Hebrews 10:22). The Priesthood of Christ • He is “a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 7:17). • His intercession is unending because “He always lives to intercede” (Hebrews 7:25). • Earthly priests stood daily; Jesus “sat down” signifying finished work (Hebrews 10:12). Practical Takeaways for Us • Confidence: Approach God without fear, knowing the sacrifice is complete. • Gratitude: Worship flows from recognizing the privilege of eating at this altar. • Separation: Reject any return to ritualistic systems that add to Christ’s finished work (Galatians 5:1). |
    |