How does Hebrews 13:10 connect to Old Testament teachings on sacrificial systems? Setting the Scene—Hebrews 13:10 “We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.” • The writer contrasts two spheres of worship: – “We have an altar” = the finished work of Jesus. – “Those who serve at the tabernacle” = Levitical priests tied to the Mosaic system. Old Testament Background—Eating from the Altar • Peace offerings (Leviticus 7:11-21) allowed priests and worshipers to eat portions of the meat; communion and fellowship were pictured around the sanctuary table. • Sin offerings whose blood was carried “into the tent of meeting to make atonement” were burned outside the camp, and no one ate them (Leviticus 6:30; 16:27). • Participation in altar meals symbolized covenant inclusion (Exodus 29:37-44). Christ Fulfills and Surpasses the System • Jesus embodies every altar and every sacrifice: – “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). – “He entered the greater and more perfect tabernacle… by His own blood” (Hebrews 9:11-12). • At the cross, He took the place of the sin offering “outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:11-12). • Because His atonement is final, believers now “feed” spiritually on Him (John 6:55-57), enjoying continual fellowship rather than occasional ritual meals. Access Granted—Who May Eat? • Under the old covenant, only priests ate most sacrificial portions; ordinary Israelites watched from a distance. • Under the new covenant, every believer is a priest (1 Peter 2:5). • Those clinging to the tabernacle service—trusting animal blood—“have no right to eat” at Christ’s altar; access demands faith in Jesus alone (Hebrews 10:19-22). Outside the Camp—Continuity and Contrast • The sin offering burned outside the camp in Leviticus prefigured Christ’s rejection and crucifixion outside Jerusalem. • Believers “go to Him outside the camp” (Hebrews 13:13), leaving reliance on rituals behind yet honoring the pattern God once gave. • Thus the location, the sacrifice, and the exclusion of the old priests all converge in Hebrews 13:10-13 to announce a greater, everlasting altar. Key Takeaways • Hebrews 13:10 echoes Levitical laws on altar privileges to highlight the exclusivity of Christ’s atonement. • The right to “eat” now belongs to all who trust Jesus; old-covenant priests—representing law-based approach—are excluded. • OT sacrificial meals anticipated a richer communion that is fully realized in the believer’s ongoing fellowship with the risen Lord. |
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