Connect Exodus 40:29 with New Testament teachings on worship and sacrifice. Exodus 40:29—The Altar at the Tent Entrance “And he placed the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the LORD had commanded him.” (Exodus 40:29) Key Observations from the Verse • Placement: the altar stands at the very threshold of God’s dwelling, highlighting that blood-sealed sacrifice is the appointed way of approach. • Offerings: both burnt (total consecration) and grain (thankful tribute) are presented, illustrating wholehearted devotion and grateful dependence. • Obedience: Moses acts “as the LORD had commanded,” underscoring worship that aligns with divine revelation rather than human invention. From Shadow to Substance: Christ Fulfills the Altar • Hebrews 10:10—“By this will we are sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” The once-for-all offering of Christ mirrors the Exodus altar yet surpasses it, providing complete atonement. • Ephesians 5:2—“Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The pleasing aroma of Old Testament offerings finds ultimate expression in the self-giving love of Jesus. • John 1:29—John identifies Jesus as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” linking every altar in Exodus to Calvary’s cross. New Testament Patterns of Worship and Sacrifice • Living Sacrifices (Romans 12:1): because Christ has fulfilled the altar, believers now “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual worship.” • A Royal Priesthood (1 Peter 2:4-5): “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Gratitude, praise, service, and generosity become our grain offerings of the heart (Hebrews 13:15-16). • Worship in Spirit and Truth (John 4:24): access no longer rests on physical location but on the finished work of Christ and the indwelling Spirit, fulfilling the altar’s purpose of mediated approach. • Heavenly Worship (Revelation 5:9): redeemed saints sing a new song because the Lamb “was slain,” showing that eternal worship remains anchored in sacrificial redemption. Practical Implications for Believers Today • Approach God confidently; the altar’s purpose is fully realized in Christ’s blood (Hebrews 4:16). • Cultivate continual surrender; daily life becomes an offering poured out on the altar of obedience. • Celebrate communion; the Lord’s Supper visibly proclaims the once-for-all sacrifice while fostering thankful worship (1 Corinthians 11:26). • Express worship through tangible acts of love, generosity, and praise, echoing grain offerings of gratitude (Philippians 4:18). • Maintain reverence; the holiness that required an altar still surrounds God’s presence, calling for purity and awe in gathered worship (Hebrews 12:28-29). |
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