Hebrews 10

King James Version Chapter 10

19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Context:

Hebrews was written by an unknown author though most scholars would say that it would be a member of Paul’s circle. This work was written with the specific intention of communicating a few ideas to Jews, that is recent Jewish converts to Christianity. An overarching message that needed to be communicated in the midst of the persecution they would face. The message that Christ is greater. The author demonstrates Christ is greater than,

the angels chapter 1

the law chapter 2

Moses and the promised land chapters 3-4

Greater than OT priesthood 4-7

We see that the new covenant is greater than the old.

It is at this point we move towards our passage. Take note of the use of the word THEREFORE, or a better way to look at it would be, because of these previous things.. brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.. The author has demonstrated Christ is greater and now we hear how that should inform our decisions.

Point 1: The resurrection gave us access to God.

The Holy of Holies was a special place. In fact it was so consecrated that even the High priest would only enter once a year. Hebrews 9:7 says, “But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people” The entrance into this place was significant because it again allowed someone to be in the presence of God. It was not for just anyone to step inside of this holy space though. Think back to the sons of Aaron. They Leviticus 10:1-2 “put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.  And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord” The sons of Aaron did not do as God commanded and were struck dead. Although they were sons of Aaron the high priest, one wrong move inside this space cost them their lives. Evidence that “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

The thing that separated the rest of the Temple from the Holy of Holies was the temple veil. In order to enter the holy place Aaron and any other high priest would have had to step through a veil somewhere near 60 feet high. Josephus a church father also tells us that the veil was four inches thick. So, imagine how impressive the veil being torn was! To rend something this size in two at the moment of Jesus’ death would have dumbfounded everyone.

We may enter now with boldness because of the blood of Jesus Christ. The resurrection offered us a new and living way to the father.

Point 2: Jesus is our access point.

The office of the high priest was hereditary and was traced from Aaron, the brother of Moses, of the Levite tribe. The high priest had to be “whole” physically (without any physical defects) and holy in his conduct. Leviticus 21:17-21 “Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.18 For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, 19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, 20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; 21 No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the Lord made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.”

It is quite the expansive list, but it foreshadows what was to come. THE high priest of God’s people..Jesus, the one without fault and blameless in the eyes of God. It is only through him that we have access to the father. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

We could list each of the priests and call them out by name, but im sure you all would like to eat before noon tomorrow and I’d rather not struggle through a list of over 80 Jewish names! We can simply focus on the fact that Jesus became THE high priest. Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Not one of these other priests was raised from the dead nor was one without sin. It is in light of this that we should live a manner worthy of the Gospel.

point 3: We should do these things after being saved.

After a profession of faith we should,

Draw near to God with a true heart with assurance because of Christ.

Who has allowed us to gain righteousness through His work. It is as if God places a lens of Jesus over His eyes and only sees Him when looking at us who believe. Anyone who has ever hunted coyote knows that a regular spotlight used at night with coyotes would immediate scare them off. It is when we put the red lens on the spotlight are we able to use the spotlight without concern.

We hold fast to the fact that we have declared Jesus Lord of all because He is faithful and not us. I rest in the work that Jesus completed and not my own.

We should stir up one another to good works and love. We do these things because of our love for God, not because we earn it by doing them. We see evidence of salvation in the fruit that people produce. Does an apple tree concentrate or try harder to produce an apple? No! It simply does what an apple tree does. Let us not focus on producing fruit, but rather being what God has called us to be and watch the fruits begin to grow.

We should gather together! This should be a given, but some people think that all they need is God and no one else. God uses people to provide for and shape us. It is why while Adam was able to walk with God in the cool of the morning that he said, Genesis 2:18 “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” God said this before sin had entered the world. How much more do we need help now that sin has had time to continue to perverse generation after generation?

IT is why we should encourage one another more and more as we see our world deteriorating. The worse things get, the closer we must be to the arrival of Jesus. The time when he will come in judgement. The verse here says encourage ONE another. It is not about trying to change the world. If we simply make a difference in the life of one person, the kingdom impact is immeasurable. I stand here today as evidence of the faithfulness of two very simple believers. They loved and encouraged me when i was not worthy of love. They did just as Jesus would, they invited me into their lives and walked with me. We shared simple meals together and seemed to accomplish not much else. However, it is because of their faithfulness to God to love one person that their reach has expanded to all of ky and beyond. While at the treatment center i worked at, i had the opportunity to minister to hundreds of people from all over ky and now, their faithfulness has brought me in front of you all. I was in desperate need of saving and i knew it. God met me there and he used my friends Bridgette and Jake to do so.