By Adam Winn, Ph. D.
Chair and Professor, Department of Biblical and Religious Studies at Samford University
THE GATHERING FOR WORSHIP
Hebrews 10:19–25; 13:12–15
The audience of the Book of Hebrews is facing challenges and persecution for their faith, likely from government officials.
Though they have yet to suffer to the point of shedding blood, they have at least faced verbal abuse, the loss of status within their cities and the confiscation of their property.
It seems this persecution has led some to consider abandoning their Christian faith to return to previous forms of religious devotion — perhaps paganism or Judaism.
One of the ways the author seeks to speak to this temptation is to demonstrate the great superiority of the priesthood and sacrifice of Jesus to all others, Jewish or pagan. The author draws on the priestly, sacrificial system of the Old Testament and casts it as a mere shadow of a greater heavenly reality.
The tabernacle was a shadow of heaven, the priest and sacrifices a shadow of the future Christ and the Holy of Holies a shadow of God’s heavenly dwelling. It is against this background that these verses must be read.
Jesus made it possible for us to come to God. (10:19–22)
The author shows here that Jesus’ blood has opened the heavenly curtain that once stood shut between God and humanity and because of this work of Jesus, we can now enter the sanctuary of God — the true Holy of Holies — with confidence. We can do this because we have a Great High Priest who has offered Himself once and for all and stands before God on our behalf.
As we see in verse 22, the blood of Jesus does not only allow us access to God, but it also cleanses our hearts from an evil conscience. In other words, the blood of Jesus truly transforms our character into that of Christ.
We are to encourage each other in our walk with Christ. (23–25)
The author declares how these believers should live in light of what Christ has done. They should hold fast to this hope that has been described, regardless of the persecution they face. They must also find ways to motivate each other to love and good deeds — the work of the Kingdom in the world. They need each other and will be more successful together.
He exhorts them not to neglect meeting together as some have begun doing, likely because of a fear that their gathering will be found out or persecution might come from being known as one who meets with Christians. However, they must continue to meet for the sake of encouraging each other in this difficult journey.
We are to praise and confess Christ together. (13:12–15)
The author encourages the community to join in the suffering of Jesus. As He suffered outside the city of Jerusalem, so they should leave the worldliness and comforts of their own cities behind.
If their faith costs them status, property or wealth, so be it. They should remain faithful because their hope is not in the benefits their earthly cities provide but rather in the heavenly city to come. With the hope of this future, the author encourages his audience to offer a sacrifice to God — not of animals but of praise, doing good deeds and sharing with each other.
These are the sacrifices that God now desires of His people and the way His people are to live in light of what Jesus has done for them.
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