Hebrews 13:10-13

Summary retelling of Hebrews 13:10-13

In Christ, we have access to a place to worship God that those who reject Christ have no right to go.  The animal sacrifices may have been made inside “the camp.”  However, the bodies were burned outside “the camp.”  In the same way, when it came to Jesus’ crucifixion He was crucified outside “the camp.”  Therefore, we should not be ashamed to have to be outside “the camp” but still following Jesus.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

This passage has much to do with the difference between Jews and Christians.  The Jews believe that there is only one place that a true sacrifice to God can be made: in the temple in Jerusalem.  {Interesting note: since the land for the Temple is currently in Muslim hands, the temple does not exist.  Therefore, no Jewish sacrifices have been made to God for quite some time.}  Christians, however, no longer believe that sacrifices need to be made to God at all because Jesus was the final and ultimate sacrifice.  This separates Christians from the Jews.  The author is arguing that we do not need to be ashamed or feel inferior because of this separation.

Do you ever feel inferior because technically most of us Christians are Gentiles and not God’s “chosen people?”  Why might it be human nature to feel inferior?  Why is this ultimately a bad way to think?

Second Thought:

Literally, Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem (“the camp”).  The greatest sacrifice for sin to ever be made was not done in the temple!  It was done outside of the city completely.  Symbolically, the author of Hebrews is drawing the conclusion that if the greatest sacrifice of sin was done outside of the temple (and Jerusalem) than it is just fine for Christianity to exist outside of Judaism.  Yes, Christ was crucified near Jerusalem; therefore it is okay for Christianity to be near to Judaism.  But Christians need not be Jews.

Have you ever thought about faith and spirituality like this?  Does this line of thinking help you understand the freedom we have in Christ?  Does this mean we are free to completely cast off God’s Law?  Why or why not?

Third Thought:

I know this passage doesn’t technically talk about it, but we can also talk about the effect of the crucifixion upon the temple.  Remember that in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion that the temple curtain was torn when Jesus died.  That curtain separated the Holy of Holies (the inner sanctum where God dwelled, if you will) from the rest of the temple.  It was as if God was saying that He would no longer be contained and only approached by the priests but that He would now be accessible to all people.  This is a natural parallel to what the author of Hebrews is saying.  One need not be a Jew to have access to God through a priest.  Through Jesus, anyone can have direct access to God.

Have you ever studied this portion of Jesus’ crucifixion deeply?  Have you ever wondered what was important about the temple curtain tearing in two?  How does this understanding give you faith and confidence in your relationship with God and your belief?

Passage for Tomorrow: Hebrews 13:14-16