Useful Bible Studies > Hebrews Commentary > chapter 10
Jesus has established a new covenant between God and his people (Hebrews 8:6-8). And under this new covenant, nothing separates God from his people. God has forgiven their sins (evil deeds). And he has freed them from the evil forces that controlled their lives. He is adopting them as his children (Galatians 4:4-6). So now, they can approach him as his sons and daughters.
The covenant is the agreement between God and his people. The old covenant was God's relationship with the nation called Israel. That agreement allowed Israel’s people to have a relationship with God, but it was not a close relationship. The people could gather round God’s house to pray; but they could not enter it. The people could not offer their own gifts to God – the priests did that for them. The priests could enter God’s house, but not its most holy room. The chief priest could enter the most holy room, but only on one day each year, and not without blood (Hebrews 9:7).
But now, Jesus has died for our sins. He has gone into the real holy place in heaven (Hebrews 6:19-20; Hebrews 9:24). He has offered his own blood to make the new covenant sure (Hebrews 9:14-16).
And the result is that every genuine Christian can have the closest possible relationship with God. They all may enter the most holy place. That is why Jesus calls them his brothers (Hebrews 2:11-12). They are not merely his friends; they have become his brothers. They have joined the family of God. So of course they may enter God’s house. Of course they may enter even the most special room. They belong to God’s family; that house is their house now. And that is a reason to be confident (Hebrews 3:6).
Next part: The new and living way to God (Hebrews 10:20)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.