Out of the billions of people who have died over the last 2000 years, we trust in the past payment of ONE Who became a shamed sacrifice to give us a future hope.

If the incredible claims of the 1st century followers are true, then Jesus is BETTER than any other person who has walked the planet including priests, prophets, and sacrifices.

Hopefully, the spiritual leaders in your past have lived in such a way that you can imitate their faith, examples who have showed you how to run the race - people who love Jesus, are gracious to others, and who give their lives to help build the KINGdom of God.

We should be grateful for leaders who have spoken God’s word to us, teaching us to obey the commands of Jesus and attempting to teach the truth of the Scriptures in context; willing to bend their beliefs to fit the Bible; people who teach the TRUTH, even when it’s hard to hear.

Why is that SO IMPORTANT?

Many customize their own version of Jesus - ‘Build-a-bear Jesus’ - usually the cuddly, kind, loving Jesus who never confronts or judges anyone. But, “we can’t do that!”

The teachings, judgements, character, and love of Jesus do not change with cultural pressure. The Jesus of the Scriptures is the same yesterday, today, and forever! What Jesus says and Who Jesus is CAN be trusted as true.

Have you ever had someone who changes their stance on something they have told you?.

Thankfully, Jesus never changes. The One who never lied can be TRUSTED!

Jesus is the ultimate example of what we BELIEVE and how we BEHAVE! Like a trustworthy compass - we can KNOW that we are headed in the right direction when we trust what Jesus says.

Many rather TWIST the words of Jesus than TRUST the words of Jesus. The author of Hebrews knows this and warns his audience of it. 

Since that was written 2000 years ago, the strange teachings have arisen. We have more strange teachings that have compiled over the last 2000 years of Christianity, than the 1st century recipients of this text. But we also have a great privilege that this Hebrew ancient audience did NOT have - the Scriptures in their entirety. 

The BIBLE is NOT 1 writing, an ancient library - a collection of 40 writings, written over 1400 years.

The Scriptures tell us WHO Jesus is and WHAT Jesus says, helping us recognize strange teachings & make right judgments based on TRUTH.

This Hebrew audience was facing strange teachings that would have dragged them away from Jesus & the New Covenant and back to the types and shadows of the Old Covenant as well as man-made myths.

Hebrew people who did NOT believe Jesus was the Messiah continued to live by the Old Covenant laws. This included following the food regulations as prescribed in the Old Covenant writings. But those who had not perfectly obeyed the commands (which includes everyone), needed the GRACE of God for forgiveness. There is no amount of dietary diligence that can make a person clean on the inside. Only God can clean one’s soul.

The people of Jesus’ time were impacted by rabbinical tradition that went way beyond what the Scriptures taught and honored the tradition of the elders (Mark 7:3) up as if they were from God. Religious leaders were upset at Jesus’ disciples for not following the ceremonial washings (man-made traditions). Jesus responded:

Following man-made rules OR living by the Old Covenant laws while stiff-arming Jesus & His New Covenant has no benefit (Heb 13:9). Our hearts are only strengthened when we bask in grace of Jesus, the One who has perfectly fulfilled the Law in every way. We experience that grace when we recognize that Jesus - the righteous One - gave up His life to fully pay for our sins!

What’s THAT mean? The writer is contrasting 2 different groups: 

Hebrews who trust Jesus as their Messiah & Savior, who DO have an altar and have a right to eat versus 

Hebrews who DON’T TRUST Jesus as Messiah & Savior, who DON’T have an altar and DON’T have a right to eat.

Diving Deeper:

During the many sacrifices throughout the Hebrew year, many animals would be killed on the tabernacle/temple grounds and then grilled on the altar. Afterwards, the priests and people were allowed to eat them. NOT SO on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) when 1 bull was sacrificed for the sins of the high priest & his family, while 1 goat was chosen to be sacrificed for the rest of the Hebrew people. 

The blood of these 2 animals was taken INTO the Most Holy Place and sprinkled on the Ark of the Covenant - making atonement for sins of the people (Lev 16:27a).

Instead of offering the body of the bull or goat on the altar like other sacrifices, the bodies of these sacrificial substitutes were taken from the tabernacle/temple OUTSIDE the Hebrew camp to be burned (Lev 16:27b). 

Treated like a shameful sacrifice, Jesus suffered outside the gate, SO THAT His death would sanctify (make holy) all who FOLLOW Him.

Have you ever just STOPPED and considered what Jesus went through…because of YOU? 

Jesus - God who put on skin, lived a perfect life, yet allowed Himself to be treated with disgrace & dishonor, to make us holy! He exchanged OUR sin (2 Cor 5:21) for His righteousness! 

That’s why...

Hebrews 13:10 (CSB)

We have an altar from which those who worship at the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.

The sacrifices on the Day of Atonement were NOT to be eaten, but the sacrifice of Jesus is FOOD that allows us a place at the table of God - a place of eternal relationship. Remember what Jesus said after feeding the 5000+. Many of them came back the next day and expected Jesus to feed them again. Instead, Jesus said,

John 6:35 (CSB) “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.

Trusting in Jesus - His perfect life, sacrificial death, and His powerful resurrection - is what gives us eternal life and place at God’s table.

Those Hebrews trusting the sacrifice of animals rather than the sacrifice of our Savior have no place at the table. 

Anyone who thinks they can be a part of heaven without trusting Jesus payment, has no place at the table.

Those who think their good works will be enough…do not have a right to eat at this table either.

Jesus suffered for US, and we should be willing to suffer for Him, bearing His disgrace, looking beyond our current comfort here on earth to the enduring city...to come. Trusting that Jesus’ past payment secures our future hope, we should continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise. 

Our LIPS & LIVES should confess His Name - never ahsamed of the ONE who was NOT ASHAMED to die for us! 

Thankful followers are to do what is good and to share with others because God is pleased when we do! So, while we could never REPAY God’s grace, we can REPLY to God’s grace by being gracious to others as we treat them with VALUE and share the love of Jesus.

Communion/Lord’s Supper is ONLY for followers of Jesus who are walking in right relationship with Him. 

Those who claim to follow Jesus who are living in continual sin without confessing and turning from that… SHOULD NOT PARTAKE. Let the bread and juice pass…no one will judge you or ask you for a reason.

Those who don’t claim to follow of Jesus can just relax and observe this ancient practice. Just let the bread and juice pass by you as well.