March 19, 2006

  • Hebrews is a wilderness book, hence the types we get are generally
    from the wilderness experiences of Israel.  Here the contrast is
    with the tabernacle, not the temple.

  • In the gospel we speak of the Lord Jesus being the way of salvation.
     In v. 20 we have the . . . way of access for the saint into God’s
    presence.

  • Before the cross the way into God’s presence was at the tabernacle
    in the holy of holies, and to enter called for death.  Individually
    we can now enter His presence wherever we are, and corporately we
    enter at assembly meetings, and that with boldness or liberty.  The
    consequence is not death, but blessing and joy.

  • “Through the veil”—it was rent in twain when Jesus died on Calvary’s
    cross.  What a wonderful fact! That which divided between God and
    Man is rent wide open,  from the top to the bottom—God did it.
  • This reveals the heart of God.  How much He wanted to be able to
    reach out to man, and just as much He wanted man to draw near to
    Him.

  • “. . . that is to say, His flesh”  When Jesus was here in the body
    He was the presence chamber of God on earth at that time just as the
    holy of holies was for Israel.  Notice Matthew 27:50 & 51.  Jesus’
    death and the rending of the veil happened simultaneously.  It is as
    if God could hardly wait to open the way!

  • God did not remove the veil.  We enter through a rent veil.  Our
    access to God ever speaks to us of the death of the Lord Jesus, and
    it is by His blood alone that we can draw nigh.

  • One of the functions that God has given to each believer is to be a
    priest.  Note Revelation 1:5 & 6; also 1 Peter 2:5.