Hebrews 10:21

"by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh,"

Key Reflection

In Hebrews 10:21, the author speaks of a new and living way through Christ's physical body, which the original Jewish audience would have understood as referring to the sacrificial system that pointed towards the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The "veil" mentioned is likely a reference to the curtain in the temple that separated the holy place from the most holy, symbolizing the barrier between God and humanity; its tearing during Jesus' crucifixion (Mark 15:38) was seen as the way through which believers could now have direct access to God's presence.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 21. And having an High Priest over the house of God. Over the spiritual house of God; that is, the church. Comp. See Barnes "Heb 3:1-6". Under the Jewish dispensation there was a great high priest, and the same is true under the Christian dispensation, This the apostle had shown at length in the previous part of the epistle. The idea here is, that as under the former dispensation it was regarded as a privilege that the people of God might have access to the mercy-seat by means of the high priest, so it is true, in a much higher sense, that we may now have access to God through our greater and more glorious High Priest.

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