We Have an Altar Hebrews 13:10

The writer of Hebrews told his readers to not be “carried about with divers and strange doctrines” because “it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace”. They were not to reengage regulations in the “law” such as dietary “laws”, because they had “not profited them that have been occupied therein”. In chapter thirteen and verse ten of Hebrews the writer shared how he and his readers “have an altar” where we read:

We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

The verse begins, “We have an altar,”. The writer began with the word, “We have” which means “the writer and his readers hold, possess and own” “an altar” which refers to “a place which stands in the sanctuary or the Holy Place”. The writer make his declaration concerning a “place of worship” which was available to both the writer himself and his readers.

The verse goes on to say, “...whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.”. The writer continued with the word, “whereof” or “out of, from, by and from which” “they have no right” which means “those who no hold, ownership, possession, power of choice, liberty of doing as they please, leave, position or physical and mental power” “to eat” or “to consume or devour” “which serve” which means “that minister, officiate, discharge or perform sacred services, offer gifts or observe rites instituted for the worship of God” “the tabernacle” which refers to “the tent or well known movable temple of God after the pattern of which the temple at Jerusalem was built”.Those who served God only in the earthly “tabernacle” did not have access to “eat” of the “spiritual” “tabernacle”.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we see how there is a “spiritual” place whereby we worship the Lord Jesus. The offerings of “meats” and keeping of the “law” for righteousness has no entry there. The men who served the Lord in the earthly “tabernacle” with physical temporary ways of worship held “no ownership” to this “altar” of God. Jesus is this “spiritual” altar, and he gave access to this place of worship so that everyone who believes in Him may come, humble themselves and trust in His completed work for the fulfillment of all that is required for them to be saved. May all who read these words come to Jesus who is the “spiritual” the “altar of God”.

Next time the writer shares concerning “the bodies” and “the blood of beasts”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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