This epistle contrasts God’s covenants through Moses and Christ. The Mosaic covenant provided animal sacrifices that brought only temporary relief to man’s guilt and demonstrated the lessons of God’s justice. But 1 Corinthians 10:6 tells us that the Old Testament sacrifices were given to us as examples, and these sacrifices were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God (John 1:29).
Under the old covenant, the High Priest, after purifying himself and offering a sacrifice for his own sin, entered the Holy of Holies to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the nation. These sacrifices had to be repeated annually at the tabernacle, but Jesus, our High Priest, made one sacrifice with His own blood to obtain for us eternal salvation.
Because of Christ’s one perfect sacrifice, all believers have access to the Mercy Seat, the very throne of God. We are now invited to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Let us go there today!
