There was a time when entering the Most Holy Place could cost a person his life.
God’s presence wasn’t something sinful people casually walked into.
Under the old covenant, a curtain separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple. Only the high priest could enter, only once a year, and never without blood.
Then Jesus came.
He lived the sinless life we couldn’t live. He became the sacrifice we could never provide for ourselves. And when He died on the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom.
Something had changed.
Hebrews tells us that because of the blood of Jesus, those who belong to Him now have confidence to enter the holy places.
The God we could never reach on our own has opened the way Himself.
And now He tells us:
Draw near.
Today’s Saving Grace of God
Hebrews 10:19–22 (ESV)
“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Setting the Scene
Hebrews was written to Christians who understood the Jewish system of worship. They knew about priests and sacrifices. They understood what the temple represented, and they knew exactly what stood between ordinary people and the Most Holy Place.
A curtain.
Behind it was the place associated with God’s presence.
And they couldn’t go in.
Under the old covenant, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place once each year on the Day of Atonement, bringing sacrificial blood for sin.
Year after year, sacrifices were made.
Then Jesus offered something completely different.
Himself.
Earlier in Hebrews 10, we’re told that Christ offered “for all time a single sacrifice for sins.”
There would be no endless line of sacrifices after Him.
Jesus had done what they could never do.
So when the writer says we now have confidence to enter the holy places “by the blood of Jesus,” those words would have carried enormous weight.
The barrier wasn’t removed because sin suddenly stopped mattering.
The way was opened because Jesus dealt with it.
Reflection
There are moments when I read Scripture and realize how easily I take something extraordinary for granted.
I pray whenever I want.
Think about that.
I can whisper God’s name before I even get out of bed. I can talk to Him while driving, washing dishes, sitting at my desk, crying in the middle of the night, or staring at the ceiling because life has become too heavy and I don’t even know what to pray.
I don’t need an earthly priest to enter God’s presence for me.
I don’t need to bring an animal sacrifice.
I don’t have to stand outside a curtain.
Jesus opened the way.
And Hebrews doesn’t say we should cautiously peek through the opening and hope God doesn’t notice us standing there.
It says we have confidence to enter.
That confidence isn’t arrogance.
It isn’t confidence in ourselves at all.
It’s confidence in Jesus.
I know my own heart well enough to know I couldn’t stroll into the presence of a holy God based on my goodness.
I’ve sinned. I’ve failed. I’ve said things I shouldn’t have said and done things I wish I could undo. There are plenty of days when my own conscience can produce quite the list.
But Hebrews tells me that my access to God isn’t resting on my record.
It’s resting on the blood of Jesus.
That’s why these next words are so beautiful:
“Let us draw near.”
God isn’t telling His redeemed children to keep their distance.
He’s inviting us closer.
When we’re ashamed.
Draw near.
When we’re frightened.
Draw near.
When we’ve failed and need forgiveness.
Draw near.
When life hurts so badly that all we have is tears.
Draw near.
Not because sin doesn’t matter.
Because Jesus’ blood mattered enough to pay for it.
And I think sometimes we get this backward.
When we fail God, our instinct can be to pull away from Him. We feel ashamed, so we avoid prayer. We feel unworthy, so we hide.
But where exactly are we planning to go?
The One we’re hiding from is the only One who can help us.
Jesus didn’t shed His blood so we could spend our lives standing nervously outside God’s door.
He opened it.
Hebrews tells us to come with “full assurance of faith.”
So I want to learn to do exactly that.
Not swaggering into God’s presence because I think I’ve earned the right to be there.
But walking straight to my Father because Jesus earned it for me.
Short Prayer
Father, I don’t think I will ever fully understand what it cost for me to be able to come this close to You.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for His blood that paid for my sin and opened a way I could never have opened for myself. Forgive me for the times I run away from You when I’m ashamed instead of running straight toward You.
When guilt tells me to hide, remind me:
Draw near.
When I’m afraid, remind me:
Draw near.
When my heart is broken and I don’t know what to say, remind me that I don’t need perfect words. I only need to come.
Jesus, thank You for making that possible.
Because of You, I can approach my Father with full assurance of faith.
May I never take that privilege for granted.
In Jesus’ precious name, I pray. Amen.
Reflection Question
When guilt, fear, or failure makes you want to pull away from God, what would change if you remembered that the blood of Jesus is the very reason He tells you to draw near?
Closing Encouragement
You don’t have to stand outside.
You don’t have to make yourself worthy enough to enter.
You couldn’t.
That’s why Jesus came.
His blood opened the new and living way.
So when you’re hurting, come.
When you’ve failed, come.
When you’re afraid, come.
When you desperately need your Father, come.
The way has already been opened.
Draw near.
Helpful Daily Resources
- Read the full chapter on Bible.com ~ Hebrews 10
- Enjoy Bible.com ~ Verse of the Day
- Try Bible.com ~ Bible Recap: Read the Bible in a Year Plan