New Living Way (David Gore • Heb 10:19-25)

When the writer to the Hebrews uses terms like ‘Holy Place’ and ’sprinkled’, he is drawing on the rich tradition of the temple priesthood as it functioned in Israel for many generations. The tradition is being drawn on, but also modified. Formerly, there was a physical location known as the Holy Place. Now, the writer means something akin, yet different. The people were formerly literally sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice. Now, the writer is referring to a similar cleansing dynamic, yet it is not an identical experience. Jesus’ way builds on what was patterned for, and familiar to, the Jews. But Jesus’ way is a new and living way!