Foundation Text
Hebrews 10:19-22
Greek Key Terms
- παρρησίαν (parrēsian) - "confidence, boldness"
- εἴσοδον (eisodon) - "entrance, access"
- ἅγια (hagia) - "holy places, sanctuary"
- αἷμα (haima) - "blood"
- ὁδόν (hodon) - "way, road, path"
- πρόσφατον (prosphaton) - "new, fresh, recently made"
- ζῶσαν (zōsan) - "living"
- ἐνεκαίνισεν (enekainisen) - "inaugurated, dedicated, opened"
- καταπέτασμα (katapetasma) - "veil, curtain"
- σάρξ (sarx) - "flesh, body"
- προσερχώμεθα (proserchōmetha) - "let us draw near, approach"
Context: Hebrews 10:19-25 forms the climactic application section following the theological argument of Hebrews 8-10 about Christ's superior high priesthood and once-for-all sacrifice. Having demonstrated that Christ's sacrifice has perfected believers forever (v. 14) and that the old covenant sacrifices are obsolete (vv. 15-18), the author now exhorts believers to three responses: draw near to God (vv. 19-22), hold fast to hope (v. 23), and encourage one another (vv. 24-25). The invitation to enter the holy places is grounded in Christ's finished work.
Connections
- TO: Exodus 26:31-33 (the veil separates), Leviticus 16:2 (do not come inside the veil), Leviticus 16:12-15 (high priest enters with blood)
- FROM NT: Matthew 27:51 (veil torn in two), Hebrews 4:16 (draw near to throne of grace with confidence), Hebrews 9:8 (way into the Most Holy Place not yet disclosed)
Christological Connection: Hebrews 10:19-22 unveils the full glory of Christ's work in opening access to God's holy presence. For 1,500 years, entrance to "the holy places" (ta hagia)—the Most Holy Place behind the veil—was restricted to the high priest once yearly, and even then with blood and fear lest he die (Leviticus 16:2). The veil enforced absolute separation between sinful humanity and holy God. But now, through Christ's sacrifice, believers have "confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus" (v. 19)—the very place that threatened death is now accessible with boldness. The means is "the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body" (v. 20), and the Greek makes the apposition explicit: τοῦτ᾽ ἔστιν τῆς σαρκὸς αὐτοῦ, "that is, His flesh." This identification is central: Christ's torn flesh is the torn veil. His body broken in death opens the barrier sin created. The old way (repeated animal sacrifices) was temporary and death-dealing; Christ's way is "new" (prosphaton—freshly inaugurated at the cross) and "living" (zōsan—vitally effective, never obsolete). What the veil prevented—access to God's presence—Christ's flesh provides. When Jesus died, "the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:51), signifying that God Himself removed the barrier. Because Christ "entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption" (Hebrews 9:12), believers are exhorted: "let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" (v. 22). The Most Holy Place that only one man once yearly could enter with terror is now the destination to which all believers are invited continually with confidence through Christ.
Connection Method(s): Typology (Institutional, Backward-Looking); Contrast — Hebrews explicitly interprets the veil as Christ's flesh, contrasting old covenant restricted access (one man, once yearly, with fear) with new covenant open access (all believers, continually, with confidence).
Trajectory Table: 167 - Veil (Access Through Christ's Flesh)