Complex sentence that continues for 7 verses (v19-25).

SINCE THEREFORE, BRETHREN WE HAVE CONFIDENCE: echontes (PAPMPN) oun adelphoi echontes (PAPMPN)...parrhesia: (4:16; 12:28; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6,7; Ephesians 3:12; 2 Timothy 1:7; 1 John 3:19-21; 4:17) (7:25; 9:3,7,8,12,23-25; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:18; 1 John 2:1,2)

The writer began this section on the superiority of Christ High Priesthood with almost identical invitation in Heb 4:16, and his desire is that this Truth might Transform our walk and cause a response. v19,20 speak of our ACCESS & v21 our ADVOCATE (cp 1Jn 2:1) cp reasons we now have confidence: Heb 12:28 Ro 8:15 Gal 4:6 The author now gives a second (first Heb8:1-6) résumé of the five arguments concerning the superior priestly work of Christ (Heb 10:19-25)

brethren (Heb 7.5 see also Ro 9:3) probably refers to the entire group of Jews among whom are those who are truly regenerate, those who are interested seekers, and those who profess faith but who have yet to enter salvation rest by saving faith as opposed to intellectual assent

Two reasons we can have confidence: (1). Blood of Jesus (2). Great Priest over the house of God.

So we come here to the great turning-point in Hebrews where the writer turns from the explanation of the superiority of the Person and work of Christ to the application of it in the lives of the storm-tossed church, from doctrine to duty, from creed to conduct, from precept to practice, from instruction to exhortation—the writer becomes very explicit regarding how Christians ought to live.

Confidence (parrhesia from pas = all + rhesis = speech) denotes primarily, freedom of speech, unreservedness of utterance, boldness in speaking. This is a dominant note all through the Epistle (3:6; 4:16; 10:19, 35). They were tempted to give up Christ, to be quitters. Boldness (courage) is the need of the hour.

 (Heb 3:6 4:16 10:35 Eph 3:12 1Jn 3:19-21 4:17)

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? as a result of the guilt having been removed by the BLOOD OF JESUS. Whereas before they could only have surrogate access through the high priest, who slipped behind the curtain once a year for a heart-pounding few minutes, they now had permanent access through the blood and torn body of Christ. Can you imagine the High Priest on the Day of Atonement coming with boldness? But we can

It would be difficult to overestimate the value of confidence in human motivation. It is the goal of any number of personal development programs today. Confidence training is the cry of the hour. In the first century, too, men clearly understood that a confident spirit was essential to success.

TO ENTER THE HOLY PLACE BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS: eis ten eisodon ton hagion en to haimati iesou: (Isa 57:15 Heb7:25 Eph 2:18)

The better sanctuary (Heb 9:1-12).To a Jew who took the Old Covenant the least bit seriously, this prospect was as awesome as it was wonderful. Realizing this, the writer uses every persuasive argument to bring them to a positive decision. The concept of simply coming to God was revolutionary to Jews-and to many others throughout the centuries and today.

When Adam sinned, had not God put him out of the Garden and placed the angels and the flaming sword to guard the entrance? And were not all men forbidden, on pain of death, to enter into His presence in the Holy of Holies? But now, the writer says Jesus’ blood, in effect, has quenched the fiery sword, and He has torn the veil of the Holy of Holies in two. If you come through Him, you not only can come into God’s presence, but you can come with confidence.

The better sacrifice just discussed (Heb 9:13-10:18). The primary basis on which we can draw near to God in faith is the blood of Jesus.

The emphasis in use of name "JESUS" = emphasizes the full humanity of Christ, and the validity of his redemptive sacrifice on behalf of the human family. It is striking that whenever the writer makes his most emphatic assertions concerning the saving work of Christ, he makes an explicit reference to the blood of Jesus (Heb 9:12, 14; 10:19, 29; 12:24; 13:12, 20).

The blood of sacrificial animals effected a TEMPORARY ATONEMENT, but the sacrificial system in itself could not TAKE AWAY sin and its consequent debt (which required forgiveness), slavery (which called for REDEMPTION), or alienation (which demanded RECONCILIATION).

The idea of coming into the presence thru the veil of Christ's flesh has been alluded to several times in Hebrews...

4:14,15, 16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence

7:19...on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

7:25 Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him,

13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

Look at these other NT verses now with the understanding that we can enter with confidence into the Throne room of Heaven because Messiah's torn flesh made the Way accessible & He sits enthroned at God's right hand as our Great High Priest our Mediator or "Middle Man"...

Ep2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Ep3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

Ro5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

1Pe3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Ro7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

2Co5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

1Pe2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Jude1:25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Oswald Chambers - Vicarious Intercession

BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY: hodon prosphaton kai zosan (PAPFSA): (John 10:7,9; 14:6) 

contrast Heb 9:8.

New (prosphatos) means freshly slaughtered or killed; Cp. Ex 26:31-33; 35:12;40:3, Mt 27:50, 51 (When Jesus yielded His spirit, the WAY to God was opened up & the veil of the temple was torn in two) The curtain that was torn divided the holy place from the holy of holies, into which only the high priest might enter on the Day of Atonement (see Ex 26:31,Lev 16:1-30). The tearing of that curtain, which was a type of the human body of Christ (Heb10:20) and signified a "freshly slaughtered" way or a "new and living way" now available for any who would enter BY FAITH in the WAY (Jn14:6), thus gaining access to the very throne room of God (Heb8:1) and into the very presence of God. Not the OLD WAY (Heb 8:7, 13, 10:9) & therefore with no other sacrifice or priesthood except Christ's (Heb 9:1- 8; 10:19-22).

Indicates "fresh" not only in the sense that it is away which was before unknown but also one that retains its freshness and cannot grow old.

Jn 10:7,9,14:6 living as a way which consists in fellowship w a Person. It seems contradictory that the freshly slaughtered way would also be the living way. But Jesus’ death conquered death and gives life. His death is the only way to life that is everlasting.

Contrast Heb 9:18,15 purification ("Purifier") (1:3), Author (Captain, Pioneer, Champion, Leader) (2:10), propitiation ("Propitiator") (2:17), Source ( 5:9), Anchor (6:19), Forerunner (6:20), Torn Veil (10:20), Great Shepherd (13:20)

WHICH HE INAUGURATED FOR US THROUGH THE VEIL THAT IS, HIS FLESH: en enekainisen (3SAAI) hemin dia tou katapetasmatos, tout estin (3SPAI) tes sarkos autou: (6:19; 9:3; Exodus 26:31-37; 36:35-38; Leviticus 16:2,15; 21:23; Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45) (John 6:51-56; Ephesians 2:15; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 4:2; 2 John 1:7)

Because He is "the Way" (Jn 14:6)

"flesh," in Hebrews = incarnation of Jesus (2:14; 5:7). His flesh was the state through which he had to pass before he entered heaven for us. 2:9-18; 5:7-9; 10:5. Believers have the glorious privilege of approaching God directly. Jn6:51: "for the life of the world is My flesh."

The writer speaks of Messiah’s humanity, as the veil through which the entrance into the heavenly Holy of Holies was made. As the veil in the tabernacle of Israel while it was not rent, barred man’s access to God, so Messiah’s humanity, before it was rent on the Cross, barred man’s access to God. An uncrucified Saviour is no Saviour.

His weak suffering flesh, was the veil; His body was the temple (Jn 2:19).

Judson W. VanDeVenter had erected a veil. But while singing in a choir during a revival campaign in Sharon, Pennsylvania, he responded to the invitation and committed his life to the Lord’s service. He forsook all and became an evangelist, ministering in America, England, and Scotland. Years later he wrote about his commitment:

I Surrender All
Click to play

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

ll to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

Refrain
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

AND SINCE WE HAVE A GREAT PRIEST: kai hierea megan: (2:17; 3:1; 4:14-16; 6:20; 7:26; 8:1)

Our Great High Priest as has been shown in a wonderfully woven masterful argument in Heb 4:14-7:28.

The Law from God to Moses stipulated very specifically the ATTIRE required of the high priest because they were shadows (Heb 8:5) of Christ’s our ultimate heavenly Advocate. God’s instructions demanded that the OT high priest wear 12 stones on his breastplate—over his heart—to represent his people (Ex28:21), and representative stones on his shoulder as well (Ex 28:12).

Now Jesus, our Perfect Eternal Advocate, bears our names not just over his body and heart, but in the very center of His being, for we are in Him, our Advocate! Even more, He is our constant High Priest never ceasing His intercessory work on our behalf!

To show why we need to be very careful reading commentaries (yes, even the one you are now reading!) here is a quote from an Early Church Father, Justin Martyr (ca AD 130-50) who cites Heb 6:19-20, 10:19,20 and comments that by virtue of the sacrificial death of the crucified High Priest, Jesus Christ, Christians have become "the true high priestly people of God". Now in one sense he may be correct...but I don't see us called "high" anywhere...I think personally there is and will always be ONLY ONE Great High Priest, even as there was only ONE in ancient Israel in the OT, although there were many other priests.

Hierea megan is alternative designation for the HIGH PRIEST (cf. Lv21:10; Nu 35:25, 28 where Lxx the phrase "ho hiereus ho megas" = high priest in English translation).

OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD: epi ton oikon tou theou: (3:3-6; Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 3:9-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16,17; Ephesians 2:19-22; 1 Timothy 3:15)

This phrase "house of God" occurs 73x in the OT so this would be very familiar terminology to the ears of his Jewish recipients. 5x in NT: Mt 12:4, Mk 2:26, Lu 6:4, 11:51, Heb 10:21 and in the Gospels clearly refers to the TEMPLE OF GOD in Jerusalem. (Isa 66:1) Today the temple is our body!!! (1Cor 3:16, 6:19, 2Cor 6:16) Think about this! Is God able to "rest" in His Temple, your body?

See this Access and Advocate, the dual sources of our confidence, (v19) together. See what strength they bring. Jesus is both the Veil (our Access) and the Priest (our Advocate). His torn body and shed blood provides our access to the presence of the Father. And in our access He is our perpetual priestly Advocate. Hallelujah! Thank You Father.

This was meant to make the ancient Church (and us) confidently point our ship into the high seas with strength and power. We are not only to exist in a hostile culture but to buck its waves. While arrogance can never be the Christian’s way, confidence must mark his life. (cp Ro 8:31-34)

The logic here, seriously applied, pushes us to heights of confidence. It means more than God being graciously disposed toward us. It means we are victors. We may be defeated for a moment, but evil will never prevail. Access and advocacy—what confidence they bring!

When Chrysostom was brought before the Roman emperor, the emperor threatened him with banishment if he remained a Christian. Chrysostorn replied:

“You can not banish me for this world is my Father’s house.” “But I will slay you,” said the Emperor. “No, you can not,” said the noble champion of the faith, “for my life is hid with Christ in God.” “I will take away your treasures.” “No, but you can not for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there.” “But I will drive you away from man and you shall have no friend left.” “No, you can not, for I have a Friend in heaven from Whom you can not separate me. I defy you, for there is nothing you can do to hurt me.”