Hebrews teaches that Jesus is both our perfect high priest and our perfect sacrifice, so he fulfills and replaces the entire Old Testament system of worship. Because his blood cleanses our consciences, we can draw near to God with confidence. Worship then flows out in gratitude, praise, good deeds and mutual encouragement as God’s people gather and hold on to their hope together.
Jesus Is the Perfect Priest and Sacrifice
The Old Testament priests offered sacrifices again and again, but those sacrifices could only provide outward, ceremonial cleansing. Jesus is a better priest serving under a better covenant, and his ministry happens in heaven itself.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
Jesus offered himself once for all. His sacrifice secures forgiveness, cleanses the conscience and consecrates us to serve God. That makes his work the foundation of all Christian worship. He is not only the one we worship, but the one through whom we can worship at all.
Draw Near with Confidence
Hebrews’ main invitation is simple: draw near. Under the old covenant, the way into God’s presence was restricted. Now it’s wide open through Jesus.
Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Drawing near starts when we first trust Jesus, but it continues every day. In times of trial and failure, we keep coming to God with confident dependence instead of drifting away.
Gathering to Encourage One Another
Hebrews connects drawing near to God with drawing near to each other.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Our gatherings are times to care for one another, warn and encourage each other to stand firm and keep our eyes on the future God has promised. We’re pilgrims traveling together toward the heavenly Jerusalem.
Sacrifices That Please God
Hebrews ends by describing the kind of sacrifices Christians now offer: praise to God and practical love for others (Hebrews 13:15-16). Gratitude, confession of Jesus’ name and doing good all please God when they’re offered through Christ, with reverence and awe.
The Takeaway
Hebrews teaches that worship rests entirely on Jesus, our perfect priest and sacrifice. Because of him, we can draw near to God with confidence, gather to encourage one another and offer lives of praise and good deeds that please him.
