Hebrews 10:20
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by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
which, &c.--The antecedent in the Greek is "the entering"; not as English Version, "way." Translate, "which (entering) He has consecrated (not as though it were already existing, but has been the first to open, INAUGURATED as a new thing; see on Heb 9:18, where the Greek is the same) for us (as) a new (Greek, 'recent'; recently opened, Rom 16:25-26) and living way" (not like the lifeless way through the law offering of the blood of dead victims, but real, vital, and of perpetual efficacy, because the living and life-giving Saviour is that way. It is a living hope that we have, producing not dead, but living, works). Christ, the first-fruits of our nature, has ascended, and the rest is sanctified thereby. "Christ's ascension is our promotion; and whither the glory of the Head hath preceded, thither the hope of the body, too, is called" [LEO]. the veil--As the veil had to be passed through in order to enter the holiest place, so the weak, human suffering flesh (Heb 5:7) of Christ's humanity (which veiled His God head) had to be passed through by Him in entering the heavenly holiest place for us; in putting off His rent flesh, the temple veil, its type, was simultaneously rent from top to bottom (Mat 27:51). Not His body, but His weak suffering flesh, was the veil; His body was the temple (Joh 2:19).
Open source ↗The apostle knew very well that the Hebrews, to whom he wrote, were strangely fond of the Levitical dispensation, and therefore he fills his mouth with arguments to wean them from it; and in order thereto proceeds in this chapter, I. To lay low the whole of that priesthood and sacrifice (Heb 10:1-6). II. He raises and exalts the priesthood of Christ very high, that he might effectually recommend him and his gospel to them (Heb 10:7-18). III. He shows to believers the honours and dignities of their state, and calls them to suitable duties (Heb 10:19 to the end).
Open source ↗10:20 By his death: Jesus’ death has opened a new and life-giving way for us through the curtain, an allusion to the curtain separating the first and second rooms of the Tabernacle (see 9:1-5). Believers now enter the Most Holy Place of God’s presence through Jesus’ sacrificial death.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
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Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
I am the gate. If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture.
Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place,
At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.
So He said to them again, “Truly, truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
And the LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter freely into the Most Holy Place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,