13:10
The food laws and all the other stuff in the Law gave priests certain rights, but they have no value whatsoever in giving someone the right to “feed” from the altar of Christ, the cross. It is only by faith that one partakes in the heavenly sacrifice. The “religious” types sometimes look down on others, considering themselves better or superior, but such people actually have no right to partake of Christ’s sacrifice. Only a repentant and believing heart is required.
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13:11,12
Again we get a picture of how the Law contained a shadow of what was to come. The body of the sacrifice had to be carried outside the camp (Lev 4:12). Jesus’ body also was sacrificed outside the camp. The place of His crucifixion was outside the city walls.
13:13,14
Jesus suffered disgrace. To die on a cross was a shameful thing to happen. He was rejected by the religious leaders and by the political authorities. He bore disgrace. We are then urged to do likewise. The Jews mocked the Christians, proclaiming how “superior” their religion was. Today the world mocks Christians, especially in relation to sexual ethics. We are regarded as at best backward, and at worst as guilty of hate crimes. The writer to the Hebrews reminds his readers that they actually had no investment in the Jewish religion, it was purely temporary. Something that would be cruelly demonstrated in AD 66-70. Likewise, our society is on a road to destruction, the fact that it rejects God’s ways should mean that we have no investment in society. We are looking for the “city that is to come”, the city of God. We are part of God’s kingdom, so if that means bearing disgrace for a time then so be it.
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