City Life Starter

Written by Megan Meier

The Word

“10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”

Hebrews 13:10-14 ESV

Reflection

The Hebrews were expected to memorize the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, by the age of twelve (even Leviticus, which isn’t easy to read in and of itself). They would have been familiar with the tent of meeting, where the sacrifices were presented and the ark of the covenant and the Ten Commandments stayed in the Holy of Holies, where one could commune directly with God (Exodus 33:7, Leviticus 1:3). And they would have known the rules regarding animal carcasses, they had to be burned outside of the city gate, otherwise their city or camp would be defiled (Exodus 29:14, Leviticus 4:21).

The tent the author is writing about is the old covenant, and those who serve at the tent were the Jews who have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The altar is the cross of Jesus Christ, the new Covenant. He allowed Himself to be sacrificed as the true Sacrificial Lamb and the curtain concealing the Holy of Holies was torn, allowing ALL to commune with God (Matthew 27:50-51).

All of the rules about sacrifices and ceremonial cleansing (I recommend you read the Book of Leviticus at least once) point to Jesus. The whole reason for animal sacrifices was to remind the Hebrews of the price of sin and the true and final sacrifice to come. Jesus willingly took on our sins, suffered, and died outside the gate of Jerusalem at Golgotha (John 19:17-20). He was also buried outside of the gates (John 19:41). He took our defiling sins outside of the city and out of us, if we allow Him to.

As Jesus died, was resurrected, and rose to Heaven outside of the city gate, the author calls the Hebrews to go outside the city (it is assumed the Hebrews whom the author addressed were in Jerusalem). Jesus’ blood sanctifies those who accept Him. The author calls the Hebrews to leave the old covenant and to embrace the new covenant. He reminds the Hebrews even their (physical) holy city will not last (spoiler alert: in 70 A.D., Jerusalem fell and their temple was destroyed), but their true home in heaven will last forever.

Application

Previously in this letter, the author referred to Abraham and his willingness to leave his country for a land his descendants would inherit, although at the time he had no children and no idea where God was leading him (Hebrews 11:8-16). We are also called to leave our comfort zones to witness to others (Matthew 28:19). What does the comfort zone look like to you? What does it look like to leave that comfort zone? Growth is found not inside of the comfort zone, but outside. God doesn’t always show us the end destination, but He has given us His map (the Bible).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please grant me the courage to leave my comfort zone. Let me see You outside of my comfort zone. In Your name I pray, amen.