THURSDAY June 11, 2026

The Altar of God

We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.
Hebrews 13:10-11

Remember, Paul the Apostle was speaking to Jews who were being tempted to return to the law––to performing sacrifices––killing lambs and turtledoves. But these ordinances were only a covering for sin. He reminded the Hebrews, “Listen, you do not have to practice the rites of the law anymore, because you are now under God’s grace.”

The priests and people in the Old Testament could eat some of the sacrifices. However, nobody could eat the sacrifice that was called “the sin offering,” not even the priest. Why? It was an offering for sin. When the sacrifice was made, the animal was not cooked inside the camp, but outside, according to the law. Paul was showing the Hebrew believers an analogy of the law, so that they could understand they were no longer under the law, but under grace.

The truth they needed to take hold of was the altar of the Cross! This is where Jesus Christ was sacrificed and paid the price, once and for all, for their sin. The Hebrew believers were not to pervert the Gospel of grace by going back to Old Testament laws. Jesus had sanctified them by His own blood. He was crucified and suffered outside the city gates––outside of Jerusalem––amazing! So here is the call to separation from the system of Judaism to the grace of God to be free as a Christian because of what Jesus Christ has done.

You will understand the weight of what Paul was explaining as you read Hebrews 13:12-13 with me: Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. Jesus was crucified at Golgotha––not in the city, but outside of the city. Jesus bore our reproach outside the city on the Cross: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6).

Beware of Christless Christianity.
~C.H. Spurgeon~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!