The book of Hebrews offers an extended comparison and contrast between the old covenant as presented in the Old Testament and the new covenant inaugurated by Christ and presented in the New Testament.

The author argues that Jesus is superior to the angels, to Moses, to the earthly high priest, and to the Levitical priesthood because he is a priest after the order of Melchizedek.

Our high priest is seated at the right hand of God ministering in the true holy place and the true tent erected by God, not man. The earthly Levitical system, he explains, serves “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things” (Hebrews 8:5).

“But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.” (Hebrews 8:6-7)

After he describes the details of the structure and objects of the tabernacle in the Old Testament, he then points to the reality that lies beyond it. “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.” (Hebrews 9:11-12)

He calls the objects of the tabernacle used for worship and purified by the sprinkling of sacrificial blood “the copies of the heavenly things” (Hebrews 9:23) and “copies of the true things” (Hebrews 9:24).

Then the author turns to the “law” as it stands in this instance for all that was associated with the old covenant (with its priesthood, covenant, sacrifices, and tabernacle). He calls it a “shadow”.

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. (Hebrews 10:1)

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

What I want you to consider is this: even if the earthly tabernacle is only a shadow, a copy, a type, it still has a lot to teach us about how to approach God and how to worship him. This I will explore over next week’s posts. I believe there is much to learn about the realities which stand behind the copies by exploring what the copies tell us about those realities.

I hope you will persevere with me as we pursue God this year.