Understanding Hebrews 10:19-20: Access Through Jesus

The New Way to God’s Presence

The 'therefore' in Hebrews 10:19 points back to the entire argument of chapters 8 - 10, where the writer shows how Jesus fulfills and surpasses the old system of sacrifices.

Back in Leviticus 16, we read how the high priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement, bringing blood for the sins of the people - but only after careful rituals and at great distance. Hebrews 9 explains that this old system could never fully cleanse the conscience, because animal blood can’t truly take away sin. But now, Jesus has entered heaven itself with his own blood, offering a final sacrifice that opens the way permanently.

So when Hebrews 10:19 says we have confidence to enter the holy places, it means we can walk into God’s presence not through animal sacrifices, but through Jesus’ death - His flesh torn like the temple curtain, making a new and living way for all who believe.

The Curtain Torn: How Jesus’ Flesh Opens the Way

The image of the curtain in Hebrews 10:20 is not just a symbol - it’s a radical declaration that Jesus’ body has replaced the temple as the meeting place between God and humanity.

In the old covenant, the curtain in the tabernacle separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where God’s presence dwelled, and only the high priest could pass through once a year with blood for atonement. That curtain was a physical reminder that access to God was limited and guarded. But when Jesus died, Matthew 27:51 tells us, 'And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom,' showing that God himself removed the barrier. Hebrews now interprets that torn curtain as a picture of Jesus’ flesh - His body broken to create a new opening.

The phrase “new and living way” means this is not merely a different path; it is a personal, active path grounded in Jesus rather than rituals. Unlike the old system, which repeated sacrifices because they couldn’t cleanse the conscience, this way is final and life-giving. Hebrews 9:12 says Jesus '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,' making clear that His sacrifice was not temporary but eternal.

By calling His flesh “the curtain,” the writer shows that Jesus is not merely the sacrifice; He is the temple, the priest, and the way. This redefines how we approach God: not through a building or a ritual, but through a person. And that changes everything about how we live with confidence today.

Bold Access for Believers Today

Because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we now have bold, direct access to God - something unimaginable under the old system.

The confidence spoken of in Hebrews 10:19 is not merely a feeling of bravery; it is the assurance that we are welcome in God’s presence because of Jesus’ work. This matches Ephesians 2:18, which says, 'For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit,' showing that Christ is the living bridge for all who believe. Unlike the old covenant where only priests could enter and only once a year, we can now draw near anytime through faith.

This truth fits the good news of Jesus: He did not simply fix the system; He replaced it, opening a new and living way that leads to the heart of God.

From Curtain to New Creation: How Jesus Fulfills the Whole Story

The way Jesus opens to God is not merely a new door; it fulfills a story that began with a tent in the wilderness and ends with no temple.

Back in Exodus 26:31-33, God commanded a curtain to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, a thick barrier marking that His presence was not to be approached lightly - only the high priest could enter, and only once a year, after great preparation. This curtain symbolized the distance between a holy God and sinful people. But when Jesus died, Matthew 27:51 records the moment: 'And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.' God Himself ripped open the barrier, not by human hands, but by the sacrifice of His Son.

The writer of Hebrews sees this torn curtain not merely as a dramatic sign but as a divine revelation: Jesus’ flesh was torn, creating a new and living way. This means the old system - its priests, sacrifices, and sacred spaces - was never the final answer. It was pointing forward to Christ, who is now the true meeting place between God and humanity. Where the tabernacle was temporary and limited, Jesus is eternal and accessible. And Revelation 21:22 shows the ultimate fulfillment: 'And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.' In the new creation, there’s no need for a temple building because Jesus has become the permanent presence of God among His people.

So today, we don’t approach God by going to a place or performing rituals - we come through a person, Jesus, who tore the curtain and opened the way. This changes how we live: we can draw near with confidence, not fear. It changes how church groups relate - no one is spiritually superior, because all have equal access through Christ. And it changes our mission: we don’t guard access to God, we invite others through the open door that leads straight to His heart.

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