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Mustard Seed July/August 2006
Question and Answer
Mustard Seed - July/August 2006
Is the “holiest” in Hebrews 10:19 a reference to the “most holy place “ rather than to the “outer sanctuary,” or in other words to the very presence of God?
The understanding of this word’s meaning is one which is common to a lot of bible students. The king James version, in fact translates the Greek as the most intensive form of “holy” that is, as “holiest.” Strong’s concordance agrees with this understanding as well, so do several bible commentators The word in question is hagion, which is the possessive plural form of the word. In other words, the word should be understood as “holies.” This would be a reference to both the holy place (the outer sanctuary) and the most holy place (the holy of holies.”)
Let’s remember that only Priests from the tribe of Levi could serve in the tabernacles, (Numbers 3:1-10) whether the holy or the most holy place.
The context is important here. Note what is being referred to in the immediately surrounding verses. The redemption of mankind by Christ’s blood sacrifice is the general subject. Along with this thought, we find that the veil in the Temple had been torn apart at Christ’s death, thus symbolizing that all could now enter direct into the presence of God without the necessity of a human mediator. Verse 20 clarifies that the believer have entrance “through the veil.” Our mediator into God’s presence, according to the passage, is Jesus Christ and full mediation for sins is immediately possible since the atonement.
Though we cannot say that the word hagion refers just to the most holy place—it refers to both parts of the Temple—we can agree that now there is not a holy place separated from the most holy place since Christ’s sacrificial death. The two room or areas have become one, because the very presence of God has been exposed or opened unto us, in the flesh of Christ.
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