Hebrews 9:24 and Jesus as Our Forerunner in Heaven
Hebrews 9:24 and Jesus as Our Forerunner in Heaven
Hebrews 9:24 states, "For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" [1]. This verse is part of a larger argument in the book of Hebrews that establishes Jesus as the ultimate high priest who has entered the heavenly sanctuary.
The concept of Jesus as a "forerunner" is introduced in Hebrews 6:20, where it is written that Jesus "has entered into the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, as our forerunner" [2]. The term "forerunner" implies that Jesus has gone before believers into the heavenly realm, paving the way for them to follow.
The literary context of Hebrews 9:24 is the comparison between the earthly tabernacle and the heavenly sanctuary. The author of Hebrews argues that the earthly tabernacle was a copy or representation of the true heavenly sanctuary, and that Jesus has entered the latter on behalf of believers [6]. The surrounding verses (Hebrews 9:23-28) emphasize the superiority of Christ's sacrifice and his role as mediator between God and humanity.
The historical setting of Hebrews is likely the late 1st century AD, with the temple in Jerusalem still standing [5]. However, the author of Hebrews is more concerned with the theological significance of Jesus' sacrifice and ministry than with the historical context.
The key term "forerunner" (Greek: πρόδρομος, prodromos) is significant in understanding Jesus' role. It implies that Jesus has gone before believers into the heavenly realm, securing their salvation and paving the way for them to follow [2, 5].
The major exegetical decision in interpreting Hebrews 9:24 is understanding the nature of the "heavenly sanctuary" that Jesus has entered. According to Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Jesus has "passed through the heavens" into the immediate presence of God, beyond the created heavens [6]. This understanding is supported by the contrast between the earthly tabernacle and the heavenly sanctuary.
The range of interpretations of Hebrews 9:24 and Jesus as our forerunner in heaven varies among commentators. John Gill interprets Jesus' role as forerunner in the context of his finished work, emphasizing that Jesus has completed his race and is now seated at the right hand of God [5]. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown highlight the significance of Jesus' entry into the heavenly sanctuary, where he appears in the presence of God on behalf of believers [7].
The concept of Jesus as forerunner has functioned significantly in Christian tradition. It has been used to emphasize the believer's hope and confidence in Jesus' finished work, as well as their future inheritance in the heavenly realm [3]. In the view of Adam Clarke, the new heaven and the new earth are the ultimate destination of believers, where God dwells with humanity in a state of perfect harmony [3].
The idea of Jesus as forerunner also resonates with other biblical themes, such as the concept of the new Jerusalem in Revelation 21. According to Tyndale House, the new Jerusalem represents the ultimate community and home for God's people, fashioned and given by God [4]. This vision of the new Jerusalem is closely tied to the concept of Jesus as forerunner, who has entered the heavenly sanctuary and secured the believer's inheritance.
Sources
- Hebrews “For Christ hasn’t entered into holy places made with hands, which are representations of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; -- Hebrews 9:24”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Forerunner — John the Baptist went before our Lord in this character (Mark 1:2, 3). Christ so called (Heb. 6:20) as entering before his people into the holy place as their head and guide.”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 21 (introduction): The new heaven and the new earth, Rev 21:1. The new Jerusalem, Rev 21:2. God dwells with men; the happy state of his followers, Rev 21:3-7. The wretched state of the ungodly, Rev 21:8. An angel shows John the holy city, the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:9, Rev 21:10. Her light, wall, gates, and foundations, described, Rev 21:11-21. God and the Lamb are the temple and light of it, Rev 21:22, Rev 21:23. The nations and kings of the earth bring their glory and honor to it; the gates shall never be shut, nor shall any defilement enter into it, Rev 21:24-27.”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:1: 21:1–22:9 The final scenes of the new heaven and earth are striking pictures of a new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God. These scenes help to lift the spirits of persecuted Christians. John lays out his basic vision (21:1-8) and follows it with two expansions: (1) In 21:9-27, he presents the new Jerusalem as the site of holy perfection; (2) in 22:1-5, he describes the new Jerusalem as the ultimate Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned. 21:1 The vision involves God’s creation of the new ”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 6:19: Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,.... Christ was a runner; he had a race to run, which lay in going about to heal diseases, in preaching the Gospel, in obeying the law, and in suffering death for his people; which race was run by him with great swiftness, strength, and courage, with patience, cheerfulness, and joy, and is now ended; as appears from the accomplishment of salvation, from his entrance into heaven, and session at the right hand of God; from the glorification of his human nature, and its everlasting freedom from the dominion of death: ”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 4:14: Seeing then--Having, therefore; resuming Heb 2:17. great--as being "the Son of God, higher than the heavens" (Heb 7:26): the archetype and antitype of the legal high priest. passed into the heavens--rather, "passed through the heavens," namely, those which come between us and God, the aerial heaven, and that above the latter containing the heavenly bodies, the sun, moon, &c. These heavens were the veil which our High Priest passed through into the heaven of heavens, the immediate presence of God, just as the Levitical high priest passed through th”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 9:24: Resumption more fully of the thought, "He entered in once into the holy place," Heb 9:12. He has in Heb 9:13-14, expanded the words "by his own blood," Heb 9:12; and in Heb 9:15-23, he has enlarged on "an High Priest of good things to come." not . . . into . . . holy places made with hands--as was the Holy of Holies in the earthly tabernacle (see on Heb 9:11). figures--copies "of the true" holiest place, heaven, the original archetype (Heb 8:5). into heaven itself--the immediate presence of the invisible God beyond all the created heavens, throu”