Jesus as the True Tabernacle Dweller in Hebrews
Jesus as the True Tabernacle Dweller in Hebrews
The book of Hebrews presents Jesus as the true tabernacle dweller, emphasizing his role as the ultimate fulfillment of the Old Testament tabernacle and its associated rituals. The author of Hebrews writes that Jesus is the mediator of a new covenant, and his blood speaks better than that of Abel [1]. This new covenant is rooted in Jesus' role as High Priest, who has entered the true tabernacle, not made by human hands [5].
The concept of Jesus as the true tabernacle dweller is closely tied to the idea of the tabernacle as a dwelling place for God among his people. In the Old Testament, the tabernacle was a physical structure where God dwelled among the Israelites. The author of Hebrews argues that Jesus' body is the true tabernacle, where God dwells among his people in a new and more intimate way [4].
The theme of Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament tabernacle is also reflected in other New Testament passages. For example, the Gospel of John describes Jesus as the one who "tabernacled among us" (John 1:14), using a verb that echoes the idea of the tabernacle as a dwelling place for God. This theme is also present in the book of Revelation, where Jesus is described as the "Lion of Judah" and the one who is worthy to open the scroll and reveal God's purposes [2].
The idea of Jesus as the true tabernacle dweller has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history. Some have seen it as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies about the restoration of the tabernacle of David [6, 7]. Others have emphasized the significance of Jesus' role as High Priest and mediator of a new covenant [3, 5].
The author of Hebrews presents Jesus' sacrifice as a once-for-all event that has superseded the Old Testament system of sacrifices. Jesus' endurance of the cross, despite its shame, is seen as a demonstration of his faithfulness and commitment to his mission [8]. This understanding of Jesus' sacrifice is closely tied to his role as the true tabernacle dweller, highlighting the significance of his presence among his people.
The portrayal of Jesus as the true tabernacle dweller in Hebrews has significant implications for our understanding of God's presence among his people. It emphasizes the idea that God dwells among his people in a new and more intimate way through Jesus, and that Jesus' sacrifice has made it possible for people to have direct access to God.
Sources
- Hebrews “to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better than that of Abel. -- Hebrews 12:24”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 5:5: 5:5 Designations for Jesus as the Lion of . . . Judah (see Gen 49:9-10) and the heir to David’s throne (see Isa 11:10) are Old Testament metaphors for the Messiah (see Jer 23:5; 30:9; John 7:42). • Because Jesus won the victory at the cross (John 16:33), he is the only one worthy to open the scroll and reveal God’s purposes (Rev 4:11; 5:2, 12). God’s plan for history centers around Jesus and what he has done. His relationship to the scroll indicates his control of history.”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 10:21: 10:21 Jesus, as Messiah, is the High Priest and king who rules over God’s house, the people of God (see 3:1-6; 2 Sam 7:13).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 76:2: In Salem also is his tabernacle,.... That is, in Jerusalem, as the Targum expresses it, where the tabernacle of Moses and the ark of the covenant were, and afterwards the temple of Solomon, which the Targum here calls the house of the sanctuary; and may be interpreted of the human nature of Christ, the true tabernacle which God pitched, and not man, in which the divine word when he was made flesh dwelt or tabernacled among the Jews at Jerusalem, and in other parts of Judea, Heb 8:2. Salem or Jerusalem often signifies the church of God in Gospel times, in the midst of ”
- Hebrews (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Hebrews 9:11: But--in contrast to "could not make . . . perfect" (Heb 9:9). Christ--The Messiah, of whom all the prophets foretold; not "Jesus" here. From whom the "reformation" (Heb 9:10), or rectification, emanates, which frees from the yoke of carnal ordinances, and which is being realized gradually now, and shall be perfectly in the consummation of "the age (world) to come." "Christ . . . High Priest," exactly answers to Lev 4:5, "the priest that is anointed." being come an, &c.--rather, "having come forward (compare Heb 10:7, a different Greek word, pictur”
- Amos (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Amos 9:11: In that day--quoted by James (Act 15:16-17), "After this," that is, in the dispensation of Messiah (Gen 49:10; Hos 3:4-5; Joe 2:28; Joe 3:1). tabernacle of David--not "the house of David," which is used of his affairs when prospering (Sa2 3:1), but the tent or booth, expressing the low condition to which his kingdom and family had fallen in Amos' time, and subsequently at the Babylonian captivity before the restoration; and secondarily, in the last days preceding Israel's restoration under Messiah, the antitype to David (Psa 102:13-14; Jer 30:9; Eze 34”
- Amos (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Amos 9:11: To him to whom all the prophets bear witness this prophet, here in the close, bears his testimony, and speaks of that day, those days that shall come, in which God will do great things for his church, by the setting up of the kingdom of the Messiah, for the rejecting of which the rejection of the Jews was foretold in the foregoing verses. The promise here is said to agree to the planting of the Christian church, and in that to be fulfilled, Act 15:15-17. It is promised, I. That in the Messiah the kingdom of David shall be restored (Amo 9:11); the tabernacle of David”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:2: 12:2 Jesus is the supreme example of faithful endurance (3:1). Our endurance in the Christian life will depend on our keeping our eyes on Jesus—staying focused on him and his work on our behalf. • Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith: Jesus has accomplished everything necessary for faith under the new covenant to be a reality. • disregarding its shame: Crucifixion was the most shameful form of execution, meant to humiliate and torture the person crucified. It was used only for slaves and criminals who were not Roman citizens. Christ treated th”