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Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God . . . .¹

The conjunction therefore connects previous statements with the authors’ conclusion: that we have confidence now to enter the holy places, the mystery previously concealed now revealed through the gospels—the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. . .  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.²

What is this holy place? In the OT, God instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to create a sanctuary that God may dwell in their midst.³ A tent was prepared; the first section is called the Holy Place; the second section, the Most Holy Place. Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthy place of holiness. . . . These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section . . . but into the second only the high priests goes, and he but once a year, . . . taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened . . . . gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, . . .⁴

Now we have the new and living way that God opened for us through the curtain. Interestingly, in the 3 gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke—before Christ yielded his Spirit, it mentions that the curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom.⁵ God himself tore the curtain from top to bottom. The requirements of the law for atonement was achieved through Jesus as the perfect sacrifice. For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come . . . . For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world . . . . “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.⁶ “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.⁷

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy place, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not men. . . . In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. . .⁸

Let us, therefore, draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience . . . Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.⁹