WHY DOES HEBREWS SAY, “WE HAVE AN ALTAR”?

Hebrews 13:10–14 — Leaving the Shadow and Following Christ

WHAT ALTAR IS THE WRITER TALKING ABOUT?

For centuries, the altar stood at the center of Israel's sacrificial worship.

Animals were offered.

Blood was shed.

Priests carried out the duties God had given them.

Then the writer of Hebrews makes a remarkable statement:

“We have an altar.” — Hebrews 13:10

What does he mean?

Christians were not being instructed to build another altar.

Throughout Hebrews, the writer has explained that Jesus offered the sacrifice that the former system could never provide.

His sacrifice was offered once for all.

His priesthood continues forever.

And through Him, believers have access to God.

So why does the writer return to the subject of an altar?

To answer that question, we must read Hebrews 13:10–14 in its context.

The writer is drawing on Israel's sacrificial worship to explain what Christians now possess through Jesus Christ.

He also explains why following Jesus may require us to leave behind what others consider sacred, respectable, or secure.

HEBREWS 13:10 — “WE HAVE AN ALTAR”

The writer says:

“We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat.”

This statement raises several questions.

What altar do Christians have?

Who are those serving the tent?

And why does the writer speak about eating?

Who Are Those Who Serve the Tent?

The tent refers to the tabernacle, the place of worship established under the Law of Moses.

The tabernacle had an altar, priests, sacrifices, and regulations governing worship.

Later, the temple served a similar role in Israel's worship.

Throughout Hebrews, the writer has used the tabernacle and its priestly service to explain the superiority of Christ's ministry.

Here, those who serve the tent represent participation in the former sacrificial system.

What Does It Mean That They Have No Right to Eat?

Under the Law of Moses, priests could eat portions of certain sacrifices.

But they could not eat every sacrifice.

Some offerings were treated differently.

The writer's reference to eating probably prepares us for his discussion of the Day of Atonement in the next verse.

His point is not simply about food.

He is contrasting the former sacrificial system with what Christians possess through Christ.

Those who continue to depend on the former system cannot obtain its promised fulfillment through that system itself.

Is Our Altar Jesus Christ?

That is one important interpretation.

Others understand the altar as a way of referring to Christ's sacrifice or to the benefits Christians receive through His sacrifice.

Some Christian traditions have connected this verse with the Lord's Supper.

But Hebrews 13:10 does not explicitly identify the altar or mention the Lord's Supper.

We should not claim more than the verse says.

The surrounding argument, however, focuses directly on Jesus and His sacrifice.

Hebrews 13:12 identifies Jesus as the One who suffered to sanctify the people through His own blood.

Throughout the letter, the writer has explained that Christ's sacrifice accomplishes what the former sacrifices could not.

Whatever precise meaning we assign to the altar, the writer's argument directs our attention to Jesus Christ and the benefits of His sacrifice.

The point is not that Christians need another physical altar.

It is that Christians possess something greater through Christ.

HEBREWS 13:11 — THE SACRIFICES BURNED OUTSIDE THE CAMP

The writer reminds his readers that the bodies of certain animals offered for sin were burned outside the camp.

He is referring to a practice established under the Law of Moses.

What Happened on the Day of Atonement?

Leviticus 16 describes the annual Day of Atonement.

On that day, the high priest entered the Most Holy Place with sacrificial blood.

The blood was used in the ceremonies of atonement for the sanctuary and the people.

The bodies of the bull and goat whose blood was brought into the sanctuary were taken outside the camp and burned.

Leviticus 16:27 specifically describes this practice.

These animals were not eaten by the priests.

Their bodies were removed and burned outside the camp.

This helps explain the connection between Hebrews 13:10 and 13:11.

The writer is reminding his readers of a particular feature of the sacrificial system.

But he is preparing to show how Jesus fulfilled something greater.

Did These Sacrifices Remove Sin Permanently?

No.

Hebrews 10:1–4 explains that the repeated sacrifices could not finally take away sins.

Their repetition showed that they were not the final solution.

The Day of Atonement had an important place in Israel's worship.

But it pointed forward to the greater sacrifice of Christ.

The former sacrifices had to be repeated. Jesus offered Himself once for all.

HEBREWS 13:12 — JESUS SUFFERED OUTSIDE THE GATE

The writer now makes the connection:

Jesus also suffered outside the gate so that He might sanctify the people through His own blood.

What Does “Outside the Gate” Mean?

Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem.

John 19:17–20 places His crucifixion at a location near the city, and Hebrews describes it as outside the gate.

This physical location becomes important to the writer's argument.

Under the Law, the bodies of certain sin offerings were taken outside the camp.

Jesus suffered outside the city.

The writer sees a meaningful connection between these events.

But there is also an important difference.

The sacrificial animals were taken outside after they had been killed.

Jesus Himself suffered and died outside the gate.

The comparison does not mean every detail of the old ceremony happened in exactly the same way at the crucifixion.

Rather, the writer uses the earlier practice to help explain the significance of Jesus' suffering.

Why Did Jesus Suffer?

The verse tells us:

“To sanctify the people through his own blood.”

To sanctify means to set apart for God.

Jesus did not merely provide another example of religious suffering.

His death accomplished something the former sacrifices could not.

Hebrews 10:10 says believers have been sanctified through the offering of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:14 says that by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

The writer is not describing another sacrifice added to the old system.

He is describing the sacrifice that fulfills its purpose.

Was Jesus Rejected?

Yes.

Jesus was condemned and crucified.

His death outside the city also fits the larger theme of His rejection and shame.

But we should distinguish the historical fact of His crucifixion outside the gate from the spiritual application the writer makes in the next verse.

Jesus suffered outside the gate. Now His followers are called to go to Him.

HEBREWS 13:13 — “LET US GO TO HIM OUTSIDE THE CAMP”

The writer now turns from explanation to instruction.

“Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.”

This is the practical heart of the passage.

What Does It Mean to Go Outside the Camp?

The writer is not telling Christians to move outside the city or establish a new religious settlement.

He is using the language of Israel's camp to make a spiritual point.

The camp represented the religious community and its established system of worship.

Jesus had fulfilled the purpose of that system.

Yet He had been rejected and crucified.

Now the writer calls believers to identify themselves openly with Him.

For the original readers, that could mean separation from familiar religious institutions and practices.

It could also mean losing the approval of family, friends, or society.

Why Does He Say We Must Bear His Reproach?

The word reproach refers to disgrace, insult, or shame.

Jesus was rejected and humiliated.

Those who follow Him should not assume that faithfulness will always bring public approval.

Earlier in Hebrews, the writer reminded his readers that they had already endured suffering and public abuse (Hebrews 10:32–34).

Some had experienced the loss of their possessions.

Now he calls them to remain faithful even when following Christ brings further rejection.

Does Following Christ Always Mean Suffering?

Not every Christian will experience the same kind of opposition.

But no Christian should make acceptance by society the condition for remaining faithful to Jesus.

Sometimes obedience will be welcomed.

Sometimes it will be misunderstood.

Sometimes it will bring serious consequences.

The writer's instruction is clear.

Do not abandon Christ merely because following Him becomes costly.

Are Christians Supposed to Reject Everyone Outside Their Group?

No.

This passage is not permission to withdraw from society, insult others, or treat disagreement as persecution.

Nor does it mean that every unpopular religious movement is faithful to Christ.

The question is whether we are following Jesus and His teaching.

We are not called to seek rejection.

We are called to remain faithful when rejection comes.

HEBREWS 13:14 — “HERE WE HAVE NO LASTING CITY”

The writer explains why Christians can accept the cost of following Jesus.

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.”

What City Is He Talking About?

Earlier in Hebrews, the writer described Abraham looking forward to the city whose designer and builder is God (Hebrews 11:10).

Hebrews 11:13–16 says the faithful recognized that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

They desired a better country, a heavenly one.

Hebrews 12:22 says Christians have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.

Now Hebrews 13:14 reminds them that their present earthly home is not their permanent one.

The writer is not teaching that earthly cities have no value.

He is reminding Christians that no earthly city or institution can provide their final security.

Does This Contradict Hebrews 12:22?

No.

Hebrews 12:22 speaks of believers having already come to the heavenly Jerusalem.

Hebrews 13:14 speaks of seeking the city that is to come.

These statements reflect two aspects of Christian hope.

Through Christ, believers already have access to the heavenly reality.

But they still await the full realization of what God has promised.

Our relationship with Christ is present.

Our final hope is still ahead.

Why Does This Matter?

The original readers were being called to remain faithful even if they lost their place in the community around them.

The writer reminds them that their ultimate home is not found in earthly security.

They are looking for the city God has prepared.

We can endure the loss of what is temporary because God has promised something lasting.

GOING DEEPER

1. IS HEBREWS 13:10 TALKING ABOUT THE LORD'S SUPPER?

Some Christians have understood the altar in Hebrews 13:10 as a reference to the Lord's Supper.

They point to the language of eating and to the connection between sacrifice and fellowship.

That interpretation deserves consideration.

However, Hebrews 13:10–14 does not explicitly mention bread, wine, or the Lord's Supper.

The immediate explanation concerns the bodies of sin offerings burned outside the camp and Jesus' suffering outside the gate.

The writer's emphasis is on Christ's sacrifice and the call to identify with Him.

Therefore, we should be cautious about using this passage alone to establish the nature of the Lord's Supper or the existence of a physical Christian altar.

The Lord's Supper is taught elsewhere in the New Testament.

But we should not assume that every reference to an altar or eating must refer to that observance.

2. DOES HEBREWS TEACH THAT CHRISTIANS NEED A PHYSICAL ALTAR?

Throughout Hebrews, the writer emphasizes the superiority of Christ's priesthood and sacrifice.

Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary through His own blood (Hebrews 9:11–12).

He offered Himself once for all (Hebrews 10:10).

He opened the way for believers to draw near to God (Hebrews 10:19–22).

Hebrews does not instruct Christians to construct a new earthly altar for additional sin offerings.

That does not mean Christians cannot gather in buildings or use physical objects to help them worship.

It means that no physical altar can replace or repeat the saving sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Our access to God rests in Christ, not in a particular building or location.

3. DID JESUS FULFILL THE DAY OF ATONEMENT?

Hebrews repeatedly connects Jesus' work with the high priest's ministry on the Day of Atonement.

Hebrews 9:7 describes the high priest entering the Most Holy Place once a year with blood.

Hebrews 9:11–12 explains that Christ entered the greater and more perfect sanctuary through His own blood, obtaining eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:24–26 contrasts the repeated priestly ministry with Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.

Hebrews 13:11–12 adds the connection between the sin offerings taken outside the camp and Jesus suffering outside the gate.

Together, these passages show that the writer understands the earlier ceremonies as pointing toward Christ.

But we should remember that a fulfillment does not require every detail of the earlier ceremony to correspond to a separate event in Jesus' life.

The writer identifies the connections he wants us to understand.

We should follow those connections without inventing additional ones.

4. DOES “OUTSIDE THE CAMP” MEAN WE MUST LEAVE EVERY RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION?

No.

The original readers faced a particular situation involving the former covenant and their commitment to Jesus.

The writer called them to follow Christ rather than retreat into a system whose sacrifices could not provide what He had accomplished.

The passage does not establish a general rule that all religious organizations, congregations, or established practices are necessarily wrong.

Nor does it mean that separation itself proves faithfulness.

A person can leave a religious group and still misunderstand Scripture.

Another person can remain in a congregation while faithfully seeking to follow Christ.

The central question is not whether we are inside or outside a particular organization.

The central question is whether we are following Jesus Christ.

5. WHY DOES HEBREWS CONNECT THE ALTAR WITH THE CITY TO COME?

The writer moves from the sacrifice of Christ to the cost of following Him.

Jesus suffered outside the gate.

His followers must be willing to bear His reproach.

Why should they accept that cost?

Because they are not depending on an earthly city for their final hope.

Hebrews has already shown that the faithful throughout history looked beyond their immediate circumstances to God's promises.

Abraham lived in tents while looking for the city God would build.

Moses chose mistreatment with God's people rather than the temporary pleasures of sin (Hebrews 11:24–26).

Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).

Now the writer calls Christians to live with that same forward-looking faith.

The present world matters, but it is not our final home.

6. DOES FOLLOWING A REJECTED SAVIOR MEAN CHRISTIANS SHOULD EXPECT TO BE REJECTED?

Christians should be prepared for rejection, but they should not seek it.

Jesus taught His followers to love their enemies and do good to those who mistreated them.

Peter instructed Christians to give a reason for their hope with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15–17).

If we suffer because we follow Christ faithfully, that suffering should not cause us to abandon Him.

But if people reject us because we have behaved arrogantly, dishonestly, or cruelly, we should not automatically call that persecution for Christ.

Faithfulness sometimes brings rejection. Rejection by itself does not prove faithfulness.

WHAT SHOULD WE LEARN?

Hebrews 13:10–14 brings together several truths that the writer has developed throughout the letter.

We have something greater than the former sacrificial system.

Jesus has offered the sacrifice that truly sanctifies His people.

We follow a Savior who was rejected.

Our loyalty to Him must be greater than our desire for human approval.

We do not depend on an earthly city for our final hope.

God has prepared something lasting for His people.

The writer is not asking Christians to abandon something valuable for something uncertain.

He is asking them to recognize that the reality has come.

The earlier sacrifices pointed forward to Christ.

The former priesthood pointed forward to His greater priesthood.

The earthly sanctuary pointed toward the greater heavenly reality.

Why cling to the shadow when the fulfillment has arrived?

We have Christ—our sacrifice, our High Priest, and our hope.

And because we have Him, we can follow Him faithfully, even outside the camp.

CONTINUE EXPLORING SCRIPTURE

Hebrews 13:7–9 — Why Does Hebrews Say Jesus Christ Is the Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever?

Why faithful teachers matter, why Christ remains our foundation, and why we must guard against strange teachings.

Hebrews 12:18–24 — Why Does Hebrews Compare Mount Sinai and Mount Zion?

How Jesus has opened the way to the heavenly Jerusalem.

https://text-b4-tradition.com/12-18-24-hebrews

Next Study: Hebrews 13:15–16 — What Sacrifices Do Christians Offer Today?

If Jesus has offered the final sacrifice for sin, why does Hebrews still tell Christians to offer sacrifices? What kind of sacrifices does God want from us now?

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