Charles Ellicott Commentary Hebrews 13:10-11

"We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat that serve the tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest [as an offering] for sin, are burned without the camp." — Hebrews 13:10-11 (ASV)

“We do not need such profitless teaching; we already have sustenance which is ‘meat indeed,’ by which the heart is established.” According to the Law, the priests (those who “serve the Tabernacle,” see Hebrews 8:5) received for themselves a greater or smaller portion of the animals offered as peace offerings and trespass offerings; in some cases, also, the flesh of the sin offerings fell to their lot (Leviticus 4:5, Leviticus 4:7, Leviticus 4:23).

When the high priest presented a sin offering on his own behalf (Leviticus 4:3–12), or for the congregation (Hebrews 13:13–21), he sprinkled some of the blood in the Holy Place in front of the veil. On the Day of Atonement alone was the blood taken within the veil into the Most Holy Place. In the case of these three offerings, the priest received no part of the animal sacrificed; certain portions were burned on the altar of burnt offering, and the rest of the body was carried forth without the camp, and wholly consumed by fire.

Though the writer here speaks of animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin, it is probable that (as in Hebrews 5-9) he has in mind the Day of Atonement only, so that here “the Holy Place” signifies the “Holiest of all.” (See note on Hebrews 9:2.) (It will be noted that throughout, he uses the present tense; see the same note.)

For us there is but one sacrifice for sin, the efficacy of which endures forever (Hebrews 10:12): Jesus entering the Holiest Place for us in virtue of His own sacrifice has fulfilled the type contained in the high priest’s sprinkling of the blood.

But whereas those priests could not eat of their sin offering, to us a greater privilege is given: we feed on Him who was slain for us, whose flesh was for the life of the world (John 6:51–56).

We then (who are all priests unto God) have an altar of which, on the very principles of their Law, they that serve the Tabernacle have no right to eat. The stress is laid on the sacrifice, of which we eat, not upon the altar itself. If separately interpreted, the altar will be the place of sacrifice, the Cross.