Charles Spurgeon Commentary Hebrews 10:19-22

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and [having] a great priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water," — Hebrews 10:19-22 (ASV)

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he has consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The Christian's place is one of the nearest conceivable access to God. For "the holiest" is "the holy of holies"—that innermost part of the tabernacle. To reach it, the high priest had to pass through the outer court, the court of the priests, and then through the beautiful veil which concealed the mercy seat.

At the death of Christ, that veil was torn from top to bottom, so now there is nothing to keep us back from the mercy seat. We, therefore, have boldness and liberty in that way to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus; while the high priest himself could only go there once in the year, we may go at all times. The veil has not been merely lifted up for a while and then dropped down again; it is not rolled up ready for future use. It is torn in two, destroyed.

Since Jesus has died, there is no separation now between the believer and his God, except by means of such a veil as our base unbelief may choose to hang up. The crimson way of Christ's shed blood lies open to all believers. Therefore, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

The Jew could not personally go up to the mercy-seat; he had to go there through his representative, the high priest, and we have Christ as our "high priest over the house of God," so we come to God through him. The Israelite could not pass through the veil which hid from public gaze the glory of the Shekinah, and Jesus Christ's humanity was a veil which somewhat concealed the glory of his Deity; but the flesh of Christ having been crucified, the veil has been torn, and now we may come right up to the throne of God without trembling; indeed, we may come even with holy boldness and familiarity, and speak to God without alarm.

Having such a privilege as this, let us not neglect it. It was denied to prophets and kings in ancient times; but now that it is granted to us, let us make use of it, and constantly "let us draw near" to God "with a true heart in full assurance of faith."