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THE PERFECTION OF CHRIST (I)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Hebrews 10:1-18
Galatians 3:24-25
 
“But after that faith is come, we are
no longer under a schoolmaster.”
 
THE PERFECTION OF CHRIST (I)
 
The text now lays stress on the perfection of Christ compared with the Law which is imperfect. The Law refers to those ordinances and commandments given under Moses which formed the old covenant. They are called a shadow or a picture of better things to come, i.e. a better covenant. That perfect covenant comes by Jesus Christ. This is the meaning of this revelation.
 
The merit of the Law is that it was a shadow and not the very image. The place assigned to it was its comparison with the schoolmaster (Gal 3:24- 25). The Greek word is paidagogos, meaning an instructor of a child. Every educator knows the effectiveness of using pictures as teaching aids. They represent reality in the young minds. Children’s toys and activities can also illustrate this point. The children “cook” in mud, “build” a house, they “own” a car or “have” a baby. However when it rains they cannot take shelter in their “house” nor can the “car” take them to hospital when they are sick. Yet these toys are very meaningful to the children. Likewise the sacrifices were repeated but could not make one perfect. They were not effective but they brought an awareness of sin. The Day of Atonement which was observed annually was a constant reminder. The unbelieving Jews to this day still observe that day commonly known in Hebrew as Yom Kippur. It was highlighted in recent history by the Arab-Israeli war when the opponents took advantage of that day of rest. In history books, that war is named after the Day of Atonement.
 
The statutes relating to those ceremonies have been retained in the Scriptures as a reminder of what has been accomplished through Christ. The comparison helps us to appreciate the merits of the work of Christ. In practice, those ceremonies have been done away with because Christ has fulfilled the purpose for which they were given.
 
THOUGHT: The Day of Atonement foreshadows the day when Christ was crucified.
PRAYER: “Make me to understand the way of thy precepts …” (Ps 119:27).

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