heb8tabernacle.html

CHRIST IS OUR TABERNACLE

"A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." - Hebrew 8:2

He is our True Tabernacle
Jesus Christ is the tabernacle spoken of here in Hebrews 8:2. He is further described as the "true" Tabernacle. This distinguishes Him from the other tabernacle (and subsequent temple) that was only the shadow of the One to come. The Jewish tabernacle, the temple to follow, the priesthood itself with all its temple ordinances, were brought into existence solely as types and shadows, made obsolete by the coming of the fulfillment of the Messiah. Seeing that these things all pointed to Him, once He came to earth and lived a sinless life, and died a perfect death (an acceptable sacrifice) there was no longer any need for these outdated types. These mere things not only were without value, they actually confused and countered God's newly-revealed purpose of redemption through Jesus Christ. Once the True Tabernacle has come - and has been manifest - the other tabernacle (or temple, likewise) becomes false. Just as there can no longer be any more Levitical priesthood, since that passed away after pointing to Christ our High Mechizedekkan High Priest; so there can be no competing temples or tabernacle, offering different sacrifices according to different - and anachronistic - purposes.

Christ as Sacrifice said, "It is finished!" What can be added?
Christ as Sacrificer (as High Priest) "ever lives to make intercession for us" (Heb. 7:25). Who would dare compete?

This puts the lie to any supposed Millennial sacrifices on the basis of the later chapters of Ezekiel. Even if they were merely memorial sacrifices, as modern commentators insist -contrary to the actual Ezekiel text - that would be an infringement on Christ's once-for-all sacrifice.

He Tabernacled among us
When did Christ come to be considered our tabernacle? A hint was already found in John 1:14: "He dwelt among us" can be literally rendered "He tabernacled ("ESKENOSE") among us." That is, "He fixed His tabernacle among us".

But God gave assurances to His people much earlier than this. Did you ever stop to consider the significance of the tabernacle among the Israelites as they traveled place to place in the Wilderness of Sin? This was (1) a sign of God's ongoing presence and (2) a prophecy of His future intervention on their behalf. The Israelites journeyed daily in the desert, carrying along the disassembled parts of the tabernacle. When they settled in any location they then assembled it, each persons doing the work they were responsible for. About this assembly and disassembly, John Owen (in updated language), commenting on the phrase "which the Lord pitched, and not man" has this insight:

"EPEKSEN “pitched,” (lit. “fixed”) is a technical term for the raising up and establishing of a tabernacle. The fixing of stakes and poles, with the securing of cords, was the main part of the setting up of the tabernacle, Isaiah 54:2.

The preparation of the human nature or body of Christ is that which is pointed to.

“A body You have prepared for me,” Hebrews 10:5. And this body was to be taken down, and folded up for a short time, and afterwards to be erected again, without the breaking or loss of any part of it. This, of all buildings, was peculiar only of a tabernacle, and this is exactly how it was with the body of Christ in his death and resurrection."

In other words, Israel's constant routine of taking down and putting up again of the tabernacle was a type in itself that pointed to the Incarnation of their Messiah. Like the tabernacle, Christ was prepared ( "A body you have prepared for Me", Heb. 10:5), "folded up" (in the crucifixion) and "erected again" (resurrection and ascension). The Old Testament is full of pictures of Christ if we only look for them and study them out! Notice also that, though Christ is prefigured both as Temple (John 2:19- 22) and Tabernacle, it is only the latter that describes His earthly ministry.

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Updated: June 18, 2006.

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