The law was but a shadow of the good things to come. – Hebrews 10:1
Did you ever make shadow figures on the wall as a child? By placing your hands in front of a light, you could turn them into bunnies or alligators or dogs or whatever else your imagination could think of. But those shadows couldn’t show you everything. They couldn’t show you the bunny’s soft fur or the alligator’s scary teeth because they were just that – shadows of the real thing.
In the same way, the law in the Old Testament served as a shadow of what was to come for God’s people. This was not a bad thing, as shadows can still tell you a lot about something. A shadow can show you an outline and figure of something, but it can’t give you an exact picture. It’s a good place to start, but it’s not the main substance. The law in the Old Testament served as an outline of what was to come with Jesus.
The law that the Jews followed was not in itself bad or evil, but it was incomplete and unable to provide total salvation from sin. The only thing that would be able to do that was Jesus. He was the true picture of God’s grace and love for His children. That’s why Christmas is so special. Jesus’ coming to Earth finally revealed what had only been shadow before.
The Israelites waited years and years to get out of the shadows. You don’t have to be like them. You have already received the full picture of who God is through the work of Jesus on Earth. Praise God for that today, and know that He is not finished working.
Today’s Verse: Hebrews 10:1
For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Hebrews 8:1-7
Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4 Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.” 6 But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
