The book of Hebrews was written as a pastoral treatise explaining to persecuted Jewish converts to Christianity the folly of returning to Judaism. Why would they retreat to shadow when the substance that casts the shadow was at hand?

The writer makes the case for Jesus as God’s final word (Heb. 1:2). The whole of the ceremonial law with its sacrifices, strictures and structures anticipated the One who would be perfect priest and perfect sacrifice. He was the reality that cast the shadow of promise under the old covenant.

When the writer introduces his letter by saying of Jesus, “who being the brightness of [God’s] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3), he emphasizes the finished work of Christ to bring salvation. God incarnate had done what no mere human priest could. As a result He “sat down.”

The image of sitting down harkens to the furnishings of the old covenant tabernacle. There was no seat in the holy of holies because the high priest would need to enter yearly, sacrificing first for his own sins and sins of the people. But following His sacrifice Jesus sat down. Nothing more needed to be done. As the sinless substitute His sacrifice was unique, sufficient, and final.

When we get to Hebrews 12 we again find the image of a seated Jesus.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1–2)

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