FOR the Hebrews, there was only one place to worship God by offering sacrifices—at the tabernacle (Leviticus 17:8-9). This is not to say that one could not worship God elsewhere. But to make atonement for sin, one had to come to the altar, where a priest offered up a sacrifice according to the highly detailed instructions in the Law. Believers today are fortunate. Our high priest, Jesus, offered a sacrifice for our sins once and for all when He died on the Cross (Hebrews 10:11–14). As a result, we can receive forgiveness for sins anytime, anyplace. We are not required to go to a specific location for this purpose or to perform a certain ritual. We need only draw near to God through Christ with a “true heart” and confess our sins (Hebrews 10:19–22).

Courtesy of Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary