The altar in Hebrews 13:10

Hebrews 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 

Catholic Apologetics use this verse to justify of having an altar of graven image.

Refutations:

FIRST: Christians have ONE ALTAR and not ALTARS. Catholic Church around the world has many altars in the churches, cathedral and in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

SECOND: Notice the verse well. There was an altar which the servers of the tabernacle eat. but on the Christian altar, the tabernacle servers have no right to eat there.

Who were the servers of the tabernacle in another altar? The Jewish priests in the Temple of Solomon.

Hebrews 9:2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.

Hebrews 9:6 Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God.

In the Catholic altar of a Catholic church, a priest eats a host sometimes there while performing Mass (I'm speaking based on my experience when I attended some Mass when I was a pious Catholic before)

THIRD: The Christian altar in Hebrews 13:10 is not made by hands while the Catholic altars were made by mens' hands.

Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

The word ALTAR is synonymous of tabernacle. click here: http://thesaurus.com/browse/altar?s=t

FOURTH: The Old Testament altar is where the children of Israel put their offering to God.

Leviticus 1:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.

 
Leviticus 1:3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.  

Leviticus 1:4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.

Leviticus 1:5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

Leviticus 1:6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.  

Leviticus 1:7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:

Leviticus 1:8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:

In the New Testament, the Christian altar is in heaven.


Revelation 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

Revelation 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

If the Jewish temple has an altar, the same with the temple in heaven.

Again in Hebrews 9:11, the tabernacle or the altar of the Christians IS NOT MADE WITH HANDS it is because the altar of Christians is in heaven.

If the altar made with hands was used where to pour out the blood of the animal offering to God for the errors of the people (read the verse below)

Leviticus 4:18 And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the LORD, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

The Christian altar which is THE ALTAR IN HEAVEN whose blood to be poured out there is not of animals but of the Lord Jesus Christ

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

We must remember that the holy place of the CHRISTIAN ALTAR is not made with hands because IT IS IN HEAVEN because the Christian altar is in heaven.

Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.

Because the holy place of the tabernacle made with hands also has a holy place.

Hebrews 9:2 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;

Where a high priest pour out the blood for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 9:7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:

ADDITIONAL REFUTATIONS:

God will not favor of using graven images even for the purpose of using it to worship Him.

In fact, God said to any of his servants that he may be cursed FOR JUST MAKING OF IT. What's more if you will also kneel and pray infront of it?

Deuteronomy 27:15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

God will also not agree to have a graven image which any man will make infront of his altar.

Deuteronomy 16:21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.

Deuteronomy 16:22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

So having an altar of graven images which the Catholics have in their homes and in their churches is surely an abomination to God Almighty.