Last week, we told about the Mercy Seat as depicted in the Old Testament. Today, we are going to look at the Mercy Seat of the New Testament.
The Mercy Seat, using the Greek word hilasterion, is mentioned twice in the New Testament. Hebrews 9:1-9 talks about the furnishings of the tabernacle and their arrangement. In verse 5, the author describes the Ark and the overshadowing cherubim housing the glory of God, then the annual sacrificial activity.
“The rest of Hebrews 9, and on into the next chapter, describe how Christ came as a better high priest, serving in the heavenly tabernacle and offering a superior sacrifice of atonement. The author of Hebrews goes to great lengths to show that what Leviticus 16 described was only looking forward to the more perfect sacrifice that Jesus would make on our behalf. The blood of the sacrificed animals could never make atonement for our sins. But the blood of the sacrificed Jesus could, and did.” (Ed Jarrett, BibleStudytools.com)
The second time the Greek word hilasterion is used is in Romans 3:25, but it is not always translated as the Mercy Seat. The KJV, ESV, NASB use propitiation, the NIV, NRSV us sacrifice of atonement. Regardless of the translation, it is God who sent Jesus to make the final atonement, which is received by faith in Him.
As the Mercy Seat in the OT was the dwelling place of God. Jesus is the dwelling place of God in the NT. In a very real way, Jesus is the fulfillment of the role of the Mercy Seat in the OT. Jesus is also the high priest that Aaron and his descendants tried to be but could not.
In the NT, the Cross is our physical location where Jesus atoned for our sins, shed His blood on our behalf, once for all time. In this way the Cross has become our symbol to represent Jesus a both the Mercy Seat and the atoning sacrifice that was offered there.
Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help. (Hebrews 4:14-16 NET)