Forerunner

The forerunner is one who runs ahead and enters first so that others may follow. Hebrews applies the title to Christ at the inner-sanctuary threshold, tying it to the priestly order of Melchizedek and to the hope held by those who have fled for refuge.

Christ as Forerunner

Hebrews places the forerunner at the entry into the inmost place. The hope that the Christian lays hold of is "an anchor of the soul; both sure and steadfast; and entering into that which is inside the veil; where as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek" (Heb 6:19-20). Two things are bound together at this threshold: the entry is for us (the believer follows where the forerunner has gone), and the entry is priestly (the one who has gone ahead has become the Melchizedek-order high priest). The believer's encouragement rests on this: "we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us" (Heb 6:18). The forerunner's prior entry is itself the anchor that holds.