Hebrews 10
CHAPTER 10
The weakness of the Mosaic system
For the law having only a shadow of the good things to come, not the reality of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those that draw near. 2 Else would they not have ceased to be offered? Because the worshipers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in that sacrificial system there is a remembrance made of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
5 Therefore when he came into the world, he said: Sacrifice and offering You did not want, but a body did You prepare for me. 6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then said I: Behold, I come (in the roll of the book it is written about me) to do Your will, O God. 8 First he said: Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor did You have pleasure in them (all of which are offered according to the law). 9 Then he said: Behold, I come to do Your will. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest indeed stands day by day serving, and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 from that time forward expectantly waiting until his enemies be made the footstool for his feet. 14 For by one offering he has perfected for ever those that are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us. For after saying: 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and on their minds I will write them; 17 then is added: And their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin required.
The practical result of Christ’s sacrifice
19 Therefore brothers, having boldness to enter into the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 and having a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water; 23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope so that it does not waver. For He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the habit of some is; but rather encouraging one another, and so much the more, as you see the day drawing near.
Do not go back
26 For if we sin wilfully after what we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. 28 A man that set at nothing Moses’ law died without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, shall be considered those who have trodden underfoot the Son of God and have counted the blood of the covenant (with which they were sanctified) an unholy thing, and have insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him that said: Vengeance belongs to Me, I will reward. And again: The Lord shall judge His people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, when you were first enlightened. You endured a hard struggle, with sufferings; 33 partly in that you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly in that you became companions of those who were so treated. 34 For you had both compassion on them that were in bonds, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your own property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your boldness, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. 37 For yet a very little while, and he that comes shall come and shall not delay further. 38 But My righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, My soul will have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Commentary
10:4 However, God does state in the Old Testament that He forgave people their sins when they offered sacrifice. They were forgiven not because God was pleased with the blood as red liquid; but on account of the fact that it pointed forward to the future sacrifice of Christ, and because it showed they recognized that sin brings death. By placing their hand on the head of the sacrifice, they accepted it as their representative.
10:12 The point is frequently made that Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, whereas the Mosaic priests stood as they did their work (v. 11). However, in Acts 7:55, Stephen saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, interceding for him. This shows that even now in His Heavenly glory, Jesus has passion and emotion; He so feels for us as we suffer on earth that at times He stands up in order to plead more powerfully for us.
10:15 The Bible is written by the inspiration process, whereby God’s Holy Spirit was in the Bible writers, and what they wrote was therefore God’s word. In this sense we can read the Old Testament passage which is here quoted (v. 16) and feel the Holy Spirit testifying to us personally in this age.
10:22 Our body washed- A reference to baptism into Christ which enables us to acceptably approach God.
10:24 We must take time to “consider” how we may encourage others to do good. This requires reflection, thinking about who others are, their contexts, their possibilities, and provoking them to do good rather than evil. Christianity cannot be lived alone with no reference to others.
10:26 Wilful sin involves a conscious blasphemy against the blood of Christ (v. 29); it doesn’t refer to the temporary failures which we all commit. For we confess continually that we still commit sin (1 Jn. 1:8).
10:33 Companions- Our sufferings aren’t only what we ourselves experience, but if we are truly connected with others, then we suffer also in their sufferings.
10:39 Shrink back- The rejected will shrink away from Christ when He comes, being ashamed from before His presence (1 Jn. 2:28). Those who love Him will in faith go towards Him, confident in His love despite being aware of their sins.
