Hebrews 10
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
1. Shadow – again referring to “patterns”, “figures”. Also, the word “image” is used of the O.T. referring to the N.T. and heavenly things. Just another spot where the chapter maybe should have continued. <TOPIC:Image – they are but shadows, not the actual thing, and can in no way be compared well to it for they pale in significance. These sacrifices would not have any power without His. Perfect – to the standard, rule, measure, right with God.
2. If they made you perfect then they would not need to be offered continually. If it worked, then our conscience should not continue to bother us; but know that it has been paid for and we are forgiven it, if we repent.
“When a man has full evidence that an atonement has been made which will meet all the demands of the Law, and which secures the remission of sin, he feels that it is enough. It is all that the case demands, and his conscience may have peace.” (Barnes’ Notes)
3. God does not remember them nor remind us of them. We are not suppose to remember our forgiven sins. The O.T. saints would remember them every year (at least).
4. Every time they sacrificed they were “supposed” to think of the coming Messiah’s sacrifice. Jesus Christ took them away, i.e. the punishment for, also the power in our life of. The O.T. saints’ sins were not ‘taken away’ until thousands of years later when Christ died on the cross.
“It was impossible for the blood of an amoral animal to bring forgiveness for a man’s moral offense against God. Only Jesus Christ, the perfect union of humanity and deity, could satisfy God and purify man. Only His death could be the ultimate sacrifice, the only effective sacrifice.” (MacArthur)
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
5. God the Father prepared His Son a human body.
6. Those sacrifices of the O.T. did not please the Lord at all; only His Son’s sacrifice mattered (see v.8). Those satisfied temporarily the judgement on sin that needed to be dealth with.
7. In Heaven and earth this was Jesus’ theme; to do His Father’s will. Jesus Christ said this from the beginning of time. What reference is this to; Book ? The same is stated in <BIBLE:Ps 40:7> . The book is probably one of the O.T. books. Or, it is referring to all the prophecies in The Book (Bible) concerning the coming Messiah.
8. All these sacrifices that Israel did, did not please God; it was more His teaching them how horrible their sin was to Him and His constant seeing into the future His Son’s sacrifice (and really His own).
9. Jesus Christ had already come to Earth and was grown when He said this (I come to do thy will, O God). The first (animal sacrifices) was to prepare them for the second; for otherwise He could have sacrificed Himself thousands of years earlier.
10. Will – a noun? His will to do His will. <TOPIC:His flesh sacrifice sanctified while His blood cleansed. Once for all oh sinner believe it! Only once needed to be done and done for all people.
“As the atonement, or reconciliation, is by the blood of Christ (Lev 17:11), so our sanctification (consecration to God, holiness, and eternal bliss) is by the body of Christ (Col 1:22)” (from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary).
11. These sacrifices “never” could take sins away, just covered them. Daily – what a chore! There was blood all over the place, every day.
“The OT sacrifices produced a remembrance of sins, but Christ’s sacrifice makes possible remission of sins (v. 18). Remission means “sending away.” Our sins have been pardoned and sent away forever (Ps 103:12; Mic 7:19). On the annual Day of Atonement (Lev 16), the high priest confessed the sins of the nation over the head of the scapegoat, and then the goat was led off to be lost in the wilderness. This is what Christ did with our sins. There is no more suffering for sin because there is no more remembrance of sin.” (Wiersbe)
12. He offered Himself. He went to Paradise first and then to His rightful position in Heaven, where He was before. Sat down – a finished statement; also a time of rest from hard labour.
“The Levitical system had twenty-four orders, in each of which were hundreds of priests who took turns serving at the altar. This system did not lack for priests, but it did lack effectiveness. All the priests together could not make an ef ective sacrifice for sin. Christ was but one priest, yet His work was perfectly and permanently effective.
The Levitical priests always stood because their ministry was never finished. Christ, after His sacrifice sat down at the right hand of God, because His work was finished.” (MacArthur)
13. “Footstool” – “The language arose from the custom of conquerors in putting their feet on the necks of their enemies, as a symbol of subjection.” (Barnes’ Notes)
14. See vs 1. Perfected – at the measure, mark, standard, rule. His offering brought us acceptable to God; He is hard to please, and rightfully so. Sanctified – set apart as His people, like the Jews were.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
15. Said before in Jer. 31:33,34.
16. Holy Spirit – reminds us of God’s word>. He speaks it into our consciences.
17. Before they were just covered, but now their sins are remembered no more!<TOPIC: Thus, prior to Christ’s death on the cross, God would remember the sins… He remembers their sins no more upon the payment being made for them.
18. If the sins are paid for (remitted) and forgotten then there is no need to do anything else; there is no other offering; it’s all completed. Neither should we do anything else.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
19. We saints of God now should have this boldness to enter into the holy of holies (before the very presence of God the Father); this all came about throught Christ’s shed blood.
“The word “holiest” here is taken from the holy of holies in the temple (notes on Heb 9:3), and is there applied to heaven, of which that was the emblem. The entrance into the most holy place was forbidden to all but the high priest; but now access to the real “holy of holies” was granted to all in the name of the great High Priest of the Christian profession.”
(Barnes’ Notes)
21. Why is this verse separated from the next? The High Priest on Yom Kippor (The Day of Atonement) sprinkled blood on the Mercy Seat. Jesus Christ is our High Priest over this assembly; what is this ‘house of God’?…My Father’s house? All the saved? Churches?
22. God wants us to have full assurance of our faith, and not to waver at all in it (23).
“The concept of simply coming to God was revolutionary to Jews—and to many others throughout the centuries and today. When Adam sinned, had not God put him out of the Garden and placed the angels and the flaming sword to guard the entrance? And were not all men forbidden, on pain of death, to enter into His presence in the Holy of Holies? But now, the writer says Jesus’ blood, in ef ect, has quenched the fiery sword, and He has torn the veil of the Holy of Holies in two. If you come through Him, you not only can come into God’s presence, but you can come with confidence.” (MacArthur)
“The high priest, before he entered into the inner tabernacle, or put on his holy garments, was to wash his flesh in water, Lev 16:4, and the Levites were to be cleansed the same way, Num 8:7. The apostle probably alludes to this in what he says here, though it appears that he refers principally to baptisms, the washing by which was an emblem of the purification of the soul by the grace and Spirit of Christ; but it is most likely that it is to the Jewish baptisms, and not the Christian, that the apostle alludes.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary)
23. Jesus Christ promised ‘once saved, always saved’…He is faithful to carry this out!
24. We fellow church members are suppose to provoke each other unto love and good works.
25. Context is teaching the Jews about Jesus Christ the High Priest (vs 19,20), and then provoking fellow members of one’s church. Can’t provoke if they are not at the ‘assembling time’. Forsaking – purposely not going due to lack of full assurance of salvation (22), wavering in one’s walk with God (23), not wanting to be provoked (24). Manner – a continual pattern, hit and miss, attitude is apparent here, it is sin (26). Provoking and exhorting should be done between fellow members when assembled together. We desperately need it. Pastors should enforce this rule. Get ready, for the ‘day’ is coming; Rapture, Judgment, eternity with our Saviour. Church attendance even in the beginning stages was suffering.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
26. Sin – not accepting by faith (22) Jesus as the Way (19,20). We need exhorting on this. This sinning wilfully involves the person knowing that something is sin, but not caring; they have received knowledge of the truth that that is sin, but sins anyways, wilfully. The ultimate sin is the sin of rejecting Christ’s sacrificial payment for our sins. If you willfully reject Jesus’ sacrifice, the truth, then it has well been explained earlier in this chapter that the animal sacrifices did not please God; there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins!
27. These Hebrews now after hearing the clear truth, if they reject it have nothing to look forward to but
28. Comparing Moses’ Law to Christ’s Law. Similar to Church discipline, <Matt 18:15> -18. 2 or 3 witnesses were needed.
29. The subject here is a lost person who has received the knowledge of the truth of salvation by Christ’s blood, but has rejected this … and is believing in some other methodology. <TOPIC:Salvation> – if Jesus’ redemption is rejected, then it is the same as ‘stepping on top of the Saviour’! Don’t count Jesus’ blood, unholy!…meaning, it was not mandatory…it was only symbolic. ‘Wherewith he was sanctified’ is referring here to a person who is lost; the blood has been shed by Christ and was done so for this person, the lost person, whether he accepts it personally or not.
“Counting this unholy, or common, intimates that they expected nothing from it in a sacrificial or atoning way. How near to those persons, and how near to their destruction, do they come in the present day who reject the atoning blood, and say, “that they expect no more benefit from the blood of Christ than they do from that of a cow or a sheep!” Is not this precisely the crime of which the apostle speaks here, and to which he tells us God would show no mercy?” (Adam Clarke)
The worst punishment in Hell might very well be those that heard about the blood of Jesus Christ as being the payment for their sins, but they chose not to believe that… who counted His precious blood as unholy… as like the blood of a cow or goat… not important at all.
30. The context of God’s vengeance is in how people have trodden over His Son.
31. Context is the rejection of Jesus Christ. Those that fall into His hands are at the Great White Throne Judgement. This would have to be the most fearful time ever, for eternity! Actually the most immediate context is the Jews rejecting His Son.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
33. When many were turning to Messiah for salvation other Hebrews afflicted them.
34. Paul was in a Roman prison. Spoiling – gave Paul of their goods, and maybe gave it to others in need. What you give on earth is transferred to Heaven as an ‘eternal substance’.
35. The problem might have been that the saints were weakening in their confidence of the new covenant (23) and not encouraging each other on it (24) and skipping church services (25), and they needed to be reminded of the judgement awaiting those that have no confidence for they are lost (27). We need eternal confidence and how great a reward it is, eternal life!
36. It looks like they were wearying through the afflictions from other non-believing Jews and they themselves may have been doubting this new covenant.
37. The Day of the Lord would be coming in a ‘little while’; just be patient; the promise of the Millennial kingdom will soon be fulfilled.
38. The Hebrews prided themselves on being just, so they listened carefully to this; this was Martin Luther’s verse of the Bible that changed His belief system. Drawback – fall back away from fully trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins; God has no pleasure in other sacrifices. The Christian who draws back in faith, God has no pleasure in. For, without faith it is impossible to please Him.
39. Many use this verse to support one’s losing salvation. Perdition – damning, Hell, eternal judgement. Thus one that draws back in faith, they will go to Hell; it must be that they never had true saving faith. These believed some but then went back to old belief and probably would never be renewed unto repentance. They ‘tasted’ of the truth, but never fully was persuaded of it and believed it in whole. Belief must be to the saving of the soul, to be valid belief. One’s level of belief matters.