Book of Hebrews Chapter 10 Part One

 

Christ's Sacrifice Once for All

Verses 1-18: The feature of the new covenant emphasized here is Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice. The author has frequently stated this point in the preceding chapters (7:27; 9:12, 26, 28), but here it becomes the focal point of the discussion.

First, this truth is highlighted by contrast with the repetitious service of the Mosaic system. Those sacrifices had to be offered “year by year continually”. Later, the author demonstrates that Christ’s single, one-time sacrifice is completed by His continuing position, seated at God’s right hand (verses 11-14).

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.”

having a shadow... The law gave only a faint outline of good things to come (Heb. 8:5; Col. 2:14-17). The Greek term translated “shadow” refers to a pale reflection, as contrasted with a sharp, distinct one.

the very image... Greek: eikon, form (see, Col. 1:15). The term behind “Image,” on the other hand, indicates an exact and distinct replica.

comers thereunto perfect... This term is used repeatedly in Hebrews to refer to salvation. As much as those living under the law desired to approach God, the Levitical system provided no way to enter His holy presence (Psm. 15:1; 16:11; 24:3-4).

There is such a difference in the shadow, and the real, that the shadow comes from. A shadow is a distorted view of the real thing the shadow comes from. These sacrifices were no different. These sacrifices of the blood of animals could not do away with sin. They could only cover the sin.

Day of Atonement is the sacrifice mentioned above, when the high priest went into the holy of holies with the blood of an animal for his sins and the sins of the people. For this particular sacrifice, he wore nothing but his white linen garment from head to foot. The plainness of the garment, itself, was telling God that we have nothing within ourselves to offer God.

Our only righteousness is in God’s forgiving heart. Truly even the garment was symbolic of the robes which the Christians will wear in heaven. They are white because they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Col. 2:17 “Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.”

We see here that all the ceremonies were a shadow of Jesus’ great sacrifice for us.

The superior effect of the new priesthood

This is the final subsection of the expository unit that began at Heb. 7:1. In Heb. 7:1-28 the author argued for the superiority of Christ, as a Priest after the order of Melchizedek, over the Levitical priests. In 8:1-10:18 he argued the superiority of Christ’s priestly ministry which is based on a superior covenant (8:7-9:15) and entailed a superior sacrifice (Heb. 9:16-28). Now he argued that the superior sacrifice perfects the New-Covenant worshiper.

By virtue of its anticipatory character, the Law could never… make perfect those who draw near to worship. By “make perfect” the writer did not mean sinless perfection. As the following discussion shows, he was concerned with that definitive removal of guilt which makes free access to God possible for worshipers who trust in the sufficiency of the Cross.

Hebrews 10:2 “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.”

For then would... Question 13. Next, Heb. 10:29.

conscience of sins... This is the same word translated “conscience” (in verse 22, 9:9; 13:18). If sin had really been over-powered by that system of sacrifices, the Old Testament believers’ consciences would have been cleansed from condemning guilt (verse 22). There was not freedom of conscience under the Old Covenant.

We see clearly that this sacrifice of animal blood on the Day of Atonement did not clear the conscience of the person offering the sacrifice. The sin was still there, it was just covered.

It seems that every year, when they sacrificed, they still had the sins of previous years on their conscience. The blood of Jesus washes the sin of the people away, and clears their conscience. Look at the following prophesies of what Jesus’ sacrifice did for all of us.

Psm. 103:12 ” As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”

Isa. 43:25 “I, [even] I, [am] he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”

Isa. 44:22 “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”

Mic. 7:19 “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.”

You can easily see from this that there is no comparison, between what the sacrifice of these animals’ blood could do, and what the sacrifice of Jesus’ blood could do.

Far from enabling them to achieve a standing before God in which they would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.

Hebrews 10:3 “But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year.”

a remembrance again... The Old Testament sacrifices not only could not remove sin, but their constant repetition was a constant reminder of that deficiency. The promise of the New Covenant was that the sin would be removed and even God would “remember” their sins “no more” (8:12, quoting Jer. 31:34).

Exo. 30:10 “And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement's: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it [is] most holy unto the LORD.”

The big problem with this type of sacrifice is that there was no new birth in the person sacrificing, and they went right back into sin after they sacrificed. Notice in the following Scripture the fear that goes along with the remembrance of their past sins.

1Kgs. 17:18 “And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?”

What a tremendous difference in their atonement and ours through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Mat. 26:28 “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” This prophecy in Scripture of the great sacrifice Jesus made for us explains it so well.

Jer. 31:34 “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

The yearly rituals (of the Day of Atonement) served as a kind of annual reminder of sins.

Hebrews 10:4 “For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”

not possible that... It was not possible that the law could take away sins, make perfect, or purify the heart. Why some Christian groups insist on going back under the law in some points is only explainable by 2Cor. 4:4; 11:14-15; 2Tim. 4:1-4; 2Thes. 2:8-12. The Levitical system was not designed by God to remove or forgive sins. It was preparatory for the coming of the Messiah (Gal. 3:24), in that it made the people expectant (1Pet. 1:10). It revealed the seriousness of their sinful condition, in that even temporary covering required the death of an animal.

It revealed the reality of God’s holiness and righteousness by indicating that sin had to be covered. Finally, it revealed the necessity of full and complete forgiveness so that God could have desired fellowship with His people.

Remember here that neither can the blood of a mere man. If Jesus was no more than a mere man, then you and I are headed for hell. The blood of Jesus was pure, undefiled blood. So many people are saying that Jesus was just a man when He walked on the earth; if He was, we who have trusted in His blood saving us would be lost.

Jesus was born of a virgin. The Holy thing within her was the Spirit of the Living God. GOD THE WORD took on the form of flesh and dwelt among us.

Mat. 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

The blood of animals and man is defiled. This blood shed at Calvary was the blood of the sinless Son of God. Look at the next few Scriptures and see just how angry God had gotten at the people for their sacrifices without true repentance.

Isa. 1:11-15 “To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.” “When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?” “Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; [it is] iniquity, even the solemn meeting.” “Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear [them].” “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.”

You can easily see from this that God was fed up with their form of religion without their heart being in it. We should take a warning from this. In the 3rd chapter of 2 Timothy we read of a similar happening in the last days. Men having a form of religion; we are warned to turn away.

Since animal blood has no power to take away sins.

“Verses 5-6 “Thou hast had no pleasure”: God was not pleased with sacrifices given by a person who did not give them out of a sincere heart (Psm. 51:17; Isa. 1:11; Jer. 6:20; Hos. 6:6: Amos 5:21-25). To sacrifice only as a ritual, without obedience, was a mockery and worse than no sacrifice at all (Isa. 1:11-18).

Hebrews 10:5 “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:”

Sacrifice and offering... The 20th Old Testament prophecy in Hebrews (Heb. 10:5-9; Psm. 40:6-8). Next, Heb. 10:16.

thou prepared me... Be perfect (2Cor. 13:11). Greek: katartizo, to adjust; put in order again; restore; repair; settly by mediation. Translated "mend" (Mat. 4:21; Mark 1:19); "restore" (Gal. 6:1); fit (Rom. 9:22); "prepare" (Heb. 10:1-39:44); "frame" (Heb. 9:3); "perfectly joined together" (1Cor. 1:10); "be and make perfect" (Mat. 21:16; Luke 6:40; 1Thes. 3:10; 2Cor. 13:11; Heb. 13:21; 1Pet. 5:10).

It was precisely for this reason that an Old Testament prophecy (Psm. 40:6-8) recorded the words of the One who would do what God really wanted. This psalm prophetically anticipated some of Christ’s words at his First Advent. The phrase a body You prepared for Me is one Septuagint rendering of the Hebrew expression “You have dug ears for Me.”

(Verses 5-7 is quoted from Psm. 40:6-8).

“A body hast thou prepared me”: (Psalm 40:6 reads), “My ears you have opened.”

This does not represent a significant alteration in the meaning of the psalm, as indicated by the fact that the writer quoted the LXX version of the Hebrew idiom, which was an accurate representation for Greek readers.

The Greek translators regarded the Hebrew words as a figure of speech, in which a part of something signified the whole, i.e., the hollowing out of ears was part of the total work of fashioning a human body.

And ears were selected as the part to emphasize because they were symbols of obedience as the organ of the reception of God’s Word and will (1Sam. 15:22). Christ needed a body in order to offer Himself as the final sacrifice (2:14).

The He, spoken of here, is Jesus. He took on the form of a body, that He might take our sin on that body. The body of Jesus Christ which took our sin on His body died on the cross. In a figure, sin died on that cross for all who look to Him for salvation. Jesus defeated sin for the Christian on the cross, just as He defeated death, for the Christian, when He rose again.

Sacrifice and offering would have been sufficient, if it had changed the heart of the one doing the sacrifice. It did not bring new birth and could not do away with sin, so the person sacrificing went right back into the sinful way of life, until the next Day of Atonement.

We see that the law could not, and would not, free man from his sinful nature, so God sent us a better plan in His Son Jesus.

1Tim. 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

This psalm prophetically anticipated some of Christ’s words at his First Advent. The phrase a body You prepared for Me is one Septuagint rendering of the Hebrew expression “You have dug ears for Me.” The Greek translator whose version the author of Hebrews used (obviously translating with the help of the Holy Spirit), construed the Hebrew text as a kind of figure of speech (technically called synecdoche) in which a part is put for the whole.

Hebrews 10:6 “In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure.”

for sin thou... God was not disappointed with the sacrifice, as much as He was with the attitude of the people, when they sacrificed. To obey is better than sacrifice.

1Sam. 15:22 “And Samuel said, Hath the LORD [as great] delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey [is] better than sacrifice, [and] to hearken than the fat of rams.”

The body to complete the work of salvation. If God is to “dig out ears” He must “prepare a body.” This interpretation is both valid and correct as its quotation in Hebrews proves.

Hebrews 10:7 “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”

volume of the... Greek: kephalis, roll of the book. Books were written on skins and rolled up on two wooden rollers. In Jewish synagogues the Pentateuch is still written on scrolls.

We know that the desire of Jesus was to do the will of the Father. He was obedient even to the death on the cross.

Mat. 26:39 “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt].”

To be the Christian that we should be, we too, must say, not my will O Lord, but thy will be done in me.

This interpretation is both valid and correct as its quotation in Hebrews proves. In the “body” which He assumed in Incarnation, Christ could say that He had come to achieve what the Old-Covenant sacrifices never achieved, the perfecting of New-Covenant worshipers. In this sense He did God’s will.

Verses 8-9: The writer quotes from (Psm. 40:6-8) again, but in a condensed form.

Hebrews 10:8 “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;”

Sacrifice and offering... We discussed in the previous lesson that this was just a formality that the people felt obligated to perform. This type of worship, then and now, is unacceptable unto God. They were going through the motions of worship, but they did not have their heart in it.

thou wouldest not... God did not will to redeem man by animal sacrifices, but by a human sacrifice of infinite merit. To this end He prepared a body for the eternal logos who came to do the will of God and die for the sins of the world (Heb. 10:7-9; Gal. 1:4; 1Pet. 2:24).

neither hadst pleasure... Notice neither hadst pleasure therein. The law seemed to be a set of rules to follow, rather than following God.

The writer then expounded the text he had just quoted. In the words He sets aside the first to establish the second (Heb. 10:9), the author referred to the setting aside of the Old-Covenant sacrifices which did not ultimately satisfy God.

Hebrews 10:9 “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”

He taketh away... This could be understood two ways:

1. He takes away the first sacrifices to establish the sacrifice of Christ (Heb. 10:12).

2. He takes away the old covenant to establish the new covenant.

the first, that... The old, repetitious sacrificial system was removed to make way for the new, once-for-all sacrifice of Christ, who had obediently done God’s will (5:8; Phil. 2:8).

The law, which was first, was impossible for these people to keep, because to them it was just rules of conduct. These sacrifices did not open the way to God. They needed a personal relationship with God. The second, that Jesus provided (the grace of God), opened the access to the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now this was not just rules to keep, but a relationship with God. The will of God, from the beginning, was to fellowship with man. That is why He made man. In the Garden of Eden, God walked with Adam in the cool of the evening. We find that several men of God pleased Him by walking with Him.

Gen. 6:9 ” These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.”

The very best example of man walking with God is when Enoch was walking with God and God took Enoch home with Him.

Gen. 5:24 “And Enoch walked with God: and he [was] not; for God took him.”

Enoch never died, he was walking with God one day and God just took him with Him as we said above. I have said this before, but it is true. If you do not enjoy going to church, and being with God, you possibly should take another look at your relationship with God.

By the sanctification which is accomplished through the death of Christ, New-Covenant worshipers are perfected for guilt-free service to God (cf. Heb. 2:11).

What was established was God’s will, and it was by that will that we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (ephapax; cf. Heb. 7:27; 9:12).

Hebrews 10:10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].”

By the which... By the will of God in preparing Christ as a sacrifice we are sanctified and perfected (Heb. 10:10-14; cp. 1Thes. 4:3-7; 2Thes. 2:13).

we are sanctified... “Sanctify” means to “make holy,” to be set apart from sin for God (1Thes. 4:3). When Christ fulfilled the will of God, He provided for the believer a continuing, permanent condition of holiness (Eph. 4:24; 1Thes. 3:13).

This is the believer’s positional sanctification as opposed to the progressive sanctification that results from daily walking by the will of God (Rom. 6:19; 12:1-2; 2Cor. 7:1).

of the body... Refers to His atoning death, as the term “blood” has been used to do (9:7, 12, 14, 18, 22). Mention of the body of Christ in such a statement is unusual in the New Testament, but it is logically derived from the (quotation from Psm. 40:6).

God will not overrule the will of man and save him against his will. The will of man can decide to follow the spirit and live for God, or it can decide to follow the flesh of man and be lost.

1Jhn. 5:6 “This is he that came by water and blood, [even] Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”

We will see in the next Scripture that the flesh of Jesus is the Bread of life.

John 6:51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Notice in the Scripture that there are actually 3 that bear witness in the verse above and in the following verse.

1Jhn. 5:8 “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” Not just blood came forth from Jesus’ side, but water and blood.

John 19:34 “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

The words rendered “made holy” involve a single Greek word (hēgiasmenoi) often rendered “sanctify” (cf. Heb. 10:14, 10:29). Here it occurs in a tense that makes it plain, along with the rest of the statement, that the sanctification is an accomplished fact. Nowhere in Hebrews does the writer refer to the “progressive sanctification” of a believer’s life. Instead sanctification is for him a functional equivalent of the Pauline concept of justification. By the sanctification which is accomplished through the death of Christ, New-Covenant worshipers are perfected for guilt-free service to God (cf. Heb. 2:11).

Verses 11-12 The old and new are contrasted: thousands of priests versus one Priest; the old priests continually standing versus the sitting down of the new; repeated offerings versus a once-for-all offering; and the ineffective sacrifices that only covered sin versus the effective sacrifice that completely removes sin.

Hebrews 10:11 “And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:”

And every priest... In summing up his arguments for the abolishment of the law and the establishment of the new covenant, Paul emphasizes two things:

1. The utter helplessness and emptiness of the earthly priests standing daily to minister sacrifices that can never take away sins.

2. The infinite power of the one sacrifice of Christ that cleanses from all sin, defeats the enemies of God, and perfects all believers forever (Heb. 10:12-14).

priest standeth daily... In (2Chr. 6:10, 12), Solomon sat on his throne as king, but stood at the altar when acting in a priestly role (Deut. 17:12; 18:7).

I will put just one of the Scriptures pertaining to daily sacrifices here. There are far too many to list them all. This just shows the futility of sacrificing animals’ blood that can only cover sin, not do away with sin.

Exo. 29:38 “Now this [is that] which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day continually.”

The truth just stated is reinforced by a contrast with the Levitical priesthood. Levite priests could never sit down on the job since their sacrificial services were never completed.

Hebrews 10:12 “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”

sat down on... Finished Sacrifice:

After Christ made His supreme sacrifice His work for sins was finished. He could then sit down and wait to see His work completed in the lives of believers who would be freed from sin and delivered from their enemies (Heb. 10:12-14; 1:3; 12:2; Psm. 110:4). The continual daily sacrifices proved the imperfection of such sacrifices. Christ’s one sacrifice proved its completeness, hence He could sit down, instead of continuing to offer Himself as the priests of the law who offered sacrifices daily (Heb. 10:12-14).

Jesus sat down at the right hand of the Father, because His work was finished. It was finished when He said It is finished, while He was hanging on the cross. I mentioned in an earlier lesson that the very reason God allowed the Temple in Jerusalem to be destroyed, is because they would not stop sacrificing animals.

Jesus paid the penalty for sin, for all time, for everyone who will believe and receive Him as their Savior. To sacrifice, after His perfect sacrifice, would be to say that we did not believe His sacrifice was sufficient to do away with sin.

But Christ’s sitting at the right hand of God (cf. Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 12:2) is both a signal that His sacrifice was offered for all time.

Hebrews 10:13 “From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.”

From henceforth expecting... Victorious Sacrifice:

By His sacrifice Christ defeated all satanic powers (Col. 2:14-17). Now He needs only to await the time of their complete submission and punishment (1Cor. 15:24-28; Heb. 2:5-15; Eph. 1:10). In the meantime He is calling out a heavenly people whom He will make kings and priests to reign over all coming generations in the Millennium and the new and eternal earth (Acts 15:13-18; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:8-10; 20:4-6; 22:4-5).

made his footstool... (see 1:13). This is yet another reference to (Psm. 110:1). This prediction will be fulfilled when Christ returns and all creation acknowledges His lordship by bowing at His feet (Phil. 2:10).

Mat. 22:44 “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?”

Both Scriptures show that at some time Christianity shall reign supreme through Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus Christ shall then be Lord of lords and King of kings and the Christians shall reign with Him as His subordinates. Jesus has reconciled God to all who will believe, through His shed blood.

But Christ’s sitting at the right hand of God (cf. Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 12:2) is both a signal that His sacrifice was offered for all time and also that He can now confidently await final victory over His enemies. The words “for all time” (eis to diēnekes) are translated “forever” in Heb. 10:14 (see Heb. 7:3).

Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

he hath perfected... (see verse 1). This involves a perfect standing before God in the righteousness of Christ (Rom. 3:22; Phil. 3:8-9).

that are sanctified... Means that we have been made holy in God’s sight through the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus washed us in His blood and made us righteous in God’s sight.

Another meaning for sanctified is, set apart for God’s purpose. We are far from perfect, until we accept Jesus as the perfect Lamb sacrifice for our sins. It is His shed blood that makes us perfect.

Acts 20:32 “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Notice one more time that this is not the world; this is the family of God.

Thus by a single sacrifice (one sacrifice, Heb. 10:12, 10:14) — in contrast with the many sacrifices offered by the priests day after day and again and again… He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The translation “are being made holy” sounds like a continuing process. But this ignores the force of the expression “made holy” in Heb. 10:10. A better rendering is, “them who are sanctified” (tous hagiazomenous; cf. Heb. 10:29). “The sanctified” have a status in God’s presence that is “perfect” (cf. Heb. 11:40; 12:23) in the sense that they approach Him with the full acceptance gained through the death of Christ (cf. Heb. 10:19-22).

Verses 10:15-17: The writer confirms his interpretation of (Psm. 40:6-8), by repeating from (Jer. 31:31-34), what he had already quoted (in 8:8-12).

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, Heb 10:15

This is speaking of the 2 entities 1. the church and 2. Israel. The natural Hebrew and the believers in Christ who were Gentiles. They are adopted into the family of God, because they believed in Jesus.

The author re quoted a portion of it (in Heb. 10:16) he quoted Jer. 31:33.

“But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

The text is a testimony given by God’s Holy Spirit, and shows that final forgiveness, such as the New Covenant promised, meant that there was no further need for any sacrifice for sin.

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; Heb 10:16

This is the... The 21st Old Testament prophecy in Hebrews (Heb. 10:16-17; Jer. 31:33-34). Next, Heb. 10:30.

I will put... The nature of the gospel system:

1. I will put My laws in their mind (Heb. 8:10). They will be fully enlightened and have perfect knowledge of truth.

2. I will write them in their hearts (Heb. 8:10). All their affections, passions, and appetites shall be purified so that they shall willingly obey My Word.

3. I will be their God, and they shall be My people (Heb_8:10). I will make them new creatures and unite them to Me forever (2Cor. 5:17).

4. They shall all know Me from the least to the greatest of them (Heb. 8:11).

5. I will be merciful when they commit injustices against God or man (Heb. 8:12).

6. I will forgive their sins and lawlessness, remembering them no more (Heb. 8:12). All this implies genuine repentance and forsaking of sin (Zec. 12:10-13:1; Rom. 11:25-29).

The benefits of the New Covenant (cf. Heb. 8:8-12), the author re quoted a portion of it (in Heb. 10:16 he quoted Jer. 31:33.

Jer. 31:33 “But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Heb 10:17

Those who have faith in Jesus Christ are the spiritual descendants of Abraham. Just as Abraham found favor in the sight of God because he had faith, these believed and it was counted unto them as righteousness.

Gal. 3:29 “And if ye [be] Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

He does not remember the sins anymore because they have been wiped out and they no longer exist. They were washed away in the blood of Jesus.

The author re-quoted a portion of it in Heb. 10:17, Jer. 31:34) to drive home his point. The text is a testimony given by God’s Holy Spirit, and shows that final forgiveness, such as the New Covenant promised, meant that there was no further need for any sacrifice for sin.

Jer. 31:34 “And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Heb 10:18

Now where remission... Where sins are remitted, there is no need of an offering for sins any longer. Thus Paul concludes his argument of the priesthood of Christ, begun in Heb. 5:1. Christ’s offering is efficacious for all past, present, and future sins, but on condition of proper confession of sin and meeting the terms of continued grace (1Jhn. 1:9; Rom. 10:9-10).

no more offering... Christ Better than Old Testament Sacrifices:

1. Christ’s sacrifice ratifies the new covenant based upon better promises (Heb. 8:6-13; 9:15-22; 10:16).

2. Christ makes a way of personal approach to God (Heb. 9:8; 10:19-23).

3. Christ makes perfect (Heb. 9:9; 10:1-14).

4. Christ ministers realities (Heb. 9:11; 8:5; 10:1).

5. Christ makes entrance to heaven (Heb. 9:12).

6. Christ obtains eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12-15).

7. Christ purifies the soul (Heb. 9:12-14).

8. Christ gives eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15).

9. Christ opens an heavenly ministry (Heb. 9:24).

10. Christ ends the many sacrifices (Heb. 9:25-28).

11. Christ assures justice (Heb. 9:27; 10:26-31).

12. Christ abolishes the law of Moses (Heb. 10:9; Col. 2:14).

13. Christ sanctifies all believers (Heb. 10:14).

14. Christ takes away sins (Heb. 10:10-18).

15. Christ makes atonement complete (Heb. 10:12-14).

16. Christ defeats enemies (Heb. 10:13; Col. 2:14-17).

17. Christ forgets forgiven sins (Heb. 10:17).

18. Christ remits confessed sins (Heb. 10:18).

19. Christ gives boldness of approach to God (Heb. 10:19-23; 4:14-16).

20. Christ gives man an eternal High Priest (Heb. 10:25-39; 6:20; 7:11-21).

In the last session, we were speaking of the sacrifice of Jesus Himself, being sufficient to wash away all sin. The blood of animals only covered the sin, but the precious blood of Jesus Christ, abolished sin for those who look to Him for their salvation.

Mat. 26:28 “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

This covers what this blood is and this next Scripture, which we had in the last session, tells us for how long.

Heb. 10:14 “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

As we said, in the last session, it also tells us who this was done for, the sanctified. Sanctified means, set apart for God’s purpose, or made holy in God’s sight.

As the writer will shortly show, a person who turns from the one sufficient sacrifice of Christ has no real sacrifice to which he can turn (cf. Heb. 10:26).