10:3When people gathered for the offering of sacrifices on the Day of Atonement, they were reminded of their sins, and they undoubtedly felt guilty all over again. What they needed most was forgiveness—the permanent, powerful, sin-destroying forgiveness we have from Christ. When we confess a sin to him, we need never think of it again. Christ has forgiven us, and the sin no longer exists. See t John 1:9.
Life Application Study BibleHebrewsChapter 10
Hebrews 10
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 2102, 2103, 2104
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
10Hebrews 10
Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All
110 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. 3But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ* came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.
6You were not pleased with burnt offeringsor other offerings for sin.
7Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”*
8First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). 9Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. 10For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. 11Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. ‘?But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. %SAnd the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,
16“This is the new covenant I will makewith my people on that day,* says the LORD:I will put my laws in their hearts,and I will write them on their minds.”*
17Then he says,“T will never again remembertheir sins and lawless deeds.”*
18And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
B. THE SUPERIORITY OF FAITH (10:19—13:25)
Moving from argument to instruction, the author cites many examples of those who have
demonstrated faith throughout history. Living by faith is far better than merely fulfilling rituals and rules. This can challenge us to grow in faith and to live in obedience to God each day.
A Call to Persevere
1919And so, dear brothers and sisters,* we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20By his death,* Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, 7? let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 26Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of 10:26 I the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27There is only the ter- 2 Pet 2:20 rible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 10:27 28For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy onthe 's426:1' testimony of two or three witnesses. 29Just think how much worse the punishment will be 1:28 6g for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God's mercy to us. 30For we know the one who said, 10:80 0-95-26 Ps 135:14 “I will take revenge. Iwill pay them back.”* He also said, “The LORD will judge his own people.”* 3tIt is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ.* Remember how edi you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. 33Sometimes you were ex- 10:33 posed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suf- I 9°22. fering the same things. 34You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and 49.34 when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were Heb 13:3 better things waiting for you that will last forever. 35So do not throw away this confident trust in the LORD. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's (238.15 will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. 37“For in just a little while, 1 0:37-38 4 the Coming One will come and not delay. Rom 1:17 Gal 3:11 38And my righteous ones will live by faith.* But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.
39But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are thefaithful ones, whose souls will be saved.40:30a Deut 32:35. 10:30b Deut 32:36. 10:32 Greek when you were first enlightened. 10:38 Or my righteousones will live by their faithfulness; Greek reads my righteous one will live by faith. 10:37-38 Hab 2:3-4.ate40:26 When people deliberately reject Christ's offer of salvation,they reject God’s most precious gift. They ignore the leading ofthe Holy Spirit, the one who communicates to us God's savinglove. This warning was given to Jewish Christians who weretempted to reject Christ for Judaism, but it applies to anyone whorejects Christ for another religion or, having understood Christ’satoning work, deliberately turns away from it (see also Numbers15:30, 31 and Mark 3:28-30). The point is that there is no otheracceptable sacrifice for sin than the death of Christ on the cross.If someone deliberately rejects the sacrifice of Christ after clearlyunderstanding the Good News teaching about it, then there is noway for that person to be saved, because God has not providedany other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them(see Acts 4:12).40:29 How have people insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit?The sacrifice of Christ is tied with the Holy Spirit; therefore, toscorn Christ's sacrifice is to insult and disdain the Holy Spiritby arrogantly rejecting him. The Holy Spirit is a person, not justa force or influence. To reject him is to cut off the means of God’sacceptance. This is equivalent to blasphemy against the HolySpirit (see Matthew 12:31, 32). Deserving of great punishmentare those who insult the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy.10:31 God’s power is awesome, and his punishment terrible.These words give us a glimpse into the holiness of God. He issovereign; his power is unlimited; he will do as he promises. Thisjudgment is for those who have rejected God's mercy. For them,falling into God’s hands will be a dreadful experience. They willhave No more excuses. They will discover that they were wrong,but it will be too late. For those who accept Christ's love and hissalvation, however, the coming judgment is no cause for worry.Being saved through his grace, they have nothing to fear (see
Textual footnotes
Life Application Notes 13 notes
10:4Animal sacrifices could not take away sins; they provided only a temporary way to deal with sin until Jesus came to deal with sin permanently. How, then, were people forgiven in Old Testament times? Because Old Testament believers were following God’s command to offer sacrifices, he graciously forgave them when, by faith, they made their sacrifices. But that practice looked forward to Christ's perfect sacrifice. Christ's way was superior to the Old Testament way because the old way only pointed to what Christ would do to take away sins.
10:5-10This quotation is not cited in any other New Testament book. However, it is a central teaching of the Old Testament that God desires obedience and a right heart, not empty compliance with the sacrifice system (see the chart in Hosea 7, p. 1413). The writer of Hebrews applies to Christ the words of the psalmist in Psalm 40:6-8. Christ came to offer his body on the cross for us as a Sacrifice that is completely acceptable to God. God’s new and living way for us to please him is not by keeping laws or even by abstaining from sin. It is by coming to him in faith to be forgiven, and then following him in toving obedience.
10:5-10The costly sacrifice of an anima“s life impressed upon the sinner the seriousness of his or her own sin before God. Because Jesus shed his own blood for us, his sacrifice is infinitely greater than any Old Testament offering. Considering the immeasurable gift he gave us, we should respond by giving him our devotion and service.
10:9Canceling the first covenant in order to put into effect a far better one meant doing away with the system of sacrifices contained in the ceremonial law. It didn’t mean eliminating God’s moral \aw (the Ten’ Commandments). The ceremonial law prepared people for Christ's coming. With Christ's death and resurrection, that system was no longer needed. And through Christ we can fulfill the moral jaw as we let him live in us.
10:11,12Christ's work is contrasted with the work of the Jewish priests. The priests’ work was never finished, so they had to stand day after day and offer sacrifices; Christ's sacrifice (dying in our place) is finished, so he is seated. The priests repeated the sacrifices often; Christ sacrificed once for aif. The sacrifice system couldn't completely remove sin; Christ’s sacrifice effectively cleansed us.
10:12If the Jewish readers of this book were to return to the old Jewish system, they would be implying that Christ's sacrifice wasn’t enough to forgive their sins. Adding anything to his sacrifice or taking anything from it denies its validity. Any system to gain salvation through good deeds is essentially rejecting the significance of Christ's death and spurning the Holy Spirit’s work. Beware of anyone who tells you that Christ's sacrifice still eaves you incomplete or that something else is needed to make you acceptable to God. When we believe in Christ, he makes us completely right with God. Our loving relationship leads us to follow him in willing obedience and service. He is pleased with our service, but we cannot be saved by our good deeds.
10:14We have been made perfect, yet we are being made holy. Through his death and resurrection, Christ, once for all, made his believers perfect in God’s sight. At the same time, he is making them holy (progressively cleansed and set apart for his special use) in their daily pilgrimage here. We should not be surprised, ashamed, or shocked that we still Need to grow. God is not finished with us. We can encourage this growth process by deliberately applying Scripture to all areas of our life, by accepting the discipline and guidance Christ Provides, and by giving him control of our desires and goals.
10:17The writer concludes his argument with this powerful statement that God will never again remember our sins. Christ forgives completely, so there is no need to confess our past sins repeatedly. As believers, we can be confident that the sins we confess and renounce are forgiven and forgotten.
10:19The Most Holy Place in the Temple was sealed from View by a curtain (10:20). Only the high priest could enter this holy room, and he did so only once a year on the Day of Atonement when he offered the sacrifice for the nation’s sins. But Jesus’ death removed the curtain, and all believers may walk into God's presence at any time (see also 6:19, 20).
10:21,22How is it possible for us to go right into the presence of God? We come not halfheartedly or with improper Motives or pretense, but with pure, individual, and sincere worship. We can know that we have “sincere hearts” if we evaluate our thoughts and motives according to his Word (see 4:12). Christians can approach God boldly, free from our “guilty consciences” and in full assurance because of the work of Jesus Christ. We can go to God without doubting, knowing that he will hear and answer us. Under the new covenant, our hearts and consciences are cleansed completely, not partially or temporarily (see 9:14). Our clean consciences allow us to enter God’s presence with boldness. Finally, the imagery of our bodies having been “washed with pure water” actually pictures an inward cleansing. Just as baptism is an outward sign that represents the purification that Christ does inside us, so this washing speaks of an internal cleansing from sin. Once cleansed, we can approach God.
10:22-25We have significant privileges associated with our new life in Christ: (1) We have personal access to God through Christ and can draw near to him without an elaborate system (10:22); (2) we may grow in faith, overcome doubts and questions, and deepen our relationship with God (10:23); (3) we may enjoy motivation from one another (10:24); (4) we may worship together (10:25).
10:25To neglect Christian meetings is to give up the encouragement and help of other Christians. We gather together to share our faith and to strengthen one another in the LORD. As we get closer to the day when Christ will return, we will face many spiritual struggles, and even times of persecution. Anti- Christian forces wilt grow in strength. Difficulties should never be excuses for missing church services. Rather, as difficulties arise, we should make an even greater effort to be faithful in attendance.