Better Sacrifice

Introduction

Welcome // Name

Recap

It has been a while since we’ve been in the book of Hebrews - we stopped just before Christmas. So, I want to bring us back into the world of Hebrews and set the stage for these last 3 chapters that will take us up through Easter.

Audience

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were experiencing the reality that following Jesus isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. They were experiencing consistent pressure both socially and probably physically from their Jewish community that felt as if these new Christians had abandoned their roots.

So, many of these new Christians were considering that going back to Judaism might be a good solution to relieve some of the pressure.

So, the author of Hebrews writes to encourage them by essentially reminding them of the dangers of leaving Jesus and the comforts of knowing Jesus

Warnings and Comforts

This warning and comfort rhythm is consistent throughout Hebrews. The illustration that I’ve attempted to use is two ditches on either side of the narrow road that leads to life.

On one side is the “do more, try harder ditch.” This is the idea that God is waiting for you to get your life together, make better choices, and do more stuff for him because, well, you’re quite capable!

We fall into this ditch when we worry that Jesus’ is not enough, or that we’re not enough - and so we attempt to do all of the right, religious things to ensure that God accepts us that we can punch our ticket to heaven.

If I just get my church attendance percentage up a little higher.

If I just stop swearing so much

If I give more of my money away to the right causes.

If I work to be nicer to people and not so grouchy.

If I read my bible or Christian books more regularly.

If I stop listening to bad music and only listen to Christian music

Then MAYBE god will accept me and I’ll get it.

This is not Christianity. This is not the gospel. Rather, Hebrews gives us comforts like

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

On the flip side is the “I prayed once, I’m good” ditch. On this side, instead of finding ourselves overworking ourselves in an attempt to garner God’s approval and grace, we lazily presume that the Christian life requires no effort on our part. This is a view that puts important emphasis on the sovereignty of God and the power of the Spirit, but diminishes the the importance of human responsibility in the process of obedience and growth. I can just go through life and God will do what he will do because he’s God and I don’t really have any say or part in any of it.

This is ALSO not genuine Christianity and Hebrews gives us warnings like...

Hebrews 2:1–3 ESV

1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

Transition to Text

Chapter 10 concludes a major theological section of Hebrews that details how Jesus sacrifice on the cross is better than the old testament sacrificial system - and we will again experience the author comforting and warning us. This week, we get the comfort and next week, the warning.

So, open with me to Hebrews chapter 10 and we will, in God’s grace, see wonderful things here together.

Pray

Father, might you grant us the grace today to not merely read your Word with our eyes, and hear it with our ears. But might you, by the power of the Spirit give us spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear exactly what you want us to know, believe, and embrace - that we might be spurred on today to persevere in our faith—trusting in the sure and steady anchor for our souls. We ask in Jesus powerful name, Amen.

VV. 1-4

The end of chapter 9 was a perfect place to us to stop because the beginning of chapter 10 provides us with a bit of a summary of what we last talked about back in December.

Hebrews 10:1–4 ESV

1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Recall with me my last sermon in Hebrews 9:1-14, which gave us a glimpse into the structure and function of the Old Covenant system of worship. For those who were not here or need a refresher, let me briefly summarize.

The tabernacle—later replaced by the temple—was where the people of Israel met with God. It was divided into three main sections:

The Outer Court – Open to all ritually clean Israelites, where daily sacrifices for sin were made.

The Holy Place – Entered only by priests to carry out their ritual duties, emphasizing the need for mediation.

The Most Holy Place – The innermost section, entered only once a year by the high priest on the Day of Atonement, where he offered a blood sacrifice for unintentional sins.

At first glance, it may seem like these stages would lead to increasing intimacy with God. But in reality, the opposite was true. Each step actually restricted access to God more and more. The average Israelite could only enter the outer court. The Holy Place was limited to priests. The Most Holy Place? Only one man, once a year, with blood.

And what was the result? A worship system that continually reminded people of their distance from God. Hebrews 9:9 states that these sacrifices “cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper.” The sacrificial system provided a temporary solution, but it never fully restored intimacy with God.

The Day of Atonement was meant to cover any unconfessed or forgotten sins, but even then, people woke up the next day carrying guilt and knowing that the veil to the Most holy place still kept them at a distance.

But the author of Hebrews doesn’t leave us there. He points us to Jesus, our Great High Priest, who provides a sacrifice that does what the Old Covenant never could—He cleanses not just the body but the conscience. His blood doesn’t just cover sin—it removes it. Through Him, we have full and unhindered access to God.

So as we move forward in today’s passage, keep this in mind: The goal of worship is intimacy with God—and Jesus is the only one who makes that possible.

This is essentially what the author repeats in the first 4 verses of chapter 10.

the ceremonial law was a shadow, pointing to the reality of something greater - true forgiveness from a better sacrifice.

if the sacrifices had worked, they would have stopped

instead of fixing the issue of relationship with God, they were reminders of the distance caused by sin.

So, this tees up the problem, namely that the sacrificial system was insufficient.

My question is WHY?!

Why wasn’t the OT sacrificial system enough?

If the necessary payment for sin was death, and God allowed an animal to die in the place of the sinner - why wasn’t that enough.

Why was it necessary for Jesus to come and die?

This is an important question!!

It’s not going to come easy, but go with me on a little journey and I think you’ll be excited with the results!

RESOURCE: 50 Reasons Jesus Came to die)

VV. 5-10

Hebrews 10:5–7 ESV

5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ”

Consequently - or because of the realities that we see in verses 1-4, Jesus came into the world and solved the problem. Because the OT system was insufficient, Jesus came to be the all-sufficient solution.

The author makes their point by leveraging a portion of Psalm 40. And in order to fully understand what is happening here we need to address 2 issues.

How is it that the author claims that Psalm 40 contains the words of Jesus when it was written by King David?

Let’s tackle that one first.

David’s Personal Experience – King David wrote Psalm 40 as a reflection of his own life. He had experienced deliverance from trouble (vv. 1-3), a desire to obey God (vv. 6-8), and the need for God’s mercy (vv. 11-17). This psalm was originally about David’s relationship with God, his trust, and his struggles.

Prophecy of Christ – However, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David’s words go beyond himself. In Hebrews 10:5-7, the writer quotes Psalm 40:6-8 and applies it to Jesus. This shows that David’s psalm was not just about himself but was also prophetic—pointing forward to the ultimate King, Jesus Christ. So they are David’s words and Jesus’ words.

These are called Messianic Psalms or Messianic Prophetic psalms. Another common example is Psalm 22 where David’s opening line is “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” David was in distress and feeling abandoned by God. But when Jesus utters these words, he is experiencing to fullest measure of distance from the Father as the perfect Son took on the sin of the world and experienced the separation that sin causes for the first time to the fullest extreme.

2. Why are the words in Hebrews and the words in Psalm 40 different?

If you pay attention you’ll notice that Psalm 40 reads....

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear. (you have hollowed out ears for me)

bu when the author of Hebrews quotes it, he says this:

Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,

but a body have you prepared for me.

Okay - history lesson - stay with me - this is good stuff.

You may have heard of the Septuagint. The Septuagint is the translation of the Old Testament in Greek. It was started in 250 B.C. in Egypt - and was commissioned because Greek was the common language of the Mediterranean world. With many Jews living outside of Israel, this made the Scriptures more accessible.

It completed in the first century B.C.

The author of Hebrews used the Septuagint for his Old Testament quotes. So, some of the quotes don’t perfectly match up. This does not mean that Bible has a bunch of errors. I’ve left an article in the sermon notes if you want to dig a little deeper on that subject.

https://apologeticspress.org/has-the-bible-been-transmitted-to-us-accurately-5732/

What we must understand is that language does not perfectly translate word-for-word. So, the work of translators is to attempt to capture the essence of the thought as closely as possible.

So, when the translation team working on the Septuagint read, “you have hollowed out ears for me” their job was not merely to translate it word for word, but also to think to themselves - this doesn’t make a whole lot of sense in Greek. A better way to communicate the thrust might be to say - “a body you have prepared for me.”

Okay - enough time spent on that. If you’re still tangled up on any of this, lets talk later. We have to get to the good stuff.

Look with me to verse 8-10 as the author gives an explanation of how Psalm 40 applies.

Hebrews 10:8–10 ESV

8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

I think that right here we see the key to unlocking the answer to our question. Why did Jesus need to come to die? Why were bulls and goats insufficient?

The author of Hebrews tell us that the added phrase, “Behold I have come to do you will” is the linchpin that abolishes the old covenant and establishes the new.

How is this the case? What happens here that is so significant?

Perhaps a better way to understand that phrase is - behold I have come to do what you desire - to do what you REALLY want, Father. Well - what is it that the Father really wants!? What is it that is missing in the sacrificial system that Jesus not only provides but PERFECTLY provides?

Notice the next phrase - “by that will” or BECAUSE OF JESUS WILLING OBEDIENCE TO OFFER HIMSELF, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus.

What does this mean?!!???

What God desires is obedience that comes from the right heart, a selfless heart, a sacrificial heart.

The animals have no say in the process - they’re not willingly giving themselves up.

The priests have no real skin in the game, because it’s not their blood being spilled

“the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood NOT HIS OWN” (9:25b)

But Jesus is given a BODY (v. 5) and he offers his BODY - his own blood, his own pain, his own suffering, his own death BECAUSE HIS HEART IS PERFECTLY SET ON HUMBLE, LOVING OBEDIENCE TO THE FATHER.

When he cries out to the Father in the garden the night of his death - the phrase “not my will but yours be done” - we hear the

PERFECT HEART ATTITUDE of the

PERFECT SON preparing to make the

PERFECT SACRIFICE.

Look with me to verse 11 and we see the comparison between the priestly sacrifices and Jesus’ sacrifice.

The quotation explains why animal sacrifices do not please God: what God requires is not the offering of animals that have no voluntary involvement in the act but the sacrificial giving of oneself. This idea was hinted at in 9:25, with the derogatory remark that the high priest enters the sanctuary “with the blood of another.” Now it is spelled out: God was not pleased with such an offering; he desired self-sacrifice. The act of Jesus stands out in sharp relief: by giving himself to death, he performs the ultimate act of obedience to God - Sigurd Grindheim

Hebrews 10:11–14 ESV

11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Priests offered repeatedly - Christ offered a single sacrifice

Priests offered daily - Jesus offered for all time

Priests stands every day to do his work - Christ has sat down - signifying his completed work.

Priests sacrifices can never take away sins - Christ has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.