Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction: In chapter 9 we reviewed the necessity of the ultimate sacrifice in Jesus, and here in chapter 10 we will take a look at the character of that sacrifice.

First, let’s quickly take a look at the first six verses which, once again, show the ineffectiveness of of the old sacrifices.

Ineffective, Old Sacrifices

In the Old Covenant, the priests were busy all day long slaughtering and sacrificing animals.

During passover week it has been estimated that the priests would sacrifice as many as three hundred thousand lambs.The bloodshed would be so great that the blood would flow out of the temple through channels into the Brook Kidron where the river would seem to be running with blood.

However, no matter how many sacrifices were made, or how often, they were ineffective in three ways.

They Could Not Bring Access to God

The great cry of every human heart is to be in the presence of God, but in the Old Testament they really had no way of getting there.

None of the old ceremonies and sacrifices could ever make those who approach perfect (v. 1).

They Could Not Remove Sin

The animal sacrifices of the Old Testament could cover, but never remove, sin.

but it is the removal of sin that men need.

Rather they were a continual reminder of sin.

Example: ibuprofen (covering symptoms instead of the problem)

They Were Only External

The sacrifices of the Old Testament never dealt with the heart of the problem.

Sin manifests itself outwardly, but its cause is always internal.

It was impossible for the old sacrifices to reach inside a person and change him.

What was the point of the old sacrificial system?

The external ceremonies had an internal requirement.

God was never after delicious animal meats, and it was not the aroma of the passover barbecue that God desired.

Even then, God desired his people to submit to His Word and to do His will.

The person who did not sacrifice out of an honest heart of repentance and trust in the coming Messiah did not have their sin covered by bringing sacrifices.

God did not desire these kind of sacrifices.

Sacrifices were a symbol of real faith and were never meant to be a substitute for faith.

All of God’s people throughout history have been justified, not by works or sacrifice, but by faith.

There were some who viewed the sacrificial system almost as if it were magic.

If you just did the right things and said the right words poof you would get the desired result.

Saul was warned by Samuel to beware of this very mindset.

David, the man after God’s own heart, rightly stated the only kind of sacrifice that was truly acceptable to God.

Isaiah said the same thing:

Isaiah

When sacrifices were not done out of a right spirit, they lost even their symbolic meaning.

The Effectiveness of the New Sacrifice

Unlike the old sacrifices, the new sacrifice of Jesus is always effective and is far superior.

Christ’s Sacrifice Reflects God’s Will

Christ’s sacrifice was effective because it was always God’s will.

Before the world was ever made, He knew that only the sacrifice of Christ would be effective.

It was always God’s plan to prepare a body for Jesus and that that body would be the sacrifice that pleases God.

The sacrifice of Jesus was pleasing to God because Jesus perfectly did God’s will.

Over and over Jesus speaks of doing the will of His Father, and Jesus’ ultimate act of obedience was to offer Himself on the cross.

Jesus came to do the Father’s will no matter the cost.

Christ’s Sacrifice Replaces The Old System

Because of the sacrifice of Jesus, God has taken away the old system in order to make room for new one.

The Jewish readers are being challenged here that they must choose which system they want to be under.

Because the second sacrifice has been made, all of the sacrifices of the first system must go.

Do you think Gentiles face the same decision?

Christ’s Sacrifices Sanctifies the Believer

The new sacrifice is effective to make the believer holy.

The old system had no way of making people holy.

Holiness for the Christian is an accomplished fact - because of Christ we have been set apart to God.

Christ’s Sacrifice Removes Sin

Christ’s sacrifice removes sin which is something the first covenant could not do.

Note all the contrasts in verses 11-12.

Christ’s Sacrifice Destroys His Enemies

The old system did nothing to get rid of Satan, but when Jesus died on the cross he conquered all of His enemies.

First, he conquered “him who had the power of death.”

Second, He triumphed over the fallen angels.

Third, He had victory over all rulers and all authorities through all the ages who have rejected God.

Through His death on the cross, Jesus has made his enemies a footstool for His feet.

Christ’s Sacrifice Perfects the Saints

The new sacrifice is effective to perfect the saints forever.

In this context, to perfect refers to the eternal removal of sin from the believer.

We are forever totally secure in Christ.

Christ’s Sacrifice Fulfills the Promise of the New Covenant

The new sacrifice was effective because it accomplished what God had promised in the New Covenant (vv.15-18).