Study in the Book of Hebrews: Hebrews 10:1-18

In this chapter, we come to the climax of the author’s discussion of Jesus Christ as our high priest. To review, he has argued that Jesus is superior to the angels, but became a little lower for a period of time. His purpose of becoming a little lower was to identify with humanity. Jesus was appointed by God to be a high priest after an order superior to the Levitical priests. As a superior priest, he offers a superior offering that relates to a superior covenant. This sacrifice was made in the heavenly realm and was made once for all. The author begins his discussion of the perfect sacrifice by pointing out the limited ability of the old law.

1. The limited abilities of the old law ()

A. The law was only a shadow of what was to come. ()

Hebrews 10:1 CSB

1 Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year.

B. The law demanded the sacrifices be repeated. ()

The necessity of the repetition demonstrated its limitations. It could not do what needed to be done. It could never make anyone perfect, therefore, followers of God could never be brought into communion with God. They could not be cleansed from their sins.

C. The repetition of the sacrifices showed its limitations. ()

Hebrews 10:2–3 CSB

2 Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year.

Followers of God would be constantly reminded of their failures and their consciouses could never be clear with God. The law could not deliver someone from their sense of guilt. It actually intensified their feelings of guilt. It reminded them of their constant separation from God.

D. The blood of animals could not take away sins. ()

Hebrews 10:4 CSB

4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Simply put, the blood they offered did not have the ability to remove sins. Sin remained a separation between God and man.

2. Jesus Christ is the superior sacrifice. ()

A. The author quotes . ()

Hebrews 10:5–7 CSB

5 Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said: You did not desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me. 6 You did not delight in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings. 7 Then I said, “See— it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God.”

Jesus came into the world for the expressed purpose of making things right. The law’s shortcoming stand in contrast to the ministry of Jesus. The quote has two main points.

i. God was not satisfied with the covenant sacrificial offerings. ()

Hebrews 10:8 CSB

8 After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law),

ii. The willing obedience of Christ to do God’s will and set things right. ()

Hebrews 10:9 CSB

9 he then says, See, I have come to do your will. He takes away the first to establish the second.

Why were the sacrifices of the old system under the old covenant unsatisfactory to God?

The problem was not the system, but the heart of the people. Genuine devotion is essential to true worship. The same is still true day. Going through the rituals and motions is not enough. What are some rituals and motions that we perform? God wants our love and devotion.

B. It is only through Jesus that we can be sanctified. ()

Hebrews 10:10 CSB

10 By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

Sanctification is about being made holy; being made right before God. It is only through Jesus that we can be made right before God.

3. The Levitical priest’s work contrasted with Jesus’ work. ()

A. The sacrifices were presented constantly and could never take away sins. ()

Hebrews 10:11 CSB

11 Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins.

B. Jesus offered his sacrifice once forever. ()

Hebrews 10:12 CSB

12 But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

He sat down, meaning that he concluded his work. Nothing more needed to be done.

C. Now, he awaits the final subjugation of his enemies. ()

Hebrews 10:13 CSB

13 He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool.

Who are Christ’s enemies?

D. His sacrifice perfected forever those who are made holy. ()

Hebrews 10:14 CSB

14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

The word “perfected” is a past action with present results. The words “who are sanctified” would be better translated “who are being made holy”. Sanctification is at least two-fold. Positional and progressive. Sanctification is positional because if you are in Christ, you are a new creation. That is position. You are holy because God has made you holy. You are also being made holy. As you mature in Christ, you become more like Christ.

4. The final effects of Christ’s sacrifice ()

A. The author quotes and . ()

Hebrews 10:15–17 CSB

15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says: 16 This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, the Lord says, I will put my laws on their hearts and write them on their minds, 17 and I will never again remember their sins and their lawless acts.

The law, the new covenant, is not written on stone tablets. It is written on the hearts and minds of God’s people. Once forgiveness from sin is granted by God, he will not hold it against us anymore.

B. Complete forgiveness means future sacrifice is not necessary. ()

Hebrews 10:18 CSB

18 Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

All future sacrifices for sin are rendered obsolete. Here is the primary elements of the passage

We all have a sin problem.

Jesus Christ dealt with our sin problem.

Jesus’ work makes those who participate in the new covenant perfect forever.