Hebrews 10:1-18

We are Now Entering the Conclusion of the Hebrew Author’s Discussion of Jesus Being Our High Priest

He Mentioned the Power of Jesus’ Sacrifice/Blood Offering Back in Hebrews 9:13-14

Hebrews 9:13–14 (NASB95)

For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

The Blood of Bulls and Goats was Useful, But Never Good Enough to Completely Erase Sin

Sin was Always On the Conscience of the People of Israel…

Because They Were Constantly Reminded Every Year of Their Need for Atonement

But Jesus’ Perfect Human Blood is Able to Perfectly Cleanse the Conscience of His People

We are No Longer Constantly Reminded of Our Sins and Failures

They are Completely Erased

We Can Now Serve God as Perfectly Clean Creatures, Like Jesus

The Author Wants to Elaborate More On These Things…

As Well as Tie All This Back in to the Prophesy in Jeremiah that He Quoted in Hebrews 8:8-12

Hebrews 8:8–12 (NASB95)

For finding fault with them, He says, “Behold, days are coming, says the Lord, When I will effect a new covenant With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah; Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers On the day when I took them by the hand To lead them out of the land of Egypt; For they did not continue in My covenant, And I did not care for them, says the Lord.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen, And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ For all will know Me, From the least to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their iniquities, And I will remember their sins no more.”

The Emphasis Being Placed On the Last Line

The Hebrews Author Wants His Last Point on this Topic to Be:

Because of Our High Priest Jesus, Who Offered Himself as the Atonement Sacrifice…

Our Sins are Completely Forgiven and No Longer Remembered

Because of Jesus, There is No More Guilt

No More Separation From God

Hebrews 10:1–4 (NLT)

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. If 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.

But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 10:1 (NASB95)

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.

The Old System was a Shadow of What Would Be a Reality in Jesus

The Old System with It’s Animal Sacrifices Had No Power to:

Reestablish Our Original Purpose (2:6-8) (to Rule Over the World God Created)

Bring Many Sons to Glory (2:10)

Enable Us to Enter God’s Sabbath Rest (4:9-10)

Cleanse Our Conscience to Draw Us Near to God (9:9)

Grant Us Boldness to Enter God’s Presence (4:16)

Save Those Eagerly Waiting for the Son’s Return (9:28)

(Put Verse Back Up) Notice the Words Being Used:

“Never”, “Continually”, “Year By Year”

The Old System was a Never-Ending Cycle of Futility and Frustration

It was Like a Merry-Go-Round that Never Stops

It Could Never Provide What the People Needed

It Could Only Remind Them of Their Needs Because of Their Brokenness

Hebrews 10:1 (NASB95)

For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.

When Dealing with the Word “Perfect” in Hebrews, We’ve Been Referring to it as:

To Bring to the Desired End; to Reach the Goal

The Desired End is to Be Glorified with and Rule Alongside Jesus with Constant and Perfect Access to God

The Old System Could Never Bring About that End

F.F. Bruce Described Perfection Here as:

“Access to God Without the Constant Necessity of Removing the Barrier of Freshly Accumulated Sin.”

Through Jesus, There is Perfect Access to God Because He’s Removed the Barrier that Stood in Our Way

Hebrews 10:2–3 (NASB95)

Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.

Michael Whitworth Spoke of the Constant Reminder of Sins Through Repeated Sacrifices Like This:

Those of Us Who Have to Take Medication Everyday to Keep Symptoms of Health Issues at Bay…

Are Reminded Every Time You Take Your Medication that You Have Something Wrong with You…

And that Without the Medication, You’d Be in a Lot of Pain and Suffering

The Repeated Taking of the Medication Reminds You that Your Problem is Still There

The Repeated Sacrifices Reminded the Israelite People that Their Sin was Still There

It Could Be Kept at Bay for a Time Through Animal Sacrifices, But They Were Never Perfectly Cured of Sin

But That is Exactly What Jesus’ Sacrifice Does

It Completely Cured Sin

No More Repeated Sacrifices

No More Reminders of Sin

It is Completely Taken Away and Forgotten Forever

Hebrews 10:4 (NASB95)

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

Atonement was Available Under the Old System

But Not Perfect Atonement

When Sin is Remembered Every Year, it is Never Truly Taken Away

Just Like Medicine that Removes Symptoms But Doesn’t Remove the Source of the Problem

The Limited Atonement Available Under the Old System Could Not Take Away Sins for Good

Hebrews 10:5–10 (NLT)

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. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God— as is written about me in the Scriptures.’ ”

First, 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). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

Hebrews 10:5–7 (NASB95)

Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But a body You have prepared for Me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure. “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of Me) To do Your will, O God.’ ”

The Hebrew Author Quotes From Psalm 40 as a Prophecy that was Fulfilled By Jesus

Our Author Always Quotes Form the Septuagint (Greek Translation of the Hebrew OT)

Let’s Read Our English Translation of the Hebrew OT

We’re Going to See One Major Difference Between the Hebrew and Greek OT

But this Quotation is Going to Show Us Something Amazing About Jesus

Psalm 40:6–8 (NASB95)

Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired; My ears You have opened; Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required. Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart.”

David’s Psalm Begins with Praise to God for Saving Him

Then He Refers to How God Doesn’t Desire Sacrifices

What God Desires is for His People to Do His Will and Have His Law Written On Their Hearts

That is: He Wants Us to Obey Him Out of the Desire of Our Hearts to Obey Him

The Only Major Difference We See Between the Hebrew and Greek is:

Hebrew: “My Ears You Have Opened”

Hebrews 10:5–7 (NASB95)

Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, But a body You have prepared for Me; In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure. “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (In the scroll of the book it is written of Me) To do Your will, O God.’ ”

Greek: “A Body You Have Prepared for Me”

It Seems Like an Odd and Unrelated Change that is Made Here

But the Meaning Really Doesn’t Change

In the Context of the Psalm, for David to Have His Ears Open Referred to His Desire to Do God’s Will

The Hebrews Author Quotes the Greek OT Words of David as Jesus’ Own Words

The Body that was Prepared for Jesus was for the Purpose of Doing God’s Will

Let Me Try to Explain it this Way:

When David Wrote the Psalm, He was Saying:

God Doesn’t Desire Sacrifices, He Desires for People to Do His Will From the Heart

God Opened David’s Ears to Hear and Do the Will of God

When the Hebrew Author Used this Passage of Psalm 40 to Mean was:

God Doesn’t Desire for Repeated Sacrifices

He Desires for Jesus to Use the Body Prepared for Him to Do God’s Will

And By Doing God’s Will with His Body, Sacrifices and Offerings…

The Things God Doesn’t Desire…

Would No Longer Be Necessary

And to Stay True to the Context of the Psalm

Jesus had the Law of God Within His Heart, Meaning:

Jesus Didn’t Just Obey God’s By Becoming the Final Sacrifice to End All Sacrifices

He Desired to Be the Sacrifice for Humanity that Ends All Sacrifices

Hebrews 10:8–10 (NASB95)

After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

God’s Ultimate Desire for Humanity is Not for Us to Sacrifice Animals to Cover Our Sins

His Desire is for Us to Obey His Will

Jesus Came and Did His Will

And By Doing So, He Ended the Need for Repeated Sacrifices

He Takes Away the First in Order to Establish the Second

He Brought the Old System to a Close and Established a New System of Atonement and Access to God

And Under this New System, with Jesus Offering the Body He was Given…

We Have Been Sanctified/Made Holy Once and for All

Sin Can No Longer Stain Us or Separate Us From God Ever Again

It is Forever Dealt With and Forever Forgotten

That is the Salvation We Have in Jesus

It Brings More Life to When Paul Wrote Romans 8:1

Romans 8:1 (NASB95)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

When He Wrote that, He Meant it

Because of Jesus, There is No Condemnation for Those Who Place Their Faith in Him

Hebrews 10:11–18 (NLT)

Under 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. There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

Hebrews 10:11–14 (NASB95)

Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

Our Author is Bringing a Dramatic End to the Main Point of His Sermon

The High Priest of the Old System Stands Daily, Repeatedly Performing the Service of Atonement for the People

But His Ministry and Sacrifices Could Never Take Away Sins

Those Who Stand are the Servants

Jesus On the Other Hand Sits at the Right Hand of God

Sitting Represents 2 Things Here

1.) His Ministry of Atonement is Done

It Only Took His One Sacrifice to Take Away Sins Forever

2.) Sitting at the Right Hand of God Represents His Equality of Authority with God

Jesus is Not a Servant, But a Priest King

In Talking About Jesus Sitting at the Right Hand of God…

Our Author Quotes Again From Psalm 110

(One of His Most Used Passages to Make His Points About Jesus Being High Priest)

Jesus is Sitting and Waiting for the End of the Age When He Will Conquer All of His Enemies

I Like the Way the NLT Puts Verse 14:

Hebrews 10:14 (NLT)

For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.

It Does a Better Job at Focusing On the Tenses of the Verbs

By Jesus’ One Offering He “Forever Made Perfect”

Perfect is in the “Perfect Tense”

Meaning it was Something Done in the Past that Has a Lasting Result in the Present

Because Jesus Offered Himself in the Past, We Now Experience the Desired End

We are Justified/Made Righteous and are Given Access to God

Perfection/Justification is Available for Those Who are “Being Made Holy”

Being Made Holy is in the “Present Tense”

Something that is Still in the Process of Happening

Jesus Has Already Justified Those Who are Actively Being Sanctified/Made Holy By the Spirit

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NASB95)

Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NASB95)

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

We are Justified/Made Righteous/Innocent When We By Faith are Baptized into Jesus

But Sanctification/Growing in Holiness is a Life-Long Process that is Brought About By the Spirit Who Lives in Us

And as Long as We are Growing in Holiness Through the Spirit…

We Remain Justified/Righteous/Innocent

Hebrews 10:15–18 (NASB95)

And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws upon their heart, And on their mind I will write them,” He then says, “And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

This Quote of Jeremiah 31 Forms an Inclusio (Literary Bookends for a Topic)

The Author Quoted From Jeremiah 31 in Chapter 8

He Did This to Introduce the Topic of the New Covenant…

And How Sins Will Be Completely Forgotten Through the High Priestly Sacrifice of Jesus

Now He Quotes Jeremiah Again to Bring an End to This Amazing Topic

Just as Jeremiah Prophesied:

Because of Jesus, Sins are Forever Forgiven

There’s No More Need to Worry About Them Ever Separating Us From God Again

Invitation

James 1:21 (NASB95)

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

“Therefore” = What’s About to Be Said is Going to Add to What was Already Said

Listen More

Speak Less

And Don’t Have a Short Temper

Control Your Anger; Don’t Let Your Anger Control You

Because That Will Never Produce the Righteousness of God

Keeping that in Mind, Put Aside All Filthiness

“Put Aside” = To Take Off and Put Away

Like Taking Off Dirty Clothes and Putting Them Away, Never to Wear Them Again

“All Filthiness” = Every Moral Uncleanness

Take Off and Put Away for Good Every Moral Uncleanness

“And All that Remains of Wickedness” = “And the Abundance of Evil”

“Take Off and Put Away Every Moral Uncleanness and Abundance of Evil”

In Simple Terms:

Get Rid of Your Sinful Ways!

“In Humility” = “In Gentleness”

“Receive the Word Implanted”

“Accept the Implanted Message of the Gospel”

The Gospel is Like a Seed that is Deeply Implanted in the Soil of the Listeners Heart

Only a Humble/Gentle Heart Will Accept the Gospel

“Which is Able to Save Your Souls”

The Gospel has the Ability to Save Your Life

Here’s What We Learn From James 1:21

Keeping in Mind that Anger Will Never Lead to the Righteousness of God…

Take Off and Throw Away All Your Immoral Ways and Abundance of Wickedness

Instead, With a Humble Heart, Accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has Been Implanted in Your Heart

Because if You Accept it, it Will Rescue You and Give You Life in the Age to Come

Are You Allowing Anger, Immorality, and Wickedness to Control and Cover You?

Take All of That Off and Throw it in the Trash…

And Humble Yourself Instead

Humility Doesn’t Lead to Anger, Filthiness, or Wickedness

Humility Leads to Accepting Jesus as King of Heaven and Earth and Submitting to Him

When You Do That, You Will Be Given Life in the Age to Come