The Perfect Sacrifice

In chapter 9, we saw that the Law and the Aaronic priesthood and animal offerings were not able to permanently deliver man from sin and the condition of the heart

We saw from the writer, that his readers were preferring to be content with these externals of faith and to ignore the fulfillment of these thing in the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus

The writer emphasized to his readers that tabernacle with its regulations and sacrifices was a shadow of the sacrifice of Jesus and the new arrangement for living offered to the believers in Christ

The Law and the tabernacle could never do for the believers of any age what the living Christ can do

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Christ Our Better Sacrifice Hebrews 10: 1-18

Hebrews 10:1–18 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. 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.’ ” 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. 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. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

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Discussion Questions

In what way is the law a shadow of the good things to come?

What can the law not do? What could the law do?

Why does God no require sacrifices? What did He desire?

What do think God did (and does) take pleasure in?

What is the significance that Christ sat down at the right hand of God after His sacrifice?

What is He waiting for? Why is He waiting? Why not subject all enemies to Himself now? What does He want to accomplish first?

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Jesus’ Sacrifice is Complete and Perfect Hebrews 10:1-10.

But the writer presents a new aspect in chapter 10

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In vv. 1-4, the writer builds on a point he has made earlier

the annual repetition of sacrifices in the old covenant indicated their inability to actually remove sins

If these annual sacrifices truly cleansed the conscience, there would have been no need to repeat them

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they would have seen themselves as cleansed from sin

they would have seen themselves as being restored into right relationship with God

but they were unable to remove sin because they were based only on the death of animals

The Law that God gave Israel was designed to expose both its weakness and its purpose as a shadow of what was to come

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a shadow indicates a reality, but has no substance in itself

the offerings witnessed to the person of Christ and His sacrifice; they were not that reality themselves

they were to indicate that He was soon to appear

Instead of permanently absolving them of their sin, they just reminded men over and over again that sin requires death, and the Law was not solving the problem

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The problem, as mentioned previously, is that the blood of animals isn’t sufficient to solve the problem of our sin

Because the sin of a man requires the death of a man

However, we see that God designed the Old Covenant to use animal sacrifices

Consequently, God never intended for the Old Covenant sacrifices to address our sin

The “good things that are coming” are the equivalent of “make perfect” which the repeated sacrifices of the Day of Atonement could never achieve

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to “make perfect” a sinner before God - required sin and its effects be totally removed

the effects not only on the spirit and soul but the body also - regeneration, full sanctification, and resurrection

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Through the sacrifice of Christ and His resurrection, the believer has full and continuing access to God, “without the constant necessity of removing the barrier of freshly accumulated sin” (Bruce 1964:227)

The sacrifice made by Jesus was one he came prepared to make

It was not done from impulse

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The animal deaths were unwilling, unconscious, sacrifices of a different nature

And therefore, inadequate substitutes for humans made in the image of God

The essential point to man for a God-approved means of dealing with sin in one’s life was that a life be laid down

Every dying animal meant a life brought to an end

Sin was serious; unless the sin could actually be removed, the sinner must die

The writer quotes Psalm 40 to describe that to save the sinner from such a fate, an equal and willing substitute must be found

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Psalm 40:6–8 ESV

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. 7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”

These words directly apply to Christ, His complete willingness to sacrifice Himself to remove our sins

For wholehearted obedience is the quality which God desires in sacrifices

In the Old Testament, this point is made many times, mainly in 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:11-14; and Amos 5:21-22.

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Morris correctly states: “God takes no delight in the routine performance of the ritual of sacrifices” (1983:91)

In vv. 8-10, the writer takes great measures to ensure his readers don’t miss this important point

He explains the meaning of the quote from Psalm 40,

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In acknowledging that though God authorized the animal sacrifices of the past, he did not delight in them

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This stresses the fact that Christ deliberately set Himself to do the will of the Father - knowing it would lead to pain and separation

It was on this cross at Gethsemane that these words in Psalm 40, were fully carried out

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Here the writer declares that the death of Jesus, by fulfilling the will of the Father

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completely replaces the provision of animal deaths

even though they provided some degree of forgiveness in the past

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His conclusion is: it is by the fulfillment of the will of God in the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ that we (all believers) have been made holy

the Greek expression for “made holy” used here indicates action with a lasting effect

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The writer wanted the readers to understand that

we are made holy by the death of Jesus

we remain holy even though we struggle with daily weakness and sin

this holiness is obtained by faith

not by self-righteous effort

nor lost by momentary failure - “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!” (Rom.8:1)

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The Sacrifice that Makes Perfect and Holy Hebrews 10:11-18.

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One interesting fact about the tabernacle is that it contained no chairs

the priests were not permitted to sit

must perform their ministries while standing

The writer indicates in vv. 11-12 that this symbolically shows that their work was unfinished

their repeated sacrifices could not finally remove sins

In contrast, when Christ had offered himself as a sacrifice for all time, he sat down at God’s right hand

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There are two reasons (vv.13-14)

First, there was nothing left for Him to do except to await the outworking of the salvation He had accomplished on the cross

this involved his mediation of the new covenant

and his intercession for believers

and the fact that enough had already been accomplished to deal with every form of sin or rebellion

Second, his sacrifice was so efficacious that it guaranteed the final perfection of all those who were “being made holy”

this involved not only the regeneration of the spirit

and the salvation of the soul

also the resurrection of the body of each true believer

“Being made holy” or “sanctified” (in the KJV) is

both an accomplished fact (10:10)

and a continuing process (10:14)

The writer wants his readers (including us) to understand this mystery

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To see what we already are by God’s grace, in order to manifest that fact by godly behavior

The writer provides proof that such a condition completely fulfills the promises of the new covenant by quoting again from Jeremiah 31: 33-34, introducing it with the words “The Holy Spirit also testifies …” revealing once more his conviction that the prophets wrote by the inspiration and authority of God.

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the prophet said that a New Covenant would come to Israel, and ultimately, to all the nations

when the Lord gave that promise, He said this New Covenant would not be like the Old Covenant

in the New Covenant, the Lord would not remember sins

He would forget the sins of His people, all those who enter into the Covenant

This New Covenant provides for a permanent forgiveness of sins and no longer was there a need to make any more sacrifices

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which the writer states in v. 18

the fact that the New Covenant does not specify sacrifices is further evidence that we have been forgiven of our sins

With this conclusion to his argument, the writer ends his teaching on the doctrines of New Covenant

He is now ready to move onto exhortation based on that teaching

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Let Us Draw Near: Confidence of Faith Hebrews 10:19-39

Hebrews 10:19–39 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. 37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

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Discussion Questions

How did the veil of the tabernacle function in Old Testament worship?

What does it mean that we can enter the Holy Place?

What is the significance of the veil being ripped in two at Jesus’ crucifixion?

Why is our access to God called a “new and living way”? In what sense is it new? In what sense is it living?

What are the four elements of the writer’s exhortation to draw near to God in v. 22?

What is the difference between sinning and sinning willfully?

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Draw near to God in Faith and a Sincere Heart Hebrews 10:19-25.

In this next section the writer shifts his focus from explanation of Christ’s high-priestly work and the effectiveness of His sacrifice to an earnest appeal to his readers

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His use of “therefore” to begin v. 19, indicates that a conclusion is drawn from the whole of the preceding explanation

Also, while making use of “brothers and sisters” to indicate a turn in the argument

by addressing the readers of his message as “brothers and sisters”, and identifying himself with them (we), he reminds them of what they all have through Christ

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As part of his powerful appeal, the writer makes use of two significant blessings which are the present possession of Christians

“since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus”

“since we have a great priest over the house of God”

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This confidence that Christians possess was won by the blood of Jesus

it is done by the objective work of Christ to purge their consciences

and provides the ground for the instruction to draw near to God continually

The confidence that believers possess is for free access into the heavenly tabernacle

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contrary to the Day of Atonement in which only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Most Holy Place

we are able to enter the true tabernacle in heaven where Christ appears in the presence of God on our behalf

It is “by the blood of Jesus” that we are free to approach God

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Jesus entered the heavenly sanctuary by means of his obedient sacrificial death

He obtained the right of entry for His people on the same basis

In these verses the writer is providing the readers with the application of what he has been telling them in previous chapters

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draw near with full assurance of faith

the condition of our hearts is important - true heart

hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering

our hearts have been purified from sin - sprinkled clean by the blood of Jesus

The goal of studying the Word of God is to be life changing

In vv. 23-24, the writer presents exhortations for those who draw near

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hold fast to what you believe

confession of our hope in Jesus

Jesus offers us grace and love and mercy and compassion

with confidence we stand in His presence

don’t doubt or waiver for we have confidence in Him as we see in Ezekiel 37:27 He has claimed us as His own

Ezekiel 37:27 ESV

27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

walk together in community and be in relationship with one another

meet together

stir up one another toward love and good deeds

help each other to not go stale spiritually or to be spiritually lazy

encourage one another to love and a new way of living

it is easy to get discouraged

we need to lift each other up when we are struggling with something or are feeling down

We should remember that perseverance in Christ is dependent on both doctrine and community - we cannot choose just one

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Warnings against Apostasy Hebrews 10:26-31.

The writer is again revisiting the theme of apostasy

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So, what is apostasy?

Someone who seemed to be a believer

they received the knowledge of the truth (v.26)

it refers to intellectual assent not true conversion

apostates at one point profess faith

they were sanctified by the blood of the covenant (v.29)

they were part of God’s visible covenant community

for then sanctified means they were only outwardly affected/changed

Someone who deliberately embraces sinful behavior

apostates routinely sin

apostates intentionally sin

Someone who rejects Christ

insults the Spirit of grace

Some apostates will insist that they are still Christians

most admit that they no longer believe

many will claim to be Christians while embracing a life of sin or affirming heretical doctrines

What happens to an apostate?

They have no sacrifice for their sins

The writer has just finished showing how Christ is the one sacrifice that can actually take away sins

If someone rejects Christ, then there is no sacrifice for their sins

They should expect to receive God’s judgement

God will judge sin - (v.30, Deut. 32:35)

This judgement is “a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries” (v. 27)

They should expect the worst of God’s Judgement (v.31)

They will be judged more severely

The writer makes the argument from lesser to greater: if Old Testament apostates received judgement, how much more would the New Testament apostates! (vv. 28-29)

The writer wants his readers to heed the warning

Though true believers can’t lose their salvation, God uses warnings to help us persevere

To avoid apostasy, guard your theology and stay in community

We should rejoice in Christ - He took the judgement above for you

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The Cure for Apostasy Hebrews 10:32-39.

The writer of Hebrews has made use of warnings, promises, and human examples to exhort his readers to persevere in the faith

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In chapter 6, he provided a severe waring about the dangers of apostasy

Then followed it up with an expression of confidence in the listeners and the desire for them to persevere

Now in chapter 10, the writer once again makes use of this pattern to help his readers

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He provides a stern warning and then encourages them to take the right way

He reminds them of the early days of their Christian experience

Some experienced some form of persecution

And they were triumphant

He wants them to understand that in Christ they had blessings of a kind they could never have had if they had given way to persecution

He invites them to contemplate the persecution they endured

subjected to verbal attacks/insults

they were made a spectacle by being publicly exposed

suffered for visiting those in prison

And to know that there should be no going back on that kind of endurance now

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He tells them that they “have need of perseverance”

Need implies something absolutely necessary

Not merely desirable

Christ was “occupied” with doing the will of God

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And the writer makes the point to the readers that Christ’s people must similarly be occupied in doing that will

As a result, they would receive the promise and countering any doctrine of salvation by works

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In vv. 37-38, the writer turns once again to the Old Testament to help him bring out the truth that Christ will come in due course

Until the appointed time, they must patiently await Him

Hold fast to the faith in the face of temptations to abandon it

The final verse of this chapter closes with the chapter with a ringing affirmation of confidence in which the writer identifies himself with his readers

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He presents to possibilities for the Christian

on the one, hand drawing back and being destroyed

on the other, hand persevering in faith to salvation

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We should heed the warning given by the writer and walk by faith

Trusting God even when we don’t yet see our reward; even when it is hard, and it doesn’t make sense

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Homework Questions

How are you doing today with your confidence and assurance about drawing near to a Holy God?

How important has doctrine and theology been in your life? Are there places in your life where you feel like you are wavering about what you believe? How did chapter 10 help you?

How is your church community involvement right now? Have you been checked out or not part of your church life? How does what we have study in Hebrews so far motivate you to improve and grow in this area?

Do you have someone in your life who was an apostate?

How can you tell the difference between a Christian struggling with sin and a Christian who might be headed toward apostacy?

How does this chapter help correct misconceptions about the difference between the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament? How does the rejection of God’s holiness lead to so many other doctrinal errors?