In previous chapters, we have studied about the Superior Priesthood (Chapter 7), the Better Covenant (Chapter 8), and the Superior Sanctuary (Chapter 9). In Chapter 10, we will study about the Superior sacrifice. This chapter emphasizes the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ in contrast with the imperfect sacrifices that were offered under the Old Covenant. Our Lord's superior priesthood belongs to a better order—Melchisedec's and not Aaron’s. It functions on the basis of a better covenant, the New Covenant, and in a better sanctuary, the one in heaven. But all of this depends on the better sacrifice, which is the theme of this chapter.
CHRIST'S SACRIFICE TAKES AWAY SIN
Verses l-10: 1For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the
very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year
by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. 2For then would they not
have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have
150
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
had no more conscience of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance
again made of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and
of goats should take away sins. 5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he
saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared
me: 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7Then
said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O
God. 8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and
offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are
offered by the law; 9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh
away the first, that he may establish the second. 10By the which will we are
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Sin, of course, is man's greatest problem. No matter what kind of religion a man has, if it cannot deal with the problem of sin, it is of no value. By nature, man is a sinner, and by choice he proves that his nature is sinful. It has been well said, "We are not sinners because we sin. We sin because we are sinners."
There is the need for a better sacrifice (Verses l-4). Why were the Old Covenant sacrifices inferior?
After all, they were ordained by the Lord. There were in force for hundreds of years. The very nature of the Old Covenant sacrifices made them inferior. The Law was only "shadow of good things to come" and not the reality itself. The sacrificial system was temporary, and therefore it could accomplish nothing permanent.
Animal sacrifices could never deal completely with human guilt. God did promise forgiveness to believing worshippers (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35), but this was a judicial forgiveness and not the removal of the guilt of the people's heart. If those worshippers had been "once purged" from the guilt of sin, they would never again have had to offer another sacrifice.
Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35: 20And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the
bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an
atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them….26And he shall burn all his
fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest
shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven
him….31And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from
off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for
a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him,
and it shall be forgiven him….35And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the
fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the
priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire
unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath
committed, and it shall be forgiven him.
The annual Day of Atonement did not accomplish "remission of sin". It was only a reminder of sin. True, the nation's sins were covered, but they were not cleansed. Nor did the people have God's inward witness of forgiveness and acceptance (Note 1 John 5:9-12; Hebrews 10:2, 3).
151
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
1 John 5:9-12: If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for
this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath
made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in
his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life.
Hebrews 10:2, 3: 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because
that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
Yes, there was a desperate need for a better sacrifice, because the blood of bulls and of goats could not take away sins (Verse 4). It could cover sin and postpone judgment. But it could never bring a once-for-all redemption. Only the better sacrifice of the Son of God could do that.
The provision of the better Sacrifice has been given (Verses 5-9). It was God Who provided the sacrifice and not man. The quotation is from Psalm 40:6-8. Here it is applied to Jesus Christ in his incarnation (when He cometh into the world, Verse 5). The quotation makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Covenant sacrifices.
The word sacrifice refers to any of the animal sacrifices. The word offering covers the meal offering, the drink offerings, the burnt offering, and the trespass offering. Each of these offerings typified the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and revealed some aspect of His work on the Cross. (Leviticus Chapters 1-7).
In verses 6 & 8, the writer stated that God "had no pleasure" in the Old Covenant sacrifices. This does not suggest that the old sacrifices were wrong or that sincere worshippers received no benefit from obeying God's Law. It only means that God had no delight in such sacrifices as such, apart from the obedient hearts of the worshippers. No amount of sacrifice could substitute for obedience.
1 Samuel 15:22: And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is
better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Psalm 51:16, 17: 16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou
delightest not in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a
broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Isaiah l:ll: To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the
LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I
delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
Hosea 6:6: For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more
than burnt offerings.
152
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Jesus Christ came to do the Father's will. This will is the New Covenant that has replaced the Old Covenant. Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus Christ has taken away the First Covenant and established the Second Covenant. The readers of this letter called "Hebrews" would get the message. Why go back to sacrifices that were inferior?
The effectiveness of the better sacrifice is clear (Verse l0). Believers have been set apart (sanctified) by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. No Old Covenant sacrifice could do that. An Old Covenant worshipper had to be purified from ceremonial defilement repeatedly. But a New Covenant saint is set apart finally and completely.
CHRIST'S SACRIFICE DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPEATED
Verses 11-18: 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering
oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man,
after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of
God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For
by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof
the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is
the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put
my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins
and iniquities will I remember no more. 18Now where remission of these is, there
is no more offering for sin.
The writer contrasted the Old Covenant high priest with Jesus Christ, our High Priest. The fact that Jesus sat down after He ascended to the Father is proof that His work is completed (Hebrews 1:3, 13; 8:1). The ministry of the priests in the tabernacle and temple was never done and never different. This constant repetition was proof that their sacrifices did not take away sins. What the tens of thousands of animal sacrifices could not accomplish, Jesus Christ accomplished with one sacrifice forever.
The phrase "sat down" refers us again to Psalm 110:1 , "Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make
Thine enemies Thy footstool." Christ is in the place of exaltation and victory. When He returns, He will overcome every enemy and will establish His righteous kingdom. Those who have trusted Him need not to fear, for they have been "perfected forever" (Verse l4). Believers are "complete
in Him" (Colossians 2:10). We have a perfect standing before God because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. We know personally that we have this perfect standing before God because of the witness of the Holy Spirit through the Word (Verses l5-18; 1 John 5:9-12). The witness of the Spirit is based on the work of the Son and is given through the words of Scripture. Verses l6 & 17
is a quotation from Jeremiah 31:33, 34. This quotation is also given in Hebrews 8:7-12. The Old Covenant worshipper could not say that he had "no more consciousness of sins” (See Hebrews 10:2). But the New Covenant believer can say that his sins and iniquities are remembered no more.
Therefore, there is "no more offering for sin" (Chapter 10:18) and no more remembrance of sin.
Conclusion
The sacrifices of the Old Covenant could not make the worshipper perfect. The sacrifices of the 153
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
Old Covenant could not take away sins. By the one offering of Jesus Christ, "He has perfected
forever them that are sanctified " Verse l4. Because of forgiveness of sins through the finished work of Jesus Christ, the sins, and iniquities of believers He remembers no more. Believers have Do you know the joy of sins forgiven by Jesus Christ? Do you have the assurance of eternal life?
154
HEBREWS GOD’S PLAN FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY