Hebrews10
World English Bible · Public Domain
1For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.
2Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?
3But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.
4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
5Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “You didn’t desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me.
6You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.
7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’”
8Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law),
9then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,
10by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins,
12but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God,
13from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.
14For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
16“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;” then he says,
17“I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”
18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
20by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh,
21and having a great priest over God’s house,
22let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water,
23let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.
24Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
25not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
26For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,
27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.
28A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
29How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me. I will repay,” says the Lord. Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:
33partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions, and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.
34For you both had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.
35Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
36For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
37“In a very little while, he who comes will come and will not wait.
38But the righteous one will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Hebrews 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The insufficiency of sacrifices for taking away sin, The necessity and power of the sacrifice of Christ for that purpose. (1–18). An argument for holy boldness in the believer's access to God through Jesus Christ, And for steadfastness in faith, and mutual love and duty. (19–25). The danger of apostacy. (26–31). The sufferings of believers, and encouragement to maintain their holy profession. (32–39).
vv1-10
The apostle having shown that the tabernacle, and ordinances of the covenant of Sinai, were only emblems and types of the gospel, concludes that the sacrifices the high priests offered continually, could not make the worshippers perfect, with respect to pardon, and the purifying of their consciences. But when “God manifested in the flesh,” became the sacrifice, and his death upon the accursed tree the ransom, then the Sufferer being of infinite worth, his free-will sufferings were of infinite value. The atoning sacrifice must be one capable of consenting, and must of his own will place himself in the sinner's stead: Christ did so. The fountain of all that Christ has done for his people, is the sovereign will and grace of God. The righteousness brought in, and the sacrifice once offered by Christ, are of eternal power, and his salvation shall never be done away. They are of power to make all the comers thereunto perfect; they derive from the atoning blood, strength and motives for obedience, and inward comfort.
vv11-18
Under the new covenant, or gospel dispensation, full and final pardon is to be had. This makes a vast difference between the new covenant and the old one. Under the old, sacrifices must be often repeated, and after all, only pardon as to this world was to be obtained by them. Under the new, one Sacrifice is enough to procure for all nations and ages, spiritual pardon, or being freed from punishment in the world to come. Well might this be called a new covenant. Let none suppose that human inventions can avail those who put them in the place of the sacrifice of the Son of God. What then remains, but that we seek an interest in this Sacrifice by faith; and the seal of it to our souls, by the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience? So that by the law being written in our hearts, we may know that we are justified, and that God will no more remember our sins.
vv19-25
The apostle having closed the first part of the epistle, the doctrine is applied to practical purposes. As believers had an open way to the presence of God, it became them to use this privilege. The way and means by which Christians enjoy such privileges, is by the blood of Jesus, by the merit of that blood which he offered up as an atoning sacrifice. The agreement of infinite holiness with pardoning mercy, was not clearly understood till the human nature of Christ, the Son of God, was wounded and bruised for our sins. Our way to heaven is by a crucified Saviour; his death is to us the way of life, and to those who believe this, he will be precious. They must draw near to God; it would be contempt of Christ, still to keep at a distance. Their bodies were to be washed with pure water, alluding to the cleansings directed under the law: thus the use of water in baptism, was to remind Christians that their conduct should be pure and holy. While they derived comfort and grace from their reconciled Father to their own souls, they would adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. Believers are to consider how they can be of service to each other, especially stirring up each other to the more vigorous and abundant exercise of love, and the practice of good works. The communion of saints is a great help and privilege, and a means of stedfastness and perseverance. We should observe the coming of times of trial, and be thereby quickened to greater diligence. There is a trying day coming on all men, the day of our death.
Key Words
γάρ (gár): properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
νόμος (nómos): law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), genitive case (regulation), specially, (of Moses (including the volume); also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle)
ἔχω (échō): to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
σκιά (skiá): "shade" or a shadow (literally or figuratively (darkness of error or an adumbration))
ἀγαθός (agathós): "good" (in any sense, often as noun)
μέλλω (méllō): to intend, i.e. be about to be, do, or suffer something (of persons or things, especially events; in the sense of purpose, duty, necessity, probability, possibility, or hesitation)
οὐ (ou): the absolute negative (compare G3361 (μή)) adverb; no or not
αὐτός (autós): the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438 (ἑαυτοῦ)) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
εἰκών (eikṓn): a likeness, i.e. (literally) statue, profile, or (figuratively) representation, resemblance
πρᾶγμα (prâgma): a deed; by implication, an affair; by extension, an object (material)
Cross References
Hebrews 10Directly quoted in verses 5-7 to prove Christ came to replace sacrifices by doing God's will.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The quote of the New Covenant from Jeremiah is restated here to prove final remission of sins.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted: "Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense" as warning of divine judgment on apostates.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted to establish that "the just shall live by faith" contrasted with drawing back.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Scripture cited for Christ sitting on God's right hand until His enemies are made His footstool.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Strong parallel warning on the impossibility of restoration after willful apostasy from known truth.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted: "The Lord shall judge his people," showing God's role as judge of His house.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the contrast between the Old Testament legal 'shadow' and the 'body' which is Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Connects the tabernacle services to a 'shadow' and 'example' of heavenly things.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts the legal sacrifices with the blood of Christ, which perfectly purges the conscience.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The yearly Day of Atonement sacrifices made a perpetual 'remembrance again' of sins.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The tearing of the physical veil at Christ's death corresponds to entering through His flesh.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel exhortation to draw near boldly to God because of our great High Priest.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Old Covenant promise of sprinkling clean water and cleansing from filthiness, fulfilled in Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the cleansing of the conscience from dead works by the blood of Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Old Testament law of sinning presumptuously (willfully) which left no sacrifice available.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Exemplifies the Old Testament penalty for the presumption of turning away from God's law.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Alludes to the promise that the coming vision/One will surely come and not tarry.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Reinforces that the law made nothing perfect, but a better hope does.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Explains that Old Testament gifts and sacrifices could not make the worshipper perfect in conscience.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts the continuous remembrance of sins under the law with God remembering them no more.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The scapegoat ritual demonstrates the yearly remembrance and confession of Israel's sins.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels Christ's once-for-all entry into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Repeats the exhortation to draw near with boldness to God's presence.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Christ as the 'new and living way' matches His self-declaration as the way, truth, and life.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Exhortation to encourage/exhort one another daily to prevent hearts from being hardened by sin.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Describes the tragic state of those escaping world pollutions only to be entangled again.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Pauline use of the same Habakkuk passage to define salvation by faith alone.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Another Pauline application of Habakkuk 2:4 contrasting faith with works of the law.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Illustrates the removal of the temporary first system to establish the permanent second.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallel citing of Deuteronomy 32:35, affirming that vengeance belongs solely to the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Affirms the terrifying nature of God's presence as "a consuming fire" to adversaries.
Supported by Matthew Henry