Introduction: The Earthly Priesthood Was Never Intended to Take Away Sin
Hebrews 10:1, “¶For 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.”
Again we see the word “shadow” and “NOT the very image (or substance) of the things.” They were earthly sacrifices that were themselves ineffectual, but nonetheless pointed to the “Effectual”, Who Is Jesus Christ, The Savior! Again the good things to come are Peace, Righteousness, Reconciliation, Grace and Mercy from God through Jesus Alone.
Colossians 2:17, “Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body [is] of Christ.“
Hebrews 9:9, “Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;“
Hebrews 9:11, “But Christ being [come] an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;“
Hebrews 10:2, “For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.”
The point being that if they were really effectual, then there would be no need for them to be continued.
Hebrews 10:3, “But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year.”
The High Priest had to continue the yearly ritual on Yom Kippur without ceasing until Jesus died on the cross and the veil of the Temple was rent in two, thus exposing the Holy of Holies to outsider view and thus ending the annual sacrifices.
We should also realize that the law of God does not just serve as a shadow of good things to come, but that it is also our “schoolmaster” as we read in Galatians 3:24&25, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”
and Romans 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.”
Hebrews 10:4, “For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
Micah 6:6&7, “Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, [and] bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, [or] with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn [for] my transgression, the fruit of my body [for] the sin of my soul?“
The Spiritual Priesthood Was Prophesied to Take Away Sin
Hebrews 10:5, “¶Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:”
Here the Writer (Likely the Apostle Paul) is referring back to Psalm 40:6, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.“
Hebrews 10:6, “In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure.”
Isaiah 1:11, “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.“
Hebrews 10:7, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.”
Here the Writer (Likely the Apostle Paul) is referring back to the very next verse, Psalm 40:7&8, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law [is] within my heart.“
This also reminds us to go to the the Road to Emmaus, as well as John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.“
Hebrews 10:8, “Above 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;”
Hebrews 10:9,”Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”
The above five verses refer directly back to what is now revealed as a prophecy in Psalm 40:6-8, and expound upon them pointing to Jesus Christ, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book [it is] written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.“
Hebrews 10:10, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].”
In John 17:19, Jesus said while praying to God The Father, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” (And Jesus also prayed to God the Father, in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Again back to Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].”
Hebrews 10:11, “¶ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:”
Numbers 28:3, “¶And thou shalt say unto them, This [is] the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, [for] a continual burnt offering.“
And again just a few verses back in Hebrews 10:4, “For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.”
Hebrews 10:12, “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;”
Colossians 3:1, “¶If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.“
Hebrews 10:13, “From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.”
This is referring back to Psalm 110:1, “¶[[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.“
and also in Acts 2:34&35, “¶For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.“
Hebrews 10:14, “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
Again we go within the Book of Hebrews for corroboration: Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us].“
Hebrews 10:15, “¶[Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,”
2 Peter 1:21, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man:but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.“
Hebrews 10:16, “¶This [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;”
This is a repetition of what was covered in Hebrews 8:8, “For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:”,which hearkened back to the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah:
Jeremiah 31:31-34, “¶Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day [that] I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.“
Hebrews 10:17, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.”
See the preceding verse, and also Hebrews 8:12, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.“
Hebrews 10:18, “Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.”
When the Ultimate Sacrifice was accepted, then there is no further need of sacrifices for sin.
Jesus Is The New and Living Way
Hebrews 10:19, “¶Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,”
We have the full freedom (liberty) to enter into the very presence of God, by the power and virtue of Jesus’ shed Blood Sacrifice and because of His High Priesthood.
Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 10:20, “By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;“
The physical veil of the earthly temple was rent in two, thereby exposing the Holy of Holies of the physical earthly temple (and making it no longer efficacious for atonement purposes), but the veil that makes it possible for us to spiritually enter into the Heavenly Throne Room of God is only through the Sacrificed Flesh of Jesus.
Jesus Is our Only Means of Access to God the Father in Heaven…
Ephesians 2:18, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.“
John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
Hebrews 10:21, “And [having] an high priest over the house of God;”
This brings us back to Hebrews 4:14&15, “¶Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.“
The “house of God” is “the church”, the Body of Believers: 1 Timothy 3:15, “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.“
Hebrews 10:22, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.“
Ephesians 3:11&12, “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
Ephesians 5:25, “¶ Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”
Hebrews 9:14, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?“
Ezekiel 36:25, “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.“
Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”
1 Corinthians 1:9, “God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
2 Thessalonians 3:3, “¶But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep [you] from evil.”
Hebrews 10:24, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
We should always encourage fellow believers in the faith and strengthen each other in love and compassion.
Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.“
Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.“
Romans 13:11, “¶And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
Philippians 4:5, “¶Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord [is] at hand.“
2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.“
It is the duty and privilege of believers to meet together for worship, praise, and fellowship…
1. Because of God: Who has appointed it, Who approves of it, Who is Glorified in it, and Who should be worshipped.
2. Because of Ourselves: We need to be edified, instructed, refreshed and comforted.
3. Because of Others: That they may be convinced, convicted, converted and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ as Savior or Judge?
Hebrews 10:26, “¶For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,“
This is a difficult verse for a number of reasons, but the key point is that if we claim, profess to be Christians, and yet do not remain committed to glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ by our lives in hating all sin, then we are rejecting and despising Christ’s sacrifice, and there is no other way to Heaven than by Jesus Christ. Hence there is no longer hope of salvation.
But there is more here because of who the epistle is originally addressing. The writer is admonishing the Hebrews to not put their faith in sacrifices, or circumcision, or the keeping of feast days to save them or to make them right with God after to claiming a faith in Jesus as their Atoning Sacrifice. It would be a rejection of Jesus and His Work and therefore becoming an enemy of God fit for destruction (as we read next).
Galatians 5:1-4, “¶Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised,Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, thathe is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
Numbers 15:30, “¶But the soul that doeth [ought] presumptuously, [whether he be] born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.“
2 Peter 2:20, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour JesusChrist, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.“
Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.“
1 Corinthians 3:11, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
Hebrews 10:27, “But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.“
Jesus is coming again to judge the unrighteous. Those that hear the truth and reject The Truth, are condemned already.
Zephaniah 1:18, “Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.“
2 Thessalonians 1:8, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord JesusChrist:“
Hebrews 10:28, “He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:“
Hebrews 2:2&3, “For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him];”
Jesus said in Matthew 18:16, “But if he will not hear [thee], then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.”
Hebrews 10:29, “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?“
It is extremely dreadful to come under the hearing of the true Gospel and claim to be a believer and yet not truly be a child of God and hence not really appreciate the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ for His Sheep. 1 Corinthians 11:29, “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”
Jesus said in Matthew 12:31, “¶Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy [against] the [Holy] Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.“
Hebrews 6:4-6, “¶For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.“
Ephesians 4:30, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
Hebrews 10:30, “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance [belongeth] unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.”
Deuteronomy 32:35&36, “To me [belongeth] vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in [due] time: for the day of their calamity [is] at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that [their] power is gone, and [there is] none shut up, or left.“
Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.“
Hebrews 10:31, “[It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
Jesus said in Luke 12:5, “But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”
Matthew 10:28, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
Hebrews 10:32, ҦBut call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Galatians 3:4, “Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if [it be] yet in vain.”
Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;“
Colossians 2:1, “¶For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and [for] them at Laodicea, and [for] as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;”
Hebrews 10:33, “Partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.“
1 Corinthians 4:9, “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.“
Philippians 1:7, “Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”
Hebrews 10:34, “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.”
More evidence that this epistle is from the Apostle Paul, 2 Timothy 1:16, “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
Jesus said in Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.“
Jesus said in Matthew 6:20, “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:“
Hebrews 10:35, “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.”
Colossians 1:23, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;“
Again as mentioned above, Jesus said in Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
Hebrews 10:36, “For ye have need of patience (ὑπομονή (hypomonē))G5281, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.“
Luke 21:19, “In your patience (ὑπομονή (hypomonē))G5281 possess ye your souls.” The word in the original Greek translated as patience can also be interpreted as “steadfastness” and “endurance.”
Colossians 3:24, “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.“
Hebrews 10:37, “For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.“
Jesus said in Luke 18:8, “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?“
Habakkuk 2:3, “For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.“
We also know that Jesus’ apparent “tarrying” (also referred to in the Bible as “slackness“) is specifically addressed by God in 2 Peter 3:8-10, “¶But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day [is] with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ¶But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.“
When Jesus Christ returns on the clouds of glory He will put an end to all suffering and death for His sheep.
Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. ¶And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.“
Hebrews 10:38, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”
This verse is referring back to the next verse in Habakkuk 2:4, “Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.“
Romans 1:17, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.“
Galatians 3:11, “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.“
Hebrews 10:39, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe (πίστις (pistis))G4102 to the saving of the soul.”
The original Greek word that is translated as “them that believe” is translated 239 times elsewhere in the New Testament as simply “faith“.
2 Peter 2:20, “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”
Acts 16:31, “¶And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.“
1 Thessalonians 5:9, “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,“
2 Thessalonians 2:14, “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.“
Romans 8:38&39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“
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