Skip to Content

Hebrews

Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.

Hebrews 10

1For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.

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.

Commentary · verse 1

Paul's conclusion from the previous chapter restated as his premise: The Law could never bring profitability. The Law could only make things not unprofitable. The Law was a representation of the things that could bring perfection.

2Else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Commentary · verse 2

Reason: If the Law could make people perfect (maximum profitability) then we would still live by the Law and...

3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins year by year.

3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

Commentary · verse 3

The sacrifices made by the Law were not sufficient to cover sin, only Christ's blood covers all sin and...

4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Commentary · verse 4

It is impossible that the blood of animals (by the Law) would take away sin, or Christ would not have had to die. The animals that were killed during the Law did not themselves take away the sin of the people. They represented the blood that would actually take away their sins: Christ's blood. The people who lived during the Law were not saved by sacrifices. They were saved by grace (allowing the Law to influence their actions) through faith.

5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me; 6In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hadst no pleasure: 7Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O God.

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.

Commentary · verses 5-7

Paul referenced Psalm 40:6-8 to support his premise and reason with the following explanation.

8Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law), 9then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

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.

Commentary · verses 8-9

Verse 9 referred to the doing away of the first Covenant (the Law) so that God could establish the second Covenant.

10By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Commentary · verse 10

Paul blatantly stated Christ's sacrifice sanctifies us once and for all.

11And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins: 12but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet.

14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

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.

Commentary · verses 11-14

Paul contrasted the inability for earthly priests to take away sins with the infinite ability of Christ's one time sacrifice to take away sins.

15And the Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us; for after he hath said, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind also will I write them; then saith he, 17And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

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.

Commentary · verses 15-17

Paul again referenced Jeremiah 31:33-34. Remember, the Greek word for "mind" in this verse was dianoia. It was composed of two Greek words that meant "the channel through which the Mind/Soul operates"...which is the conscious brain! The word brain is a relatively new word and was created more than a thousand years after the New Testament was written. The laws being written on the heart would be as an effect of the person intentionally choosing to allow this influence in the conscious brain to come out in their actions.

18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Commentary · verse 18

Paul began his conclusion of the premise he presented in Hebrews 5:1. After Christ's sacrifice, we need no more offering for sin. Christ's blood was able to remit all sins: past, present, and future...for everyone.

19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,

19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Commentary · verse 19

By Christ's blood we have access to the Holy of Holies, the actual heavenly holiest place. Christ bridged the gap between man and God the Father.

20by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

Commentary · verse 20

The veil of the physical Holy of Holies represented Jesus' flesh. After Jesus was crucified, the physical veil was torn in two to represent believers have access to the actual Holy of Holies through Jesus.

21and having a great priest over the house of God; 22let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water, 23let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised: 24and let us consider one another to provoke unto 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 ye see the day drawing nigh.

21And having an high priest over the house of God;

22Let 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.

23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

25Not 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.

Commentary · verses 21-25

Paul exhorted believers to completely walk in this ability to have access to the actual Holy of Holies. Some people use verse 25 to say that Paul commanded us to go to church every week. As we have seen with Acts 2:42 and other places, believers ought to be assembling together more often and not limited to "going to church services." Some passages pointed towards assembling with believers daily.

26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,

26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Commentary · verse 26

Doctrine: Christ was the last sacrifice for sin. In Hebrews 6:4-6, we saw that the only way back to Salvation after a believer willfully sins is repentance, not another sacrifice of Jesus. Paul explained that repentance was a foundational Doctrine, along with eternal judgment.

27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.

28A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses: 29of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged 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?

27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29Of 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?

Commentary · verses 27-29

Paul compared dying under the Law without mercy (Numbers 15:30 and Deuteronomy 17:2-6) with dying during the Dispensation of Grace, also without mercy.

30For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Commentary · verses 30-31

Paul referenced Deuteronomy 32:35-36 to show God will equal out Justice.

32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings; 33partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used.

34For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.

35Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward.

36For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.

32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

33Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

34For 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.

35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Commentary · verses 32-36

Paul exhorted believers toward good behavior knowing those who do the Will of God will receive His promise.

37For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry.

38But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.

37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Commentary · verses 37-38

Paul referenced Habakkuk 2:3-4 to state: The just live by faith. Those who draw back (from faith), God has no pleasure in. Paul began the transition to the most famous chapter of this book, and it dealt with faith.

39But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.

39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Commentary · verse 39

Theme of Chapter 10: Paul concluded the premise he began in chapter 5. Christ's one time sacrifice was able to remit all sins: past, present, and future...for everyone. The sacrifices of animals during the Law were representations of the actual one time sacrifice. Paul began exhorting believers to walk in all of these benefits and the key attribute necessary to make progress in our fellowship with God is faith.

Up and down arrows move between verses, Enter selects one, Shift with an arrow takes in a run. Tab then reaches Save, Add Note and Copy.