Free Bible Commentary
“Hebrews 10:1-10”
Categories: Hebrews“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, ‘SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE. THEN I SAID, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME (IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.”’ After saying above, “SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them” (which are offered according to the Law), then He said, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.’ He takes away the first in order to establish the second. By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
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Quoting an illustration by David McClister in his commentary on Hebrews to convey the gist of the argument of the Hebrew writer in today’s text:
“Perhaps this illustration may help: suppose someone owed you $10,000, but they were unable to pay it. Then out of pure kindness you say to them ‘I will accept $10,000 in Monopoly money for the payment of your debt.’ They give you the ‘money,’ with both of you knowing fully that it is not what was really needed to pay the debt. In a real sense, the debt did not get paid; you only accepted an inferior repayment out of kindness. The repayment had some of the characteristics of what was required (made of paper, had value printed on it, etc.), but everyone knows it was nowhere near sufficient. Although the debtor no longer owes you anything (because of your gracious offer), he still feels badly because you actually suffered loss in the deal, but there is nothing he can do about it. Then, one day, someone else comes along and pays you $10,000 in real money for that other person’s debt. The debt is then really (‘perfectly’) paid and the debtor can rest assured that you no longer suffer loss. In this illustration the debtor is the sinner, the Monopoly money is the animal sacrifices of the old covenant, and the payment of the real $10,000 is the death of Jesus. Just as Monopoly money cannot pay a debt (even if forgiveness was graciously granted), so the blood of animals cannot atone for sin.” (A Commentary on Hebrews, Florida College Press, page 334)
Jesus came to do what these animal sacrifices could never do—actually “take away sins” (verse 4) “once for all” (verse 10). He came to earth and dwelled in a human “body” (verses 5 and 10) to do the “will” of the Father (verses 7 and 9). “Jesus did not offer some animal sacrifice to God, but in complete submission and obedience, stemming from a heart and spirit that was completely devoted to God, he gave his own body on the cross (cf. 1 Pet 2:24). This was the perfect demonstration of obedience to the will of God.” (A Commentary on Hebrews, Florida College Press, page 341)
Please read Hebrews 10:11-18 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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