Free Bible Commentary
“Hebrews 10:11-18”
Categories: Hebrews“Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, ‘THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,’ He then says, ‘AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.’ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”
---End of Scripture verses---
The Hebrew writer continues to argue from Hebrew Scripture for the superiority of Jesus our High Priest and perfect sacrifice and His new covenant over the old sacrificial system and covenant. Notice in verses 11 & 12 the contrast between how the old priests needed to “stand daily” and offer sacrifices, while Christ “sat down” after making “one sacrifice for sins for all time.” Jesus accomplished in His single self-sacrifice what the Levitical priests could not accomplish in their numerous, multiple, repetitive animal offerings. The fact that Jesus “sat down at the right hand of God” after His death emphasizes that He fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the atoning sacrifice of the Messiah, and He finalized God’s plan of salvation. Even though His sacrificial work is finished, He “ever lives to make intercession” for us at the Father’s right hand (7:25).
By Jesus’ “one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (verse 14). We must be careful not to read too much into this statement, but to consider it within the overarching point the author is making. The emphasis is still on what Jesus was able to accomplish for us with just “one offering”. This verse does not teach that Jesus has made us perfectly sinless and perpetually sanctified. Christians are prone to stray from God’s will and we are in peril of falling from God’s grace if we refuse to repent and persevere faithfully to the end (Hebrews 3:12-14). We are “perfected” in the sacrifice and system of faith in Christ because all necessary requirements for forgiveness have been fulfilled and nothing has been left wanting as with the old sacrificial system. Jesus has provided genuine atonement, complete cleansing and personal access to the Father.
The author highlights two amazing benefits offered through Christ’s new covenant in verses 16-17. The fact that God writes His laws upon our hearts signifies the intimate, internal relationship that Christ provides for us with the Father. And, unlike the old sacrificial system that could not cleanse the conscience (verse 2), but actually served as a “reminder of sins year by year” (verse 3), through the shedding of Christ’s blood God “will remember no more” our “sins” and “lawless deeds”. Through the death of Jesus the debt for our sins has been paid in full. “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)!
Please read Hebrews 10:19-25 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
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