Was the law a shadow of the good things to come? Was it impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins? Did God really want such a sacrifice or an offering? Did He perfect the people who are being made holy with one offering for all time? Do we need patient endurance, so that we will continue to do God’s will? Let’s find out in Hebrews 10.
What is the law? Why was there a need for continual sacrifices?
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. (Hebrews 10:1-2 NIV)
What were those sacrifices a reminder of? What was it impossible for them to do?
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. (Hebrews 10:3-4 LSB)
Did God have pleasure in animal sacrifices? What did He say in the Psalms?
Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’ ” (Hebrews 10:5-7 NKJV Psalm 40:6-8)
Is the first covenant canceled? Was God’s will for us to be made holy? What made that possible?
First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them” (though they are required by the law of Moses). Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.” He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect. For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. (Hebrews 10:8-10 NLT)
Did animal sacrifices take away sins? What did Jesus’ one offering do? If we are “being sanctified” is it a process?
Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same sacrifices which can never take away sins, but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. (Hebrews 10:11-14 WEB)
Was the new covenant prophesied in Jeremiah? Is it a covenant whereby God will no longer remember our sins?
The Holy Spirit affirms this when saying, This is the covenant that I will make with them. After these days, says the Lord, I will place my laws in their hearts and write them on their minds. And I won’t remember their sins and their lawless behavior anymore. (Hebrews 10:15-17 CEB Jeremiah 31:33)
What happens when sins are forgiven? Is there still a need to offer sacrifices?
When sins are forgiven, there is no more need to offer sacrifices. (Hebrews 10:18 CEV)
What happens when we can enter heaven’s holy place by the blood of Jesus? Can we now draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith? Are our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience?
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22 ESV)
What should we hold onto? What should we promote? What about church attendance?
Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:23-25 HCSB)
Do we have a choice? What if we choose to reject repentance?
For if we choose to go on sinning after we have learned the full truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but only a terrifying prospect of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10:26-27 ISV)
What about those who despised Moses’ law? Is there a worse punishment for those who rejected Christ?
He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 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? (Hebrews 10:28-29 KJV)
Should we wait patiently, trusting God for ultimate justice? Will He repay?
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:30-31 LSB)
Did these Christians suffer for their faith? Are we insulted for our faith?
But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through insults and distress, and partly by becoming companions with those who were so treated. (Hebrews 10:32-33 NASB)
Were some imprisoned and did some even have their property stolen? Does this still happen in various countries? Do we have better possessions in eternity?
You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. (Hebrews 10:34-35 NIV)
What do we need? Do we continue to do God’s will?
Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (Hebrews 20:36 NLT)
Does the author paraphrase Habakkuk? Do we live by faith or shrink back?
“In a very little while, he who comes will come, and will not wait. But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” (Hebrews 10:37-38 WEB Habakkuk 2:3-4)
Will we shrink back and be destroyed? Will we endure in faith and so be preserved?
But we aren’t the sort of people who timidly draw back and end up being destroyed. We’re the sort of people who have faith so that our whole beings are preserved. (Hebrews 10:39 CEB)
Was the law a shadow of the good things to come? Was it impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins? Did God really want such a sacrifice or an offering? Did He perfect the people who are being made holy with one offering for all time? Do we need patient endurance, so that we will continue to do God’s will? You decide!
