Study of Hebrews
Chapter 10 (Verses 1–18)
Perfection through Christ’s Complete Sacrifice

The Book of Hebrews in Chapter 9 explained the eternal priesthood of Christ, the eternal Son of God, and His continual ministry in the heavenly tabernacle through the Holy Spirit. It also described His service as our eternal High Priest at the right hand of God.

Chapter 10 continues this theme (we know the chapters were not chosen by the author).

Verses 1–18 continue the explanation of Jesus as the sinless Son of God, the perfect offering. Through His eternal sacrifice, He abolished the first covenant and established the second. On the basis of His perfect sacrifice, all who enter the new covenant are made complete.

Verse 1: The law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the reality itself; therefore, the repeated annual sacrifices could never make perfect those who draw near.

The old covenant and the ceremonial laws of the Torah were only shadows of the true heavenly blessings that were to come to humanity through Jesus Christ. These blessings were not material wealth, health, or comfort, as some today might preach as “the gospel.” They were the real spiritual blessings available to humanity through Christ. Even under the old covenant, these blessings were promised, but the sacrifices of Christ were not yet required.

True blessings in Christ remove human sin, produce righteousness, and restore a complete relationship with God. The repeated annual sacrifices could never accomplish this.

Verses 2–3: If the sacrifices truly made the worshipers perfect, there would be no consciousness of sin afterward, and the offering would cease. Yet the memory of sins is brought forward year after year through repeated sacrifices.

The continual offerings under the old law indicate that no eternal solution to sin was provided. The repetition reminded people that sins remained.

Verse 4: It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

The author summarizes the fundamental weakness of the old covenant’s sacrificial system and laws: animal sacrifices could not remove sin.

Verse 5: Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.”

The author says “therefore” because the old law could not remove sin; to accomplish this, Christ came into the world.

• John 1:29: John saw Jesus coming and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

• John 3:5: He appeared to remove sin; He had no sin Himself.

Since the blood of bulls and goats could not remove sins, Christ, the sinless Son of God, came into the world to bear sins. God prepared His sinless body in Mary’s womb, and He offered it as a sin-offering on the cross.

Verse 6: He did not take pleasure in burnt offerings and sin offerings.

Because the old law could not remove sin, none of its sacrifices were fully pleasing to God; they were merely shadows of the true, eternal sacrifice to come.

Verse 7: Then He said, “Behold, I come — in the scroll of the book it is written of Me — to do Your will, O God.”

The divine plan of salvation through Christ’s bodily sacrifice was written in advance in Scripture. Christ’s atonement and the new covenant through His blood were planned before the world was established. Hence, He is called the Lamb “slain from the foundation of the world.” Christ came to fulfill the plan written in the scroll.

Verse 8: First He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings, You did not desire nor take pleasure in,”

Though taught in the law, God never desired animal sacrifices; they were a shadow pointing to the perfect offering of Christ. The law’s ceremonial rules revealed humanity’s weakness, leading people to Christ (Galatians 3:24).

Verse 9: Then He says, “Behold, I come to do Your will,” by abolishing the first and establishing the second.

Jesus, sinless and true, fulfilled God’s will through His life and offered His body as a perfect sacrifice. By His perfect sacrifice, He fulfilled God’s will completely and abolished the first, imperfect system incapable of removing sins.

Verse 10: By this second offering, we are sanctified once for all.

Through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, all who enter the new covenant through His blood are eternally sanctified; God sees them as complete in Christ. This is not daily progressive sanctification, but the one-time sanctification before God that gives access to His presence.

Verse 11: And every priest stands daily offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

The continual sacrifices of the Levitical priests demonstrate their imperfection, contrasted with Christ’s perfect one-time sacrifice.

Verse 12: But Christ, having offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

While the priests continually offered sacrifices that could not remove sins, Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross completed atonement and seated Him at God’s right hand. His final words on the cross were “It is finished.”

Verse 13: Waiting from that time until His enemies are made His footstool.

Christ, having offered Himself once for all, now reigns eternally as High Priest, and all enemies will ultimately be subdued under His feet.

Verse 14: For by one offering, He has perfected forever those who are sanctified.

After explaining the insufficiency of repeated sacrifices, the author emphasizes the superiority of Christ’s perfect offering: those sanctified through Christ’s body are made complete forever.

Verse 15: And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us.

The Spirit confirms this truth in Scripture.

Verse 16: “This is the covenant I will make after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and write them on their minds.”

The Holy Spirit prophesied the new covenant to be established by Christ’s sacrifice. Human hearts hardened by sin could not contain God’s law; the new covenant removes sin and gives a heart of flesh, writing God’s law within.

Verse 17: “And their sins and iniquities I will remember no more.”

The repeated sacrifices reminded of sins; the new covenant, through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, ensures that God will never again remember the sins of those who believe.

Verse 18: Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

The eternal sacrifice of Christ replaces the imperfect, continual sacrifices of the old covenant; sins are permanently forgiven, and no further offering for sin is needed.