Introductory remarks:
There is no chapter break here, so chapter ten continues the doctrines of chapter nine. "If gradually they were perfected by animal sacrifices, then they would stop needing to offer once the perfection was complete. But they never stopped because the sacrifices couldn't take away sins. But the blood of animals didn't satisfy God; instead, Christ's obedience to Him in His sacrifice of His own body took away sin. Since we have been cleansed there is no need for the old system. We should wholly embrace Christ because if the penalty of rejecting the law was unmerciful death, the punishment for rejecting Christ would have to be much worse. They are reminded of how they patiently endured persecution when they were first enlightened. All they need is a little more patience and they will see the promises fulfilled, because they are believers and not rejecters" (A Survey of Hebrews - By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Sin put away by Christ's sacrifice vv. 1-18: Exhortation and warning vv. 19-39.
Sin Put Away by Christ's Sacrifice continued
Verse 1, "For 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."
LGT "For the law having a shadow of the coming good things, not the image of the things itself, year by year with the same sacrifices which they offer in perpetuity [time without end], never is able to perfect those who approach."
For the law having a shadow of the coming good things: the law only gives a dim outline of the good things to come in Christ. The law did not produce joy, but only concern for doing good; Christ gives joy by His grace, and assures us that all the work is already done, all we have to do is submit to the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to work through us doing good. Not the image of the things itself: all the systems under the law only gave an outline of the good things itself; the Ten Commandments were also a "Schoolmaster" to bring the Jews to Christ. Year by year with the same sacrifice which they offer in perpetuity [time without end]: the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies once a year offering the blood of the slain lamb for the sins of the people; this was in perpetuity until Christ would end this ritual by His offering His own Blood in heaven. Never is able to perfect those who approach: the yearly sacrifice by the high priest only covered their sins until Christ removed them forever with His own Blood.
Verse 2, "For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshipers once purged should have no more conscience of sins."
LGT "Since would not they have ceased to be offered, on account of those who serve once purged having no longer any consciousness of sins?"
Since would not they have ceased to be offered: if the sacrifices relieved them of the guilt of sins, they would not have to continue their offerings. On account of those who serve once purged having no longer any consciousness of sins: if their offerings had taken away their consciousness of sin, they would have ceased making offerings.
Verse 3, "But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year."
LGT "But in these a remembrance of sins year by year [there is]."
Paul is referring to the yearly Day of Atonement when the high priest would enter into the Holy of Holies and offer the sacrifice for the sins of all the people; this would bring to their remembrance their guilt for the sins, for this would cause them to confess their sins; however this would not remove their sins, but only cover them until that great day of redemption when Christ would offer Himself.
Verse 4, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins."
LGT "For [it is] impossible [for the] blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."
As Paul has said repeatedly, the sacrifices only covered sin until Christ would take away the sin of the world forever.
Verse 5, "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:"
LGT "Wherefore coming into the world He says, Sacrifice and offering You have not desired, but a body You prepared for Me."
Wherefore coming into the world He says: this is Christ's incarnation. Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but a body You prepared for Me: Christ quoted Psalm 40:7-9. The theme of this psalm is that animal sacrifice and meal offerings were not sufficient to propitiate God's justice. "The writer [Paul] supposes the words to be spoken by Messiah when He enters the world as Savior. The obedience to the divine will, which the Psalmist contrasts with sacrifices, our writer makes to consist in Christ's offering once for all. According to him, the course of thought in the Psalm is as follows: 'Thou, O God, desirest not the sacrifice of beasts, but thou hast prepared my body as a single sacrifice, and so I come to do thy will, as was predicted of me, by the sacrifice of myself.' Christ did not yield to God's will as authoritative constraint. The constraint lay in His own eternal spirit. His sacrifice was no less His own will than God's will" (Vincent).
Verse 6, "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure."
LGT "Burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin Thou delightest not in."
God took no delight in the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the animal sacrifice for sin. Of course when the sacrifices were made with a pure motive God took pleasure in the one offering; but the sacrifices did not make the one offering the sacrifice complete.
Verse 7, "Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me), to do thy will, O God."
LGT "Then I said, Lo, I come, (in [the] roll of [the] book it is written [and stands written] of Me), to do, O God, Thy will."
Then: when it was obvious that God took no pleasure in sacrifices: I said, Lo I come: Here Christ is offering Himself for the sins of the world. In the roll of the book it is written [and stands written], to do, O God, Thy will: This O.T. prophecy predicts Christ's better sacrifice of Himself, clearly and truly acceptable to God.
Verse 8, "Above when it is said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;"
LGT "Above saying, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin Thou willedst not, nor delightedst in, (which according to the law are offered);"
This is partial repetition of the saying beginning in verse 5. Christ is saying that none of the sacrifices or offerings is suitable to take away sin.
Verse 9, "Then said he, LO, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second."
LGT "Then He said, Lo, I come, to do, O God, Thy will. He taketh away the first, in order that the second He may establish."
Christ removed the first covenant, that which God did not will, that is, the animal sacrifice, in order to establish what God does will, the second, that is, God's grace. This is Paul's exposition of that Psalm.
Verse 10, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
LGT "By which will we are having been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
The word "sanctified" gr. hegiasmenoi is a perfect passive indicative meaning to set apart unto God. So Christ offering Himself on the cross has accomplished what the sacrifice and offerings could not. We have been set apart unto God by the Holy Spirit which is the will of the Father.
Verse 11, "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins."
LGT "And every priest stands day by day ministering, and the same sacrifices often offering, which never are able to take away sins."
The sacrifices of the priests were daily and they only covered the sins of the people; they atoned for the sins, but they did not remove them. Christ's death on the cross, not only atoned for the sins of the world, but He removed the penalty forever.
Verse 12, "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God."
LGT "But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down at the right hand of God."
What the priest sacrifices could not accomplish with their daily sacrifices Christ accomplished once for all, and then He took His rightful place at the right hand of the Father. When the Roman Catholic priest offer their bloodless sacrifices daily they are simply copying the Jewish priesthood, and they are accomplishing as much. What any preacher worth his salt must do is point everyone to Christ, the one and only sacrifice for sin, and they should also teach that He is now our advocate at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us, and that we are eternally secure in His hands.
Verse 13, "From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool."
LGT "Henceforth awaiting until He placed His enemies [as] a footstool for His feet."
Henceforth: looking toward the future. Awaiting until He placed His enemies as a footstool for His feet: Psalm 110:1, "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." This of course is speaking of the second coming of Christ at the end of the seven years tribulation on Israel to judge all the heathen nations.
Verse 14, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
LGT "For by one offering He has perfected for ever the sanctified."
God has no other way to save the sanctified, that is, the set apart ones, which includes every believer from Adam on, except by the blood of Christ, who offered Himself for us all.
Verses 15-17, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This 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; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."
LGT "And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us: for after having said, This [is] the covenant which I will covenant towards them after those days, says [the] Lord: giving My laws into their hearts, also into their minds I will inscribe them, and their sins and their lawlessnesses in no wise will I remember any more."
And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us: It is the Holy Spirit that bears witness to us through the Word of God. If it were not for the fact that the Holy Spirit dwells within us, we would never be able to believe the Word of God. Paul in these verses is quoting from Jeremiah 31. Paul assures the Jew that Christ is not through with them, and that He is going to convince them of his wonderful grace at the end of this age that He is their Messiah.
Verse 18, "Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."
LGT "But where remission of these [is], no longer [is there] offering for sin."
Paul has been teaching the doctrine of the better sacrifice of Christ from 9:13-10:18, and this verse is the conclusion that Christ offered Himself once for all on the cross, and there is no more need for animal sacrifice. The destruction of the temple by Titus the Roman in 70 a.d. put an end to the Jewish bloody animal sacrifices, and it has continued in the Jewish church until now, and it doesn't seem as though these sacrifices will be resumed any time soon.
Exhortation and Warning
Verse 19, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus."
LGT "Having therefore, brethren, boldness for entrance into the holies by the blood of Jesus."
When Christ died on the cross the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom, opening up a way for us to approach the Father boldly. We now have access to the throne of grace to have daily fellowship with the trinity; we no longer need an earthly advocate to go into the Holy of Holies once a year to plead our case; we have free access by the blood of Jesus, and we have Him as our continual advocate.
Verse 20, "By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh."
LGT "Which He dedicated for us a way, newly made and living through the veil, that is, His flesh."
The veil here speaks of the flesh of Christ, which He dedicated for us, that is, He sacrificed His flesh for us, and shed His blood that we might have free access to the Father. The new way is not contrasting the old way with the new way, but the new way and no way (Vincent). Christ blood is the only way to the Father.
Verse 21, "And having an high priest over the house of God."
LGT "And a great priest over the house of God."
Christ is our High Priest. The house of God refers to the entire family of God.
Verse 22, "Let 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."
LGT "We should approach with a pure heart, in full assurance of faith, having been sprinkled [as to] the hearts from a wicked conscience, and having been washed [as to] the body with pure water."
We should approach with a pure heart: as believers we enter God's presence only with a true heart, which is not cluttered with the cares of this world; that is, we should have a one track mind toward God, casting all our mundane cares aside. In full assurance of faith: God is the object of our faith, and "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). We cannot have fellowship with the Father apart from His Word. Having been sprinkled as to the hearts from a wicked conscience: Paul draws this typology from the Levitical priesthood in that they would be sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice before entering the Holy of Holies; in turn, we must be cleansed daily applying the blood to our lives through the simple act of confessing our known sins to our Father. And having been washed as to the body with pure water: as the priests had to be cleansed before entering the Holy of Holies, so we must be cleansed daily in order to enter the throne of grace and have fellowship with the Father: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
Verse 23, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)"
LGT "We should hold fast the confession of the hope unwavering, for [is] faithful He who promised."
We should hold fast the confession of the hope unwavering: to hold fast to our faith unwavering is to have full assurance of the future He has made for us, and not to allow our doubts from our flesh to take root. Our hope is in nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, and that righteousness has been imputed on us, blocking out all our fears, and giving us full assurance that we are His, and He is ours. For is faithful He who promised: our assurance does not lie in our own strength, but the strength of the One who died for us, and has placed us in an eternal position with His Father, that we are now loved with an equal love of the Father to His only begotten Son.
Verse 24, "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."
LGT "And we should consider one another to encourage to love and good works."
The Greek word for "provoke" is paroxusmon, meaning to stimulate, incite and to sharpen; our English equivalent means to aggravate or irritate; this is why I used the word encourage, because it comes closest to Paul's meaning in this context. Our fellowship with one another should be to encourage one another to study and obey God's Word.
Verse 25, "Nor 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."
LGT "Not forsaking the assembling together of ourselves, even as [the] custom [is] with some; But encouraging [one another], and by so much [the] more as ye see the day drawing near."
Not forsaking the assembling ourselves together: Christians should meet together as a family around the Word of God in order to encourage one another. This was never given for the church to organize, but they should be a witness to the world that they belong to Christ. Even as the custom is with some: some believers refused to meet for various different reasons even as they do today. Barnes gives these four reasons many did not assemble: (1.) Some may have been deterred by the fear of persecution, as those who were thus assembled would be more exposed to danger than others. (2.) Some may have neglected the duty because they felt no interest in it - as professing Christians now sometimes do. (3.) It is possible that some may have had doubts about the necessity and propriety of this duty, and on that account may have neglected it. (4.) Or it may perhaps have been, though we can hardly suppose that this reason existed, that some may have neglected it from a cause which now sometimes operates - from dissatisfaction with a preacher, or with some members of the church, or with some measure in the church." I would make one correction to Barnes' list, and that is, I would substitute the word "privilege" for "duty." Whenever meeting together becomes a duty you are mixing law and grace, for it should be a privilege, which brings pleasure to the family. But encouraging one another: this is the main purpose of meeting with family members. And by so much the more as ye see the day drawing near: the changing of society which will bring on the second coming of Christ should make us realize how much we need each other, and that we should stand united against the rulers of this evil decadent world.
Verse 26, "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins."
LGT "For [where] willingly we sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, a sacrifice no longer remains;"
Some of these Hebrew Christians were still going to the temple and offering sacrifices for their sins, and Paul tells them they were willfully rejecting the grace of God that Christ has removed sins forever. These sinning Hebrew Christians were abandoning Christianity for Judaism, for they have already received the truth regarding the grace of God. Paul is saying that forgiveness for sins is in the sacrifice of faith alone in Christ alone, and that there never has been forgiveness of sins in animal sacrifices, for these sacrifices simply covered sin until Christ could remove them forever with the sacrifice of His own body on that tree.
Verse 27, "But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."
LGT "But a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fervor of fire about to devour the adversaries."
This verse must be read in context with the last verse. All that remains for those who continue to offer sacrifices for their sins is fear; there is no hope for those who reject the truth of grace. These Christians willfully disregard the truth, and all they can expect is discipline in time. Those who reject the truth of Christ's redeeming death, and trust only in animal sacrifices have nothing ahead of them but what awaits our adversary the devil.
Verse 28, "He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses."
LGT "Anyone having set aside [the] law of Moses, dies without compassion on [the testimony of] two or three witnesses."
Any one having set aside the Law of Moses dies without compassion: the law showed no mercy in the case of those that required capital punishment. On the testimony of two or three witnesses: this was to protect the innocent. "It was the settled law among the Hebrews that in all cases involving capital punishment, two or three witnesses should be necessary. That is, no one was to be executed unless two persons certainly bore testimony, and it was regarded as important, if possible, that three witnesses should concur in the statement. The object was the security of the accused person if innocent. The principle in the law was, that it was to be presumed that two or three persons would be much less likely to conspire to render a false testimony than one would be, and that two or three would not be likely to be deceived in regard to a fact which they had observed" (Barnes).
Verse 29, "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?"
LGT "How much worse punishment think ye shall he be counted worthy of, who trampled upon the Son of God, and esteemed common the blood of the covenants wherewith He was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace?"
How much worse punishment think ye shall he be counted worthy of: an argument from the lesser to the greater. How do you consider in your hearts this one who turns away from the grace offered to the blood of bulls and goats? Who trampled upon the Son of God: this one who turns away from God's grace literally tramples on God's Son in hateful contempt. And esteemed common the blood of the covenants: the blood of Jesus Christ, which is the basis of the new covenant of grace. Wherewith He was sanctified: the word "sanctified" means to set apart unto God. Christ was set apart to go to the cross and shed His blood for us all. And insulted the Spirit of grace: this one totally rejects the Word of God, and therefore will be turned into hell.
Verse 30, "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people."
LGT "For we know Him who said, Vengeance [belongs] to Me. And again, The Lord will judge His people."
Paul is quoting Deut. 32:35,36. The important doctrine Paul is emphasizing is that God is a God of justice. All unbelievers will have to stand before the Great White Throne of God's justice and give an account of their total rejection of the blood of Christ, and then will be sent to the "lake of fire where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." All believers will stand before the Bema Seat of Christ and give an account of their motives for service to Christ.
Verse 31, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."
LGT "[It is] a fearful thing to fall into [the] hands of [the] living God."
The living God will not allow His Son to be trodden under foot by anyone. This verse is dealing with final judgment of unbelievers. The context does not allow any other interpretation.
Verse 32, "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions."
LGT "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, having been enlightened, ye endured much conflict of sufferings."
The Hebrew Christians had experienced much suffering in the past, and they would face much more in the future. Paul turns from the subject of judgment to the compassion of God for His children encouraging them through their trials and tribulations.
Verse 33, "Partly, whilst ye were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions' and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used."
LGT "Partly both in reproaches and tribulations being made a spectacle; and partly having become partners of those thus passing through [them]:"
Partly both in reproaches and tribulations being made a spectacle: these Christians were held up to public scorn as in a theatre, being ridiculed for the cause of Christ. And partly having become partners of those thus passing through them: the word for "partners" is koinonia meaning joint heirs with those passing through similar persecution and not folding.
Verse 34, "For 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."
LGT "For both with my bonds ye sympathized, and the plunder of your possessions with joy ye received, knowing to have in yourselves a better and abiding possession in [the] heavens."
Paul is recollecting to them of his trying times when he was in prison for preaching God's grace. Paul says that even when they lost all their worldly goods they were joyful in the Lord, knowing that they have eternal rewards waiting them in heaven. We can all learn a lesson from these Hebrew Christians of not letting this world get a grip on us.
Verse 35, "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward."
LGT "Cast not away therefore your boldness, which has great recompense."
Cast not away therefore your boldness: the literal meaning of the word "confidence" is boldness. The Hebrew Christians were on the brink of deserting the cause of Christ for fear of persecution. Which has great recompense: the result of their boldness for the cause of Christ will be future rewards in heaven.
Verse 36, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."
LGT "For of endurance ye have need, in order that, having done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."
For of endurance ye have need: Paul is telling these Christians that it is human nature to shrink back under pressure, but they need to relax in the family of God because they are safe in the Father's care. In order that, having done the will of God: in the case of these Christians, the will of God would be keeping strong in the faith, and having patience under persecution. Ye might receive the promise: the promise inheritance of reward in heaven. They did not only receive the promise, but it will become a joyous eternal reward they will enjoy throughout all eternity, for Paul is stressing the reality of the reward.
Verse 37, "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
LGT "For yet a very little while, He who comes will come, and will not delay."
The Jewish Christians were suffering great persecution by the Jews in authority in Jerusalem, and they would soon be destroyed along with their temple in a.d. 70. Paul uses the passage in Habakkuk 2:3ff, as his example. It also has a reference to the second coming at the end of the age.
Verse 38, "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."
LGT "But My just one, by faith shall live, and if he draw back, My soul delights not in him."
Paul is teaching them that those in the family of God should live by faith in God's promises; but if they draw back, He will not take pleasure in their actions. This teaches us that even the believers are weak and fail. Courage through faith comes through the Word of God relying completely on the Holy Spirit working through the Word to keep us close to Him, and making the right decisions.
Verse 39, "But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition: but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
LGT "But we are not of [those] drawing back to destruction, but of faith to the saving of [the] soul."
Paul is describing those who make a show of being a believer, but in reality reject Christ. Paul says that the true believer can never apostatize, but may fall from grace, in that they loose faith by being weak. This certainly could not teach loosing salvation for we know that is impossible. In the next chapter Paul teaches the practical portion of this epistle.
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