Hebrews 10 Read, Study, & Breakdown
Animal Sacrifices Insufficient
10 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once [a]purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices, there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’”
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, [b]O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been [c]sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified
11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being [d]sanctified.
15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,
16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 18 Now where there is [e]remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
NOTES HEBREWS 10 – (v. 1, vv. 2-7, vv. 8-10, vv. 11-12, & vv. 14-18)
10:1: Worship in shadow has no power because it has no substance of its own and doesn’t participate directly in spiritual reality … Orthodox worship, however, is the very image – (Greek – “eikon” – from which “icon” is derived) of the things … It is united with eternal realities and participates in the Kingdom to come … It does so by participating in the voluntary Passion and exaltation of incarnate Son – (v. 10), the only release from our mortal and corrupt existence …
10:2-7: Although OT sacrifices prefigured Christ’s sacrifice, they were powerless in themselves … An effective sacrifice requires a body … prepared – (v. 5), a righteous human being who voluntarily obeys the Father (v. 7) …
10:8-10: A common prophetic theme throughout the OT – (see 1Kingdoms 15:22; Psalm 50 (51):8-15; Isaiah 1:10-17; Jeremiah 7:21-26; & Hosea 6:6) … This is not in opposition to liturgical, sacramental worship, but a statement of priority: Obedience comes before praise … Sacrifice pleasing to God requires voluntarily human sacrifice, not the slaughter of dumb animals … The primary instance of this is Christ, who did God’s will in a liturgical, sacramental act – (v. 10) …
1Kingdoms (1 Samuel): 15:22: So, Samuel said:
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
- St. Irenaeus points out that God did not command sacrifices for His own benefit, but for the benefit of man, to train him in righteousness and obedience …
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Psalm 50 (51):8-15: I will read from my Study Bible
Isaiah 1:10-17: Hear the word of the Lord, You rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the law of our God, You people of Gomorrah: 11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams And the fat of fed cattle. I do not delight in the blood of bulls, Or of lambs or goats.
12 “When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, To trample My courts? 13 Bring no more futile[a] sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. 14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. 15 When you [b]spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of [c]blood.
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke [d]the oppressor; [e]Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
- vv. 11-15: God will not forgive – (v. 14) false religious piety, but He will accept the sacrifice of “a broken spirit, / A broken and humbled heart “– (Psalm 50 (51):19) …
Jeremiah 7:21-26: I will read from my Study Bible it’s different …
- in vv. 21-22, in Jeremiah, The Lord highlights their obedience as more important than adhering to the letter of the COMMAND …
Hosea 6:6: For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than whole burn offerings …
- God does not reject worship, but He criticizes the way Israel perceives it … Instead of a means to enter a new relationship with God and to foster community ties, the worship gradually becomes a goal in itself – (Amos 5:21, and Mic 6:6) …
Amos 5:21: “I hate, I reject your feast days … I do not savor your sacred assemblies …
Micah 6:6: How shall I come to understand the Lord and devote myself to the Most - High God??? Shall I reach Him with burnt offerings??? With year-old calves???
10:11-12: A priest stands; a king sits … Christ is both … OT priests stand daily and vainly repeat ineffectual sacrifices … Christ offers His one perfect sacrifice – (v. 12) and sits … His work is completed … The Church repeatedly does certain things, but she does not repeat Christ’s sacrifices; she participates in Christ’s once for-all sacrifice …
10:14-18: The completeness of Christ’s sacrifice establishes the prophesied new covenant: sacrifice for sin is complete, sanctification is perfect …
PSALM 117 (118) STUDY, READ & BREAKDOWN
WILL BE READ AND SUMMARIZED FROM ORTHODOX STUDY BIBLE, TUNE INTO MY VIDEO CONTENT …