Animal Sacrifices Could Never Perfect Worshipers
Study note
The law's sacrificial system was merely a shadow of the realities to come, not the true form. The fact that sacrifices were repeated year after year proved they could never perfect those who offered them. If they could have truly cleansed the worshipers, the sacrifices would have stopped because the people would no longer have felt guilty. Instead, the annual repetition served as a constant reminder of sin, since the blood of bulls and goats was inherently incapable of removing sin.
1 The law was only a preview -- a shadow -- of the wonderful things to come. It was not the real thing. Therefore those same sacrifices, repeated year after year, could never make the worshipers truly perfect. 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.
2 If the sacrifices had worked, people would have stopped offering them. Once truly cleaned up inside, they would not have felt guilty about their sins anymore. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But those yearly sacrifices were just a yearly reminder that sins were still there. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 The plain truth is that the blood of bulls and goats simply cannot take away sins. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Christ's Offering of His Own Body
Study note
The author quotes Psalm 40:6-8 as the words of Christ entering the world: God did not desire animal sacrifices and burnt offerings but prepared a body for his Son. Christ's response was total obedience: 'Here I am, I have come to do your will, O God.' By setting aside the first system of sacrifices and establishing the second -- obedient self-offering -- believers have been made holy through the once-for-all offering of the body of Jesus Christ.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, "You did not want animal sacrifices and grain offerings. Instead, you prepared an actual body for me. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 Burnt offerings and sin offerings did not make you happy. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 So I said, 'Look, here I am! The Scriptures are talking about me. I have come to do exactly what you want, God.'" Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 First, he said, "You did not want sacrifices, offerings, burnt offerings, or sin offerings. They did not make you happy." He said this even though the law required them. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then he said, "Look, I have come to do what you want." He removed the first system so he could set up the second one. Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 Because God wanted it this way, we have been made holy once and for all. Jesus Christ offered his body as one final sacrifice. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
One Sacrifice Perfects Forever
Study note
The contrast between the old and new is stark: every Levitical priest stands daily, repeatedly offering ineffective sacrifices, while Christ offered one sacrifice for sins and then sat down at God's right hand, waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool. By one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified. The Holy Spirit confirms this through Jeremiah's prophecy about the new covenant: God will write his laws on hearts and minds and remember sins no more. Where sins are completely forgiven, no further offering is needed.
11 Under the old system, every priest had to stand and work day after day. He kept offering the same sacrifices over and over again. But those sacrifices could never truly take away sins. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But after Christ offered one sacrifice for sins that covers everything for all time, he sat down at God's right hand. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 Since then, he has been waiting for God to place all his enemies beneath his feet. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 With that one offering, he made people holy completely and forever. This is for everyone who is being made new. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 The Holy Spirit also confirms this for us. He starts by saying, Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 "When those days come, says the Lord, this is the agreement I will make with them. I will put my laws in their hearts and write them on their minds." 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;
17 And then he adds, "I will never again remember their sins or their disobedience." And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Once sins are forgiven like that, there is no more need for any sacrifice. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Drawing Near, Holding Fast, and Stirring Up Love
Study note
The doctrinal foundation now supports three great exhortations. First, since we have boldness to enter the Most Holy Place by Christ's blood through a new and living way, let us draw near to God with clean hearts and full assurance. Second, let us hold firmly to our hope without wavering, because God is faithful to his promises. Third, let us consider how to stir one another to love and good works, not abandoning the habit of meeting together but encouraging each other as the Day approaches.
19 So consider this, brothers and sisters. Because of the blood of Jesus, we can now walk boldly right into the Most Holy Place. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 He opened up a new, living path for us that goes straight through the curtain -- and that curtain is his own body. By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 We also have a great priest who is in charge of God's entire household. And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 So let us come close to God with honest hearts and absolute confidence in what we believe. Let our hearts be washed clean from any feeling of guilt, and let our bodies be bathed in pure water. 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.
23 Let us grab hold of the hope we have declared and never waver, because the one who made the promise will never break it. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 Let us think of ways to push each other toward love and good deeds. And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Not 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.
Warning Against Deliberate Sin
Study note
The second major warning passage declares that for those who deliberately continue sinning after receiving the knowledge of truth, no sacrifice for sins remains -- only fearful expectation of judgment. The argument escalates: if violating Moses' law brought death without mercy, how much worse is the punishment for trampling the Son of God, treating the covenant blood as unholy, and insulting the Spirit of grace? Vengeance belongs to God, and it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
26 If we keep choosing to sin on purpose after learning the truth, there is no sacrifice left that can cover those sins. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 All that is left is the scary wait for God's judgment. A fierce fire will destroy everyone who stands against him. But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 Under the old system, anyone who broke the law of Moses was put to death without mercy. This happened when two or three witnesses spoke against them. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Think about how much worse the punishment will be for someone who stomps on the Son of God. Think about someone who treats the blood of the agreement that made them holy like it was trash. Think about someone who insults the Spirit of grace. 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?
30 We know the one who said, "Paying people back is my job. I am the one who will do it." And he also said, "The Lord will judge his own people." 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.
31 Falling into the hands of the living God is a terrifying thing. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Endurance and the Promise of Reward
Study note
The author encourages the readers by recalling their earlier faithfulness: they endured suffering, public shame, solidarity with persecuted brothers, and even the joyful acceptance of property seizure because they knew they had a better, lasting possession. They must not throw away their confidence, which will be richly rewarded. Quoting Habakkuk 2:3-4, the author affirms that the righteous shall live by faith and that the coming one will not delay. The chapter closes with a declaration of identity: we are not those who shrink back and are destroyed but those who have faith and preserve their souls.
32 Look back and remember those early days after you first saw the light. You pushed through a hard season of suffering. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Sometimes you were the ones being publicly insulted and attacked. Other times you stood shoulder to shoulder with people who were going through it. Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 You showed real compassion to people who were locked up in prison. And when your own belongings were taken from you, you accepted it with joy because you knew that you owned something in heaven that is so much better and will last forever. 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.
35 So do not throw away your bold confidence in God. It comes with a great reward. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 What you need right now is staying power. Keep doing what God wants, and then you will receive everything he has promised. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 Because it will not be long now -- the one who is coming will arrive and will not be late. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 People who are right with God will live by trusting him. But if anyone chickens out and backs away, God will not be pleased with them. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not the people who back away and end up destroyed. We are the people who keep trusting and are saved. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.