Hebrews 10:1-39

We are reminded again in this chapter, in verse 4b, that it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to redeem a person from sin.

Then in verses 5-7, Christ addresses his father directly: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, "Here I am -- it is written about me in the scroll -- I have come to do your will, O God."

These words are actually the same as David's in Psalm 40:6-8.

The Hebrews are reminded in verse 10: And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Again, in verses 11-14, we get another contrast between the Levitical priests and Jesus Christ: Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

A footnote in my study Bible says that the Levitical priests always stood. Their work of offering sacrifices was never complete. But look at what Jesus does after his sacrifice to his father: he went to heaven and sat down next to his father. Christ's sacrifice was complete. His work as the sacrificial lamb was completed for all time. (Concordia Study Bible)

The Hebrews are also reminded again, as they had been told by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 31:34): The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Then he adds: Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. (verses 15-17)

Now we have permission to enter the Holy of Holies through the curtain that is the body of Christ. We are cleansed by the blood he sacrificed for us.

The Hebrews are told to hang onto this thought. And then go on to encourage each other in the Christian love they have for one another and to do good deeds.

They had been told in verse 22 that there are four conditions for drawing near to God. They are: 1.) have a sincere heart, 2.) have the full assurance of faith in their hearts, 3.) have their hearts cleansed from a guilty conscience, and 4.) have their bodies washed with pure water.

This did not mean that the priests were to give the worshipers a bath, or that the priests were to sprinkle blood onto the worshipers. These references are used figuratively as reminders that the Hebrews were to remember what the priests had done under the Mosaic covenant and now, with Christ, there is a new cleansing under the Messianic covenant.

These next several verses compare Moses' law further with Christ's law -- especially in terms of obedience.

In the old days, under Moses' law, in verse 28: Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

And then comes the stern warning in verses 29-31: How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

I wish that all people who have trouble forgiving those who have walked across their psyches, leaping about with glee at the anguish they cause, would memorize these verses.

These verses carry the very powerful reminder that we are not supposed to try to get even with the ne'er do wells who bring pain and suffering to us. We are not supposed to be unforgiving either. Rather, we are supposed to let God avenge for us, if there is any vengeance to be had at all.

We are not supposed to be running around acting like we're little gods who have the right to make other people miserable. They're miserable enough or else they wouldn't be projecting all their misery onto us. So let God decide what they need to learn as a life-changing event in their lives.

Sure, the Hebrews are reminded that they had been exposed to insults and persecution; that they had their properties confiscated. But no matter. In verses 35-36 they are comforted: So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

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