College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Hebrews 10:5-10
The efficacious and final sacrifice of Christ. Hebrews 10:5-10.
Text
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith,
Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not,
But a body didst Thou prepare for Me;
Hebrews 10:6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hadst no pleasure:
Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I am come
(In the roll of the book it is written of Me)
To do Thy will, O God.
Hebrews 10:8 Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law), Hebrews 10:9 then hath He said, Lo, I am come to do Thy will. He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second.
Hebrews 10:10 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Paraphrase
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore, to show this, when coming into our world, Messiah saith to God, The sacrifice of bulls and of goats, and the offering of the fruits of the earth, Thou dost not now command, but a body Thou has prepared Me, that by dying I might make the atonement prefigured by these sacrifices.
Hebrews 10:6 The whole burnt-offerings, and the sin-offerings, appointed in the law, having become the occasion of superstition, Thou are not pleased with them.
Hebrews 10:7 Then I said, Behold I come into the world to do, O God, Thy will with respect to the bruising of the head of the serpent, by dying as a sin-offering, which is written concerning Me in the volume of the book of the law. Genesis 3:15.
Hebrews 10:8 On the foregoing remarkable passage I reason thus.The only begotten, Who knew the will of His Father, (John 1:18), on coming into the world, first having said, Certainly sacrifice, and offering, and whole burnt-offerings, and sin-offerings, notwithstanding they are offered according to the law. Thou dost not now will, neither art pleased with, being abused to the purpose of superstition:
Hebrews 10:9 Next, seeing He hath said, Behold I come into the world, to do, O God, Thy will, by offering Myself a Sacrifice for sin; He hath showed, that God hath abolished His former will or command concerning the Levitical sacrifice, that He may establish His second will or command concerning the sacrifice of His Son.
Hebrews 10:10 By establishing which second will of God, we are persons who being pardoned are fitted for worshipping God here, and for entering heaven hereafter, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once; that being sufficient to procure us an eternal pardon. (See Hebrews 9:26, note 1.)
Comment
Wherefore when He cometh into the world
Since the Levitical sacrifices had no power to take away sin, therefore a better sacrifice was needed, Christ came therefore to give a sacrifice that could redeem the world.
He saith (Psalms 40:6)
Calvin says this Psalm is improperly applied to Christ, for look at the contrast. It says, My iniquities have laid hold on me. (Hebrews 10:12.)
Christ could quote part of the verse and apply it to Himself without applying all of it to Himself.
sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not
We would expect Christ to have some things to say on the matter of sacrifice, and this is it. Christ says God was not satisfied with the old covenant atonement.
but a body didst Thou prepare for Me
This is New Testament doctrine.
a.
John 1:14: The Word became flesh.
b.
Observe how the Psalm reads in the original language:
An ear Thou hast opened for Me.
An ear Thou hast bored for Me.
a.
This alludes to an ancient custom: A man's ear was bored, then he was a servant forever. Exodus 21:5-6.
b.
It was in this spirit that Christ submitted.
Evidently the author quoted thought, and not verbatim, says Milligan. It seems the quotation was from the Septuagintthe Greek.
Changes in words are sometimes necessary in translation into other languages for illustration.
a.
The verse in Matthew 7:10, Will he give him a serpent? if translated into Hindu would not be the meaning that Jesus portrays, because of local Indian custom.
in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hadst no pleasure
This is an echo of the former verse. Burnt offerings are discussed in Leviticus 1:1-17.
a.
This offering is so named because it was consumed upon the altar.
b.
Milligan says this was the offering instituted immediately after the fall.
The sin offering is discussed in Leviticus 4:1 to Leviticus 5:13.
a.
This was an important part of the sacrifices in that it had special reference to sin.
b.
It is first mentioned in Exodus 29:14.
then said I, Lo I am come
The New Testament says that Jesus came.
a.
John said so: John 1:11: He came unto His own.
b.
Jesus said so: John 6:38; John 6:41, Matthew 20:28.
An interesting study is made when we examine the scriptures where Jesus said, I come, come, etc.
in the roll of the book it is written of me
Also translated volume or chapter, and the word book refers to the Old Testament. The psalmist doesn-'t say where, but note Jesus-' own words in Luke 24:44. See Genesis 3:15; Genesis 22:17; Genesis 49:10; Deuteronomy 18:18; also Old Testament prophecies. Roll refers to the scroll type of preservation of manuscripts.
to do Thy will, O God
Others tried, but only Christ could actually do the will of God. Luke 24:44: All will be fulfilled concerning Christ, In Gethsemane Christ prayed to do God's will.
John 4:23-34: I have meat to eat that ye know not of. My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to accomplish His work. The devil made a supreme effort to turn Jesus from the will of God as he tempted Him after Jesus-' baptism.
a.
Fortunately for the world the devil failed.
b.
Only as we do the will of God will the obedience of Christ avail in our life.
saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law)
Here he names all the sacrifices to indicate the inability of all of them. Four classes are named, with the amazing statement that God had no pleasure in any of those offered according to law.
Neither hadst pleasure therein is suggestive.
a.
Of course, if done in hypocrisy God would not be pleased.
1.
David realized the futility of the old sacrifices. See Psalms 51:16: For Thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it. Thou delightest not in burnt offering.
2.
The prophets cried out against the Jews for unsatisfactory sacrifices. See Amos 5:21-24.
b.
Here he refers no doubt to those that are done correctly, but still there is no pleasure in them, for they are offered according to law.
then hath He said, Lo I am come to do thy will
While this expression is found in Hebrews 10:9, it is really a conclusion to Hebrews 10:8. Since God has no pleasure in the old sacrifices, Christ came to make a sacrifice that would please God. Christ made it plain that He was doing the Father's will John 4:34; John 5:30.
He taketh away the first
The whole arrangement under which these sacrifices were made is taken away. The whole plan is now removed; not just the scaffolding, but all. This checks with Hebrews 7:18-19 where we learn the foregoing commandment is disannulled. It is taken away through the sacrifice of Jesus.
a.
He fulfilled Matthew 5:17, so it could be taken away.
b.
It was nailed to the cross. Colossians 2:14.
that He may establish the second
The new covenant is the second, The second is discussed in the next verse.
Wise is the person that lives under the covenant that is established.
a.
We cannot expect salvation upon something that God does not recognize.
b.
This is the rock upon which we are to establish our lives, Milligan says the first was not the will of God, but the second is His will.
by which will
a.
This sounds a little dangerous.
b.
Galatians 3:24 shows that God had a purpose in the law.
If the law had value, then it must have been God's will.
a.
Of course, certain marriage laws were added, because of their hardness of heart, Mark 10:4, but the law was of God.
b.
The law was His will for that dispensation.
we have been sanctified
Observe Newell, page 339, for a foolish point.
a.
He says the character of the object is not changed, but its relation to God is changed.
b.
Sanctified here does not refer to our consecration or action of the Holy Spirit within us. He quotes the following:
1 Thessalonians 5:23: And the God of peace Himself sanctify you. 2 Thessalonians 2:13: Unto salvation in sanctification of the Spirit. 1 Peter 1:2.
Surely we are changed when we are sanctified by the new will, for we have a new birth, a new will.
through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ.
See what happens by reading Hebrews 10:14. Perfection is the word. The word sanctified is not the whole truth, for we are perfected.
a.
This must refer to the absoluteness of the effect of Christ's work on the cross in respect to cleansing and saving from sin.
b.
The offering, of course, does not make us live perfectly. 1 John 1:10.
once for all
The old sacrifices were numerous, various and repeated often, and brought no perfection. Christ's sacrifice was offered once and sanctifies unto perfection.
Study Questions
1736.
Does this verse answer the question concerning the remission of sins under the old covenant?
1737.
The Jew had the impossible, but the Christian has the possible. Is this true?
1738.
What did atonement mean if it did not mean cleansing from sin?
1739.
Could we use the word appeasement for atonement?
1740.
Who is speaking in Hebrews 10:5?
1741.
Can this Psalm refer to Christ when Hebrews 10:12 speaks of iniquities?
1742.
Observe different translations. Do all translations say He, or do some say Christ as though it appears this way in the original? What does one of the new versions say?
1743.
Where did Christ say it? Is there any New Testament verse in the four gospels where it is recorded?
1744.
Could Christ quote only a part of a verse and apply it to Himself?
1745.
What is meant by wouldest not?
1746.
What is meant by the body Thou didst prepare for Me?
1747.
Is this New Testament doctrine?
1748.
Quote some verses that show that Christ had a body.
1749.
Can you read this in the Psalm?
1750.
How may we explain the difference?
1751.
Does the author quote thought or verbatim?
1752.
What is meant by ear boring? See Exodus 21:5-6.
1753.
What does whole burnt offering refer to? Cf. Leviticus 1:11-17. Why is it thus called?
1754.
Where was the sin offering made? Cf. Exodus 29:14.
1755.
What was the sin offering like? Leviticus 4:1 to Leviticus 5:13.
1756.
Could the two offerings be the same? If not, what is the whole burnt offering for? Cf. Leviticus 1:13.
1757.
What material was used? Cf. Exodus 29:14.
1758.
Where in the New Testament do we find the expression, I come? Cf. John 6:38; John 6:41; Matthew 20:28.
1759.
Does it make any difference whether we believe that Jesus came or not?
1760.
What is meant by roll of the book? What would roll suggest in reference to the shape of Old Testament scriptures?
1761.
Did Jesus ever refer to the Psalms as referring to Him? Cf. Luke 24:44.
1762.
Could Jesus refer to God as O God?
1763.
Is the expression to do Thy will significant? Did others try to do it? Did Christ succeed?
1764.
Was it an easy thing for Jesus to do the will of God?
1765.
How early did He announce that He intended to do it?
1766.
Was age twelve the first? Cf. John 4:32; John 4:34; John 5:30.
1767.
Did the devil ever try to keep Him from it?
1768.
What was actually God's will for Christ?
1769.
What does the expression, saying above, refer to?
1770.
How many classes of sacrifices are named here?
1771.
This verse says that God had no pleasure in them. Does this refer to hypocritical sacrifices and offerings? Cf. Psalms 51:16; Amos 5:21-24.
1772.
Can we assume that good sacrifices performed correctly are referred to here?
1773.
Does the expression according to the law verify it?
1774.
What is the implication in Hebrews 10:9?
1775.
Does it mean that He would make a sacrifice that would please God?
1776.
What is taken away?
1777.
Is it the sacrifices taken away or the whole law?
1778.
Is this the same as Hebrews 7:18-19 says?
1779.
Is this what Colossians 2:14 means?
1780.
How could He take it away? Cf. Matthew 5:17.
1781.
What is the second thing referred to?
1782.
What is meant by establish?
1783.
Do you base your hope on something established or something taken away?
1784.
How is the second established?
1785.
What is established in this second covenant? How?
1786.
By which willdoes this refer to the will of the covenant or the will of God?
1787.
Did God have purpose in the old? Cf. Galatians 3:24.
1788.
Was everything that the Jew observed as law the actual will of God? Cf. Mark 10:4.
1789.
What is it that sanctifies?
1790.
Does the sanctification refer to our character, or our state, or both?
1791.
What part does Jesus have in this sanctification?
1792.
Compare this word offering with the power of the offering in Hebrews 10:14.
1793.
Does the expression once for all speak of a sacrifice in contrast to others?
1794.
Is it for all people in this verse, or is it a statement of finality?