Hebrews 11:1-3

¹ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ² For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. ³ By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Preamble

Chapter eleven is the greatest abbreviated Scriptural testimony of the history of the people of God who all lived by faith, who by faith overcame incredible obstacles, who survived and surpassed their overwhelming circumstances, who held fast their confession of hope firm to the end in the world that was hostile towards them, even unto their deaths! It is a chapter then loaded with examples of ordinary people who by the power and grace of God did extraordinary things (2 Cor 12:9-10). Who when called by God answered His call, and then went onto do and accomplish and establish only what He could do through them as they lived by faith in Him. And so for us who believe there is so much encouragement in recalling their lives, their trails, their sufferings, their faith, that led them to forsake their lives, their families, their countries, their "treasures," or whatever would have held them back from pursing the Will of God for their lives, because they believed His Word spoken to them, therefore they went forward in faith embracing the promises of God as they journeyed homeward with Him. 

Commentary

Vs. 1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Now this beautiful declaration of faith is stated in light of the previous chapters warnings of the apostate and their unbelief in departing from the living God. Faith then is being assured of the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It is a conviction, a trust in God that is born by God inside every soul who seeks Him, who needs Him above all else. It then is not something sustained by the determined will of man, (whose hearts and lives are only being directed by their own fleshes desires) but by the Spirit of God who enlightens and illuminates and guides every soul who believes in God's Word spoken to them. Faith in God then is the most tangible thing in this fleeting world when it has God as the Originator, Object, and Director of it.

Vs. 2 "For by it the elders obtained a good testimony."

And so by faith the elders or fathers of the faith obtained a good testimony. No clearer example of this is exhorted to us then that of Abraham who as Genesis 15:6 states, "believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."

Vs. 3 "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

And so unlike those who have faith in their own understanding, in what they can discover and explain for themselves, "By faith faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." The Word of God then not only explains the origins of our being, and how all of creation came into being, but it was also by that very Word that all of creation came into being. The whole notion then of random acts of chance as the origins of anything is not only the ultimate folly, but it has behind it origins Satan the father of lies who wants nothing more than for mankind to remain in darkness and all ignorance about God. Therefore throughout the Word of God there is the constant affirmation of God who is the Creator of and Sustainer of everything (Psalm 104:27-30). And so He alone is deserving of all of our adoration and praise because it was God who not only created us all, but He also wants to redeem us all who believe in Him through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore I urge you to put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God today, for it is through Jesus Christ alone that we receive remission of all our sins and everlasting life, therefore be reconciled to God today! 


Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Hebrews 10:26-39

²⁶ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ³² But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: ³³ partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; ³⁴ for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. ³⁵ Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ³⁷ “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. ³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” ³⁹ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Vs. 26 "For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,"

This warning which begins in vs. 29 and concludes in vs. 36 is given as a warning against the sin of apostasy, of turning away from Christ and the All Sufficiency of His Sacrifice on the Cross and returning to either the Law and it's sacrificial system as a means of justification before God, or any other works based system that one may seek salvation for themselves through. For all who do so, who turn from the Lord Jesus Christ and His all Sufficient Sacrifice for them only apostate from the faith delivered once and for all to the saints (Jude 4). Therefore those who think they can turn away from Christ and then have some other means of atonement for their sins are utterly deceived. Similarly those who think that the grace of God gives them a license to sin are likewise woefully deceived, since God is not mocked (Gal 6:7-9), and He repay us all according to our works. Therefore those who do so, who knowingly and willingly turn away from the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone and return to Judaism, or any other type of religious works for their sins atonement there no longer remains a sacrifice for their sins (vs. 26), because in their rejecting Christ and His all Sufficient Sacrifice for them there is no other sacrifice that God will accept for them. Thus this section of Scripture is dealing with the sin of apostasy, something which genuine believers do not commit. 

Vs. 27  "but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries."

Therefore when anyone decisively rejects the the Lord Jesus Christ Crucified for their sins remission there is no longer any chance for their redemption, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Thus God's adversaries are not sinners who have not yet believed in the Lord and His salvation, but God's adversaries are those who having heard the Word of God have rejected Christ and His salvation for them, whether they are sinners or not (consider Luke 14:15-24; 15:1-31). 

Vs. 28-29  ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 

If anyone rejected Moses law they were put to death on the testimony of two or three witness, so how much worse punishment will one be thought worthy of who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace. This clear warning is against turning away from Christ and the grace of God whether by outright unbelief, or by returning either to the Law and it's sacrificial system or some other form of works based religious practices by which one seeks salvation for themselves through. Therefore to hear the Gospel (i.e. Good News) of how God's grace is fully extended to us all through the Lord Jesus Christ and His Crucifixion death on our behalf, and yet turn away from God's most precious gift to something less is only to treat the Lord Jesus Christ's Person with contempt, counting His blood, the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified a common thing. And thus in doing so they have only insulted the Spirit of grace, something which God judges most severely. 

Vs. 30-31 ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 

Therefore the Word of God is warning us all not to turn away from the Lord Jesus Christ and return to works of the law for salvation, because as the Scripture states, "“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” Deut. 32:35-36  Now the judgment of the Lord's people is certain, both those who are genuinely born again, who will be judged at the Judgment seat of Christ, where we will be rewarded or suffer loss according to what we have done down here (Rom 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10-11). As well the Lord will also judge those who only have a profession of faith In Christ; that is they profess to know Him but in works they deny Him (consider Titus 1:16); and thus they too will be judged along with the unbelieving and the ungodly at the Great White throne Judgment (see Rev. 20:11-15). And that is where the statement "Vengeance is Mine I will repay," says the Lord comes into play, not on us who believe (consider John 5:24), but on those who don't. For as the Gospels make clear God will separate the just from the unjust, and the righteous from the wicked when He exercises His Finial Judgment on us all (consider Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43, 47-50 etc.). Therefore this warning of falling into the hands of the Living God should be seriously heeded by us all, for it is God that we must all give an accounting of ourselves too, who will judge us all, and will reward or repay us all, according to our own works (Rev. 22:12-13). 

Vs. 32-34  ³² But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: ³³ partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; ³⁴ for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 

Having warned us all of the judgment of God, the Word of God now wants us all who believe to hold fast our confession and faith and hope In Christ which does not come without consequences as verses 32-33 make clear. For throughout the ages God's people have, and thus will always suffer reproaches and rejection, alienation and hostilities, tribulations and troubles from God's enemies, some of which will come from within a mans own household, (consider Matt. 10:34-42, vs. 36). Nonetheless it is God Himself who by His Spirit always encourages us and strengthens us, so that we may stand firm not only for Christ, but also for all who likewise suffer with Him. And so whether we suffer individually for Christ or collectively, we must always encourage and strengthen each other by whatever means we have at our disposal, for in doing so we not only show ourselves to be genuine in our profession of faith and love for our brethren (consider 1 John 3:16-18), but we also lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven (consider Luke 12:32-34) which is only preserved and reserved for those who remain firm and steadfast till the end (consider 1 Cor 3:8; 15:58 etc.).

Vs. 35 "Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward."

In light of our glorious future with Christ keeping our confidence in Him and Him alone is paramount, for it is by faith In Christ that we inherit all of God promises, some of which we experience down here, but so much more we will have and experience up there. 

Vs. 36-39 ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ³⁷ “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. ³⁸ Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” ³⁹ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Therefore in light of such things we all have need of endurance, "so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (vs. 36). Now the will of God here is simply to believe in the One whom He has sent and not draw back to perdition, that is a state of unbelief and denial of Christ which will only end in eternal condemnation (consider Matt. 10:33; Phil 1:29; 2 Tim 2:12; Heb 3:6; 10:23 etc.). While the promise here is referring to our eternal inheritances with Christ which we will all receive with the Lord Jesus Christ's Return (or Second Coming, as verse thirty seven indicates, see 1 Peter 1:6-9). Verses 37-38 then draw from Habakkuk 2:3-4 to Scripturally reaffirm Christ's return, while verse thirty eight emphasizes the eternal truth from Habakkuk 2:4 of having and living by faith in Christ as the sole means of pleasing God (consider Rom 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb 11:6). Therefore having exhorted us all to carry on in our faith, and not draw back to perdition, the Word of God now affirms that we are not those who draw back to perdition, but we are those who believe to the saving of the soul (vs. 39). Something which I now urge you to do if you have not yet believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, to repent and believe in the Gospel and thus have remission of all your sins and everlasting life when you receive Him into your heart and life by faith, which you can do right now by praying a simple prayer believing in His Crucifixion death and Resurrection from the dead and confessing Him as Lord (Rom 10:9-10, 13) for He will by His Spirit come into your person and life and make His home in you and He will begin within you a whole new purpose and life for you. A bright and glorious and eternal future awaits you, therefore don't delay be reconciled to God today!

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted
MacDonald, William. Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. Edited by Arthur Farstad. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Hebrews 10:19-25

¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and having a High Priest over the house of God, 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. ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and 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.

Commentary

Vs. 19 "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus"

The Word of God now begins summing up all that we who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have through the New Covenant. The first is that we have unrestricted access to God. For it is by the blood of Jesus we have access to Holiest. An unheard of notion under the Law where the Israelite's approached God first through the priests, and of these only the high priest once a year could enter the holiest of all on the Day of Atonement. Anyone else who tried to approach God behind the veil was to be put to death (Num. 3:10, 38, 18:7). Yet now through the blood of Jesus this access is fully available to us who believe in Him, therefore we have boldness to enter the Holiest in heaven because Jesus Christ Himself has made the way for us to be received in God's sight there. 

Vs. 20 "by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh," 

Now the way for us to enter the Holiest is by a new and living way which Jesus Christ consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh. Therefore the veil (here represented by Christ's flesh), that is Jesus Christ's Person Crucified unto death for us all is the only means by which we can enter the Holiest in heaven. 

 Vs. 21 "and having a High Priest over the house of God,"

Now because we enter behind the veil by a new and living way there is the Living Christ Himself who is High Priest over the house of God who makes our Presence there with God Himself possible. Therefore let us boldly draw near to God through Jesus Christ alone. 

Vs. 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." 

Therefore having the way paved for us the Word of God now exhorts us to draw near to God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, because, "without faith it is impossible to please God for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6). That then is critical, drawing near to God in the full assurance of faith. Now the second part of the Word's exhortation to us is that we have "...our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." Here the analogy of the sprinkling of sacrificial blood on the priests and the washing of their bodies in water before they could approach God is thus applied to us all who believe in Christ who by His own sacrificial death and Resurrection from the dead and Ascension back to God the Father before pouring out is Spirit on us all who believe in Him, has not only washed us from all our sins and transgressions, but we have been baptized into Christ by the Spirit of the Living God so that we can in full assurance of faith draw near to God. No believer then should ever think themselves unworthy of drawing near to God, since our standing before God is not based on us, on what we do, but on what the Lord Jesus Christ has done. Therefore we can have confidence to approach God at anytime about anything.

Vs. 23 "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

In light of such things, of our having not only salvation, but also unrestricted access to God through Christ alone, let us hold fast our confession of hope, for He who promised is faithful. God's promises then of having life here and now and the life to come are what keeps us grounded in this tossed and turbulent world ("...I am with you always, even to the end of the age" Matt. 28:20). 

Vs. 24 "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works," 

Since we who believe are fully secured In Christ, we ought to live lives that are not only reflective of our Lord and Savior, but are also encouraging/inspiring to others to do and believe the same. The Christians life then is not one that is self-serving, or self absorbed. Rather it considers others in order to stir up love and good works, which is the Christians calling card (Matt. 5:16; Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:14; 1 John 4:8 etc.).

Vs. 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."

The assembling of believers is one of the most edifying experiences that a believer can have. For it is there in the local church we can build relationships, and we find encouragement and experience Spiritual growth. As well it is a place where we can both worship and serve God and others and thus exercise our faith gifts and passions with other believers. For having volunteered in variety of places in the world I can truly testify that the most rewarding experiences I have ever had have always been in and through the church. Now this exhortation is even more important as we see the Day approaching, that is the Day of the Lord when He returns for His bride the Church before this worlds finial judgment comes. And so staying rooted and grounded in the faith is strengthened by having a healthy relationship with Christ by maintaining ones Christian fellowship, which itself is always a strong defense against the father of lies and the degenerating lies of this world which he is propagating through it (consider Ecc. 4:12; Matt. 18:20).

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Hebrews 10:11-18

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 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 remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Commentary

Vs. 11 "And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins."

Under the Old Covenant the priests were required to daily stand before the altar and repeatedly offer the same sacrifices day by day, month by month, year after year which could never take away sins. Theirs was the duty then that offered neither them, nor those who they officiated on behalf of, no rest. 

Vs. 12-13 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. 

In striking contrast then to the Old Covenant priests this Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, offered one sacrifice for sins forever. There is then no other sacrifice that God will accept for our sins. And having accomplished our eternal salvation, Jesus has also restored the order that placed mankind as the head of God's creation that was lost in garden when Adam sinned, and thus fell, and all of creation with him, and thus came under the domain of sin, Satan and death (consider Col 2:11-15). So Jesus having vanquished sin, Satan and death forever by His own death on the Cross and Resurrection from the dead, has sat down at the right hand of God, waiting till His enemies are made His footstool which will takes place just as the Scripture foretells. Therefore when God the Father finishes His Work in dealing with all of His enemies, He will set up His Son's Kingdom, a Kingdom which will have no end. 

Vs. 14 "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified."

Returning then to our standing with God, the Word of God now states that by one offering, the Lord Jesus Christ offering Himself on the Cross, He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Now there are two key points that are being made in that highlighted statement. First is that we have been perfected forever, that is positionally before God the Father we have a perfect standing, which goes exceedingly far beyond being blameless which maybe attributed to ones own conduct before Him (i.e. Job in the sight of God, or the Apostle Paul according to the Law, or us as we obey the Gospel, Phil 2:14-17), which is excellent and virtuous and righteous but is not the same as being made perfect in the sight of God, which only God Himself can do for us (consider Phil. 3:3-11). Thus we who believe In Christ are now forever been perfected in the sight of God, this fact then is unalterable. Second is that we are being sanctified, that is there is the sanctification that gives us our perfect standing with God our Father (consider John 17:19; Acts 20:32; 26:18; 1 Cor 1:2; 6:9-11 etc.), then there is the process by which God is transforming our persons and lives to be like Christ's, that is what is meant by the phrase "those who are being sanctified." 


Vs. 15-16 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,” 

The Word of God now reminds us that the Holy Spirit foretold of the New Covenant, and thus the end of the sacrificial system, when He through the prophet Jeremiah foretold of it, saying, “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” (vs. 16). And so where as the law could only tell us what was righteousness and what was not, yet it had no inherit power to enable anyone to obey it, or even want to keep it, for that is something that only becomes a reality for us all who believe in Christ through the New Covenant, where God the Father through the Lord Jesus Christ His Son and our Lord and Savior not only brings us into a reconciled relationship with Himself, but through His Spirit indwelling us He transforms our persons, bringing us to Spirit life and uniting us with Christ Himself making us into what the Apostle Paul calls new creations (2 Cor. 5:17), with new desires and never before longings and appetites for God 's righteousness revealed and proclaimed through His Word. 
The Gospel then is not just a message of hope but one of transformation. 

Vs. 17-18 ¹⁷ then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” ¹⁸ Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Not only then is the God's law and righteous decrees which lead to living a Godly and righteous life are now written on hearts and in our minds, but through the New Covenant which the Lord Jesus Christ ushered in by His broken body and shed blood on the Cross, God's Word Promise also states: “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” vs. 17  And that is the remission of sins which the Gospel brings to everyone who repents and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 10:34-43), something which I urge you to do. "Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin." vs. 18 Therefore the Word of God delivers a death blow to any notions of ever returning to the Law and it's sacrificial system as a means of atonement for sin. And not just the Law's sacrificial system, but every and any form of works by which one seeks to atone for their sins and transgressions, all of which is not counted as grace in the sight of God but debt (Rom. 4:4-5). Therefore I urge you be reconciled to God through the Lord Jesus Christ's finished work on the Cross for you, for when you do you will find rest for your souls (Matt. 11:28-30). 

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Hebrews 10:5-10

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, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. ¹⁰ By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Commentary

Vs. 5-7 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.’ ” 

Now it is because of the insufficiency of those animal sacrifices that God the Father did not require the Lord Jesus Christ His Son to offer any of those. Instead as Psalm 40:6-8 declares, God prepared a body, a fully human body for His Son Jesus to be brought into the world. And thus not only to grow up and to live in, but also to die for us all, which He did by His own death on the Cross (John 3:16). 

Vs. 8-9 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, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 

God's pleasure was not in the sacrificial offerings that the Israelite's offered according to the Law. God's pleasure is in the reconciling of His people and all people equally who believe and obey Him through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore the ordinances of the first Covenant, the Old Covenant have been removed by the will of God so that He may establish the second, the New Covenant ushered in by the Everlasting Atonement He has provided for us all through His Son. Therefore God has taken away the first so that He may establish the second. The New Covenant then is the only Covenant that is in effect and enforce for everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 6:14). 

Vs. 10 "By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Therefore it is by God's Will, that we have been sanctified (gr. ἁγιάζω, Str. 36; LN. 88.26) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all. Now sanctified here means we have been made holy, that is set apart in the sight of God by the Sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ by His Spirit indwelling and sanctifying ours (consider 1 Cor 1:2; 6:11 etc.). 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted 

Kittel, Gerhard, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1985.

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 744). New York: United Bible Societies.

Hebrews 10:1–4

¹ 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 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.

Commentary
Vs. 1 "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."

The law then was just a shadow, a faint portrayal (LN 58.65; also see Col. 2:13-17; Heb 8:3-5), and thus was not the very image of all the good things that everyone who believes receives from the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore those sacrifices which God through the law commanded the Israelite's too observe were not the solution for their sins, or anybody else's, they were only in effect until the fulfillment of those offerings came in the Person and Sacrifice of Christ Himself. And so those sacrifices really were insufficient in every sense, since they could neither remove sins, nor undo the damage done by them, they could only provide a temporal covering for the worshipers who observed them, and thus they did not provide the everlasting remission of them. And so unlike Christ and His Sacrifice which has dealt with sin once and for all time, they needed to be repeated year after year, therefore they made no one perfect, that is perfect in the sight of Almighty God, for that is something only the Lord Jesus Christ and His Sacrifice does (see Heb. 10:14). 

Vs. 2 "For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins." 

Now if they could have made anyone perfect the next logical step would have been that they would've stopped being offered. "For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins." However with those sacrifices no one is purified in the sight of God, they're sins are only temporarily covered, not permanently atoned for.

Vs. 3 "But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year."

Therefore those sacrifices not only failed to permanently purify the worshipers in the sight of God, but the worshipers own consciences were never cleared from their own guilt and sins. "For in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year." The power of the Cross, of the Lord Jesus Christ Crucified and Risen from the dead for the permanent remission of sins cannot be overstated, for it's by Jesus and Jesus alone that we have remission of all our sins and everlasting life (Acts 4:12). 

Vs. 4 "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins."

The finial refute then of those who were still holding too the Old Covenant sacrifices is that those sacrifices, that is the blood of bulls and goats etc. could never take away sins. For it simply isn't possible that any animal's shed blood could ever provide permanent atonement for sinful humanity, (whether individually or collectively) for sin entered the world through man, therefore only through the Sinless Son of Man and His sacrifice of Himself on the cross could our sins be taken away. Therefore I urge you to be reconciled to God by faith in the Lord Jesus so that you may have remission/forgiveness of all your sins and everlasting life, which begins the moment you repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ through the Gospel. For then God by His Spirit will give you not only a new heart and a new mind (Heb. 10:16), but also a new life. For having dwelt with your past, (and thus liberated you from it, Rom 6:17-23) He is free to make you into a new and so much better person (2 Cor 5:17)! Therefore don't delay be reconciled to God today! 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Hebrews 9:23-28

²³ Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; ²⁵ not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—²⁶ He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ²⁷ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

Commentary

Vs. 23 "Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these."

If the heavenly sanctuary needed to be purified with the Blood of Christ before it could go into service for God on our behalf. So too the copies of it, that is the earthly tabernacle and it's articles of service along with those who ministered there were likewise sanctified with blood, since the earthly tabernacle was a foreshadow of the heavenly Tabernacle and Sanctuary and Service. Thus Blood for our salvation, Blood for the Covenant, and Blood for the Heavenly Sanctuary and Service because of sin having entered the world through man. 

Vs. 24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 

When the Lord Jesus was on earth as a Man He did not enter the holy places made with hands, for those places were only copies of the true, but rather His High Priestly service takes place in heaven itself, in the Presence of God Himself, for us all who believe in Him (Heb 4:14-16). 

Vs. 25-26 ²⁵ not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—²⁶ He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 

Now unlike the the earthly priesthood that God commanded Aaron and his sons to serve in. The Lord Jesus Christ did not enter the Most Holy Place with the blood of another, that is with sacrificial blood of animals, as they were commanded to offer every year on the Day of Atonement (see Lev. 16). For then He would have had to offer Himself many times to enter the Heavenly Sanctuary on behalf of us. That's the first point the Superiority of Jesus Christ's Sacrifice which once and for all time paved the way for Him and Him alone to enter the Heavenly Sanctuary on our behalf. And so unlike the blood of lambs and bulls and goats whose sacrifice could never completely deal with sin, and thus needed to be repeated over and over again, Jesus Christ has once and for all, at the end of the ages, appeared as the Son of Man/Son of God on earth to deal with sin by the Sacrifice of Himself. The Atonement then that has been brought by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ exceeds and excels everything and anything that mere mortal sinful mankind could ever do for themselves or anyone else. 

Vs. 27-28 ²⁷ And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

We all are brought into this world by the hand of God (Psalm 139:13-16), and we are all return to Him when we die (Ecc. 12:7). And so how we return to Him is the most critical thing for us all in this life, whether we are reconciled to Himself by faith in His Son Jesus Christ or not. For after our bodies die our spirits go back to God who gave them, and at the appointed time we will all stand before Him and give an accounting of ourselves to Him. Therefore only those who are reconciled to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ while in this earthly life will go to be with Him for eternal salvation (John 5:24), while those who do not repent and believe in Christ through the Gospel will be judged by the Lord Jesus Christ at the Judgment Seat of Christ before being sent to spend an eternity in the Lake of fire (Rev. 21:11-15; 21:6-8). And so first and foremost in this life is being reconciled to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 10:42-43; 2 Cor 5:21), who not only saves us from the wrath to come (1 Thess. 1:10), but He by His Spirit brings us to life and transforms our persons and lives, sealing and sanctifying and equipping us not only to spend an eternity with Himself, but also for living abundant and fruitful lives down here while we are sojourners with Him, being His witnesses and workers for His Name and Kingdoms sake so that through us who believe He can manifest the manifold the immeasurable wisdom and mercies of God who has not only reconciled and restored us, but through Christ, God's grace is being extended to every wayward and lost and sinful person who repents and believes in Him. For being reconciled to God not only changes our eternal destinies, but having been reconciled to God by faith In Christ we experience all the fullness of God who transforms our hearts and minds satisfying all the deep desires and longing that we could never satisfy by our own means, bringing us all of God's life, liberty, love, joy, peace and all the fruits of His Spirit that makes for having an abundant and abounding life which no one or nothing in this life could ever do for us, and so now rather than chasing after the false "gods" of this this life that promise much but deliver nothing, we now eagerly wait for His return, for then Jesus will end this present evil and violent and godless age before ushering in His everlasting Kingdom (2 Peter 3:13) where we will fully bear His image forever (1 Cor 15:49), and where He will wipe every tear from our eyes when He sets up His Everlasting Kingdom when He makes all things New! (Rev. 21:1-5). Therefore for everyone who repents and believes in the Lord Christ there is a glorious present and an eternal future without pain, without suffering, without sin and Satan and all of the ravages of it awaiting us all as the beloved children of God (Rom 8:16-17), whose destinies are certain and whose futures are assured. Something which is available to you as well if you seek the Lord Jesus Christ today He will be found by you because He is seeking for you (Luke 15). Therefore open your heart to Him and receive Him today and have God's reconciliation and life by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Isaiah 55:6-7; Rev. 3:20).

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Hebrews 9:16-22

¹⁶ For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷ For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” ²¹ Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. ²² And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Commentary

Vs. 16-17 ¹⁶ For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. ¹⁷ For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives.

Throughout the Book of Hebrews the Word of God has been systematically showing the Superiority of Christ's Person, His Priesthood, His Sacrifice, His Service as well as the Superiority of the New Covenant (Heb. 7:22; 8:6). Now in order for the New Covenant (here being refereed to as a testament) to be enacted there had to be the death of the testator, that is before a will and testament is enforced the testator must have died, thus the analogy is that Christ Himself must also have died (shed His blood unto death) before the New Covenant could be enacted (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9:15-16). 

Vs. 18-22 ¹⁸ Therefore not even the first covenant was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, “This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you.” ²¹ Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry. ²² And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Similarly then the first covenant was also dedicated with blood. Now in order to show the importance of this the Word of God recalls how Moses according to the commandment of God did so, recalling some of the various sacrificial ceremonially rituals that were required and he performed in order to purify both the book of the covenant, as well as the people, and even the tabernacle and all it's vessels of ministry (Exodus 24:1-8, 29:12, 16, 20-21, 36; Lev 4; 14; 17:6 etc.). The point being made then is that according to the law sacrificial blood was not only required to sanctify the people, along with whatever articles of ministry were to be used on their behalf, but without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins, thereby establishing the principal for Lord and Saviors own blood washing away the sins us all who believe in Him (Rev. 1:5). How exceedingly precious then is the shed Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who by doing so on our behalf has not only sanctified our persons and lives; but through His own blood, and His alone, He has provided the everlasting atonement that God required for us all who believe in Him to be reconciled back to Himself (1 Peter 1:18-21). The Blood of Christ then is the only means by which we come into a New and Everlasting Covenant relationship with God (Matt 26:28). Something which I now urge you to do, for by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ's Person's Life, Death, Resurrection from the dead and Ascension back to God the Father in heaven you can have remission of all your sins and new and everlasting life with Christ the moment that you do, for if anyone calls upon the Name of the Lord they shall be saved (Rom 10:11-13). Therefore don't delay call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ today! 

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Word Study Notes 

The Greek word διαθήκη (Str. 1242) translated testament in verse 16 is translated covenant elsewhere in the Book of Hebrews, and throughout the rest of the New Testament (see Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 1:72; 22:20; Acts 3:25; 7:8; Rom. 9:4; 11:27; 1 Cor 11:25; 2 Cor 3:6, 14; Gal. 3:15, 17; 4:24; Eph 2:12; Heb. 7:22; 8:6, 8-10; 9:4, 9:15-17, 20; 10:16, 29; 12:24; 13:20; Rev. 11:19). 

Hebrews 9:11-15

¹¹ But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. ¹² Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? ¹⁵ And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Commentary

Vs. 11-12 ¹¹ But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. ¹² Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

When the Old Covenant high priests entered the Holiest of All in the earthly Tabernacle once a year on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for his own sins and the sins of the people committed in ignorance this ritual could not make their consciences perfect, that is the blood of the sacrificial animals was not enough to take away their guilt by providing the everlasting atonement for their sins and transgressions that was required, and thus open the way once and for all for them all to enter the Holiest of All. And so that sense of guilt and incompleteness always remained with them no matter how many times they performed the ritual; a principal which runs true today with every religious service and ritual that seeks to draw near to God outside of faith in the Finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross for us all. Therefore God's Presence on that most intimate level was off limits to them, they had to remain outside, even the high priest did not have unrestricted access to God (Lev. 16:1-2). And so the insufficiency of his service and sacrifice is here being contrasted with the all surpassing Sufficiency of Christs who came as High Priest of the good things to come. Some of which is not only providing everlasting atonement and life through His own Finished Work on the Cross for us all who believe in Him but also His making the way for us to have the Personal Presence of God indwelling our persons, through His Holy Spirit indwelling, regenerating, and sanctifying us all who believe in Him making us God's redeemed and holy people, who once were not a people, but now are the people of God (1 Peter 2:10). Therefore when the Lord Jesus Christ came as High Priest He did not come to serve in the earthly sanctuary; which sons of men built and served in as a foreshadow of the good things to come. Rather He came to serve as God's High Priest in the perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, but rather in the Heavenly Sanctuary (Heb 8:1-2, 9:11) where having entered the Holiest of All (not by the blood of calves and bulls) but with His own blood, He has obtained eternal redemption for us all who believe in Him (vs. 12). 

Vs. 13-14 ¹³ For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, ¹⁴ how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Under the Old Covenant the blood of bulls and goats without blemish was a part of the required sin offerings (Lev. 4:1-34), especially on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:14-15). Similarly the blood of a bull was also used to purify Aaron and his sons for their duties in the priesthood (Ex. 29:1-37; Lev. 8:13-17). While the ashes of a heifer was part of the purification ritual that was required to purify anyone who became ceremonially defiled (see Num. 19:1-22). Now these Old Covenant commanded ordinances only purified the flesh in the sight of God, allowing those people who adhered to them to remain in the Covenant community of God (Lev. 7:20; 17:1-7; Num. 19:13 etc.). And so these rituals only purified the flesh (and thus their souls) were not reconciled back to God through their observing these. Nonetheless the point is if observing these then gave the worshipers a sense of being right with God for having observed them, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? For it is the Lord Jesus Christ alone who is sinless (without spot), who through the eternal Spirit, the Holy Spirit, offered Himself up to God on the Cross to pay the penalty for all our sins and transgressions, thereby opening the door of eternal salvation to us all the moment we believe in Him (John 6:47; 10:9); saving us then not only from the wrath to come, but also cleansing our consciences from dead works; that is from all manner of dead "religious works" that sanctify or save no one, but only hold people in bondage of trying to earn and attain for themselves what only Jesus Christ Himself could do (Eph 2:8-9). Therefore having been born again and brought to life by the Spirit of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ we can now serve God in the newness of the Spirit, and not in the oldness of letter (Rom. 7:6; also see 2 Cor 3:5-9, 12-17). Something which God commands all people to do, to repent and believe in Gospel, and thus by His Son's finished work on the Cross be reconciled to Himself so that you will have remission of all your sins and everlasting life  the moment you believe and thus having been saved and set free from sin and death you can now freely and faithfully follow Him in discipleship. For the Day of Salvation from sin, Satan, and death is right now, freely available to you no matter what you have done, for God loves you and has provided through His Son all that is needed for you to be reconciled to Himself, to have new and everlasting life, therefore today begin a new and everlasting course of life for yourself, receive the gift of God's salvation and mercies and life for yourself by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ today (Rev. 3:20). 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Hebrews 9:6-10

⁶ Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. ⁷ But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; ⁸ the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. ⁹ It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—¹⁰ concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

Commentary

Vs. 6 "Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services." 

The first part of the Tabernacle was that which the officiating priest went into every day to lay the show bread in order (on the Sabbath), light the golden lamp stand, burn the daily incense (Ex. 30:7) and perform all of the various service that God then required (the origins of which are described in Ex. 40:17-33).

Vs. 7-8 "But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; ⁸ the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.

The second part of the Tabernacle was the Holiest of All (see 9:1-5), it was the place where the high priest alone as a mediator between God and man went into once a year on the day of atonement (the ritual of which is described in Lev. 16). Now before the high priest could even do so, he himself had to offer a sacrificial blood sin offering first for himself (Lev. 16:6), and then for the people's sins committed in ignorance (Lev 16:15). Now through all these rituals the Holy Spirit was indicating that the way into God's Presence by His grace given us through His Son was not yet present for them, and thus the way for us into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest to them while the Tabernacle was still standing. It is most fitting then when the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified for us all, that in the moment that He died on the cross that God Himself tore the veil in temple from top to bottom, indicating that He had now made the way for sinful mankind (that's you and me) to be reconciled to Himself and come into the Holiest of All to be in an everlasting relationship with Himself through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ who is now God's only Mediator between God and mankind (Matt 27:51-56; John 3:16; 1 Tim 2:5-6). 

Vs. 9-10 ⁹ It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience—¹⁰ concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

The Tabernacle and all of it's sacrifices and rituals then was symbolic, representative then of all that the Lord Jesus Christ has now done and fulfilled in restoring us who believe in Him back to God. And so just as the worshipers who offered their sacrifices for their sins could not have their consciences made perfect by those gifts, so too with the high priests who offered sacrifices, first for themselves and then for those worshipers, for both their service and their adherence too those ordinances were only until the time of reformation, (gr. διόρθωσις, Str. 1357). The inability (and insufficiency) of the Tabernacle and it's service in making anyone perfect in regards to conscience or anything else then is the point being made by these passages. "For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of la better hope, through which we draw near to God." Heb. 7:19
Therefore let us all draw near to God by the way that He has prescribed for us all and that is through His only begotten Son the Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6; Acts 4:12, 10:43; 1 Tim 2:5-6; Rev. 22:17); whose Sinless Life, Crucifixion Death, Resurrection from the Dead, and Ascension back to God the Father in heaven has made the way for us all to enter the Holiest of All, and thus have remission of all our sins and everlasting life with Himself by faith in His Person. Therefore don't delay, while it is the Day of Salvation be reconciled to God today and begin a New Life with Christ!

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources Consulted 
MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 2184). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Note on sins committed in ignorance
Under the Old Covenant there was no atonement for those sins committed "high handed" (Numbers 15:27-29, 30-31) meaning in knowing rebellious defiance towards God, for by doing so those who did so were declaring themselves to have rejected the Lord and His Word given to them (consider Numbers 15:1-15 (vs. 6-9); 16:1-40; Jeremiah 44:1-30, vs. 15-30 as some examples of this). Therefore in light of how seriously God dealt with those who did so, we should all consider such actions of willful defiance towards God as being very serious, whether under the Old Covenant or New, because those who now profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and yet knowingly and defiantly promote and expound those things that He abhors and hates as either coming from Him, or as now being acceptable to Him, are playing with an Everlasting fire that will not be quenched (Mark 9:42-49; Heb. 12:28-29).