Heb 10:1-22 | TNotes | STEP | 10:1 The old system under the law of Moses (literally The law ), like the Tabernacle itself (8:5 ), was only a shadow, a dim preview of a greater reality—namely, the good things that Christ inaugurated in the new covenant. Under the old covenant, sacrifices had to be repeated again and again because they were not able to cleanse worshipers permanently or in such a way that they could come into the presence of God perpetually.

10:1 ^a The old system under the law of Moses (literally The law), like the Tabernacle itself (8:5 ^b), was only a shadow, a dim preview of a greater reality—namely, the good things that Christ inaugurated in the new covenant. Under the old covenant, sacrifices had to be repeated again and again because they were not able to cleanse worshipers permanently or in such a way that they could come into the presence of God perpetually.
10:2 ^c The perpetual nature of the sacrifices demonstrates their inadequacy. If the sacrifices of the old covenant had offered true, lasting purity, they would have stopped.

• their feelings of guilt would have disappeared: Cp. 9:9 ^d, 14 ^e; 10:22 ^f; 13:18 ^g.
10:3 ^h Instead of removing guilt, the ongoing sacrifices actually reminded those who wished to come near to God, year after year, that they were guilty before God.
10:4 ⁱ The blood of bulls and goats in the sacrifices of the old covenant offered a degree of cleansing (9:13 ^j, 23 ^k), but that cleansing was limited in that it could not take away sins. It could not eradicate sin in a way that would offer permanent cleansing and peace with God (see Acts 10:36 ^l; Rom 5:1 ^m; 11:26-27 ⁿ).
Summary for Heb 10:5-7: 10:5-7 ^o These verses quote Ps 40:6-8 ^p. Psalm 40 ^q is a hymn of praise to God in which the psalmist confesses his desire to do God’s will. The author of Hebrews understands Christ to be the speaker. 10:5 ^r But you have given me a body to offer: God had prepared the psalmist to be obedient, ready to do God’s will; Hebrews now applies this idea to Christ. For Hebrews, the preparation of a human body, specifically Christ’s body, shows that God would use it as a superior sacrifice.
Summary for Heb 10:8-10: 10:8-10 ^s The author follows the flow of thought in the psalm with great precision.

• First, Christ said, “You did not want animal sacrifices ...”: The author of Hebrews understands this as God’s rejection of the old system of sacrifices.

• Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will”: The author of Hebrews takes this to be Christ’s willingness to be the supreme sacrifice for sins.

• The author of Hebrews concludes that because of Christ’s sacrifice, God has canceled the first covenant—God’s will, as shown by Ps 40:6-8 ^t, was that Christ would die for sins as a sacrifice, and this only had to be done once for all time.
Summary for Heb 10:11-14: 10:11-14 ^u Christ’s superior offering was decisive, in contrast with the sacrifices made by the priests of the old covenant. 10:11 ^v the priest stands: See Deut 18:5 ^w.

• day after day: E.g., 2 Chr 13:11 ^x.
Summary for Heb 10:12-13: 10:12-13 ^y Christ’s sacrifice contrasts with that of the earthly high priests in that he offered himself to God as a . . . sacrifice, rather than offering animal sacrifices.

• After the sacrifice was accomplished, he sat down in the place of honor (see Ps 110:1 ^z). Instead of standing daily like the priests of the old covenant (Heb 10:11 ^aa), he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet (Ps 110:1 ^ab).
10:14 ^ac made perfect: See study notes on 7:11, 28.

• those who are being made holy: What the author has in mind is complete purification from sins.
Summary for Heb 10:15-17: 10:15-17 ^ad The author again quotes from Jer 31:33-34 ^ae (see Heb 8:7-12 ^af) to support the statement in 10:14 ^ag, that Christ’s one offering under the new covenant has made worshipers perfect forever.

• God’s laws have now been placed in their hearts and on their minds. This has internalized the believer’s relationship with God.

• I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds: As the author has shown (9:11–10:14 ^ah), the superior sacrifice of Christ has made this new covenant reality possible.
10:18 ^ai The logical conclusion when sins have been forgiven—that is, when sins have been taken away completely and permanently (10:1-4 ^aj, 11 ^ak)—is that there is no need to offer any more sacrifices. Thus, the superior sacrifice of Christ has made the entire sacrificial system of the old covenant obsolete.
Summary for Heb 10:19-25: 10:19-25 ^al The author of Hebrews repeats words and concepts from 4:14-16 ^am to mark off and summarize the central section (4:14–10:18 ^an) and to introduce the exhortations that follow, offering a concise statement of the message of Hebrews: The new covenant, established by Jesus’ superior ministry, gives us a superior basis for drawing near to God and for persevering in the Christian life. 10:19 ^ao The earthly Most Holy Place was not freely accessible (see study note on 9:3). Now, however, the very presence of God in heaven (9:11 ^ap, 24 ^aq) is open because of the blood of Jesus in his sacrificial death (9:11–10:18 ^ar).
10:20 ^as By his death: Jesus’ death has opened a new and life-giving way for us through the curtain, an allusion to the curtain separating the first and second rooms of the Tabernacle (see 9:1-5 ^at). Believers now enter the Most Holy Place of God’s presence through Jesus’ sacrificial death.
10:21 ^au Jesus, as Messiah, is the High Priest and king who rules over God’s house, the people of God (see 3:1-6 ^av; 2 Sam 7:13 ^aw).
10:22 ^ax sincere hearts: Under the new covenant, believers have transformed hearts (8:10 ^ay; 10:16 ^az; Jer 31:31-34 ^ba).

• fully trusting him: Christ’s work on our behalf gives us confidence that God will welcome us into his presence.

• our guilty consciences have been sprinkled ... our bodies have been washed: Christ’s sacrificial death has provided complete cleansing from sin (see 9:13-14 ^bb, 19-23 ^bc).