Hebrews 10:1-4
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).
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