The Epistle of Hebrews Chapter 10

The author of the Epistle of Hebrews has been very deliberate and precise in introducing Jesus step-by- step to his audience. He had to be extremely familiar with the Law and was brilliant at presenting Jesus to an audience who was so steeped in the letter of the Law. His whole premise so far has been to help his audience of readers go beyond the letter of the Law to see Jesus under the New Covenant as not only Savior and Lord, but that the laws they so depended upon were types and shadows of Jesus to come. My prayer for you, my viewing audience, is that if you have been indoctrinated into Christianity through a religious system of church laws and doctrines, as most of us have, is that you are beginning to recognize that church laws and indoctrinations are simply types and shadows of the real deal - Jesus, and how He is the One and only High Priest of our confession. We cannot rely on church doctrines to save us or even be an intricate part of our Christianity. Every denomination has different rules and doctrines to fit within their structure, thus, very often turning a simple faith in Jesus into a religion of works. Christianity, however, was never meant to be a religion, but a relationship, and how we see Jesus in our own life.  

As we enter into chapter 10, the author begins to open up how we, His followers are a royal priesthood underneath Him, and how we can confidently live our lives here on earth as as being a part of a royal family as we live our lives here on earth and how we approach Him in prayer.

The Insufficiency of animal sacrifices

Hebrews 10:1 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.

We have learned that the Old Covenant gave many types and shadows of the New Covenant. When we see that, we can be certain that there is more to come. In and of itself, the sacrifices of animals for the forgiveness of sin wasn't complete, but simply a shadow under the Law of Moses. It was only a temporary covering until the next time as a reminder of man's sin. Again, types and shadows are a dim preview of the true system that God wants to be in place forever. 

No longer were sacrifices under the old system meant to be repeated again and again, year after year, and century after century because the new permanent sacrifice came to fulfill the old system. Most of God's people, however, rejected it. Why? They were so steeped in their religious rituals, which gave power to the Sanhedrin leaders over the people, refusing to even recognize that the old system could no longer provide the perfect cleansing for those who came to worship God. 

• God allowed their dead rituals to carry on only so long  - another thirty seven years until August 1, 70 A.D. when God simply took His hand of protection off of His people, giving  the Romans the opportunity to capture and destroy the temple, which permanently stopped all animal sacrifices at the temple.

Since the old Law wasn't complete in itself, it could not be complete to those who followed it. No matter now many sacrifices were offered year after year, they never added up to a complete solution. If they had, the worshipers would have gone blissfully on their way, no longer dragged down by their sins. But instead of removing awareness of sin, when those animal sacrifices were repeated over and over, it actually heightened awareness of their sin and guilt.(1) The plain fact is that bull and goat blood can't get rid of sin. Jesus, however, came to fulfill the Law, and in doing so, He became our redeemer from all this sin and guilt.

• In Judaism today - because the temple is no longer in existence, so the daily synagogue services are thought of as having replaced the daily Temple sacrifices serving as a reminder of sin, year after year.  

If we still followed the Old Covenant today, sacrificing animals - or even paying penance for our sins over and over again, our minds would continuously be on our sin nature, not on our freedom from the Law that was fulfilled by Jesus, our Savior and Lord. What a defeatest way to live. Can you see why Jesus had to come to fulfill the Law?

John 10:10...Jesus said, the thief comes to rob, kill and destroy, but I have come to give life and life more abundantly...

Christ's death fulfills God's will

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.

Paraphrasing and explaining Psalm 50:13, King David wrote regarding the coming Messiah: When God sends His Son from heaven to earth, He will do so because He no longer desired animal sacrifice and offerings - even according to the Law, year after year. For God will send His Son to earth as a human being to do the will of His Father. In that, the Messiah will cancel the first covenant in order to establish the second - a better covenant by the offering of His body - once and for all. And because of that, all of God's people will be made holy through the offering of His body - once and for all.

Sadly,  when the Messiah did come, only a few of His people accepted Him. Most of them, therefore, rejected Him still wanting to submit to the letter of the Law instead of accepting Jesus as their High Priest of their confession. 

The duties of the priesthood

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. 

Under the Old Covenant, the Levite priests were specifically chosen to serve the people in many capacities. Some were teachers, judges, and charged with burning the animal sacrifices of the people. Others were charged with keeping the tabernacle day after day, while others were in charge of assembling and disassembling when God commanded them to move. They each had a obligration and duty to serve their high priest, as they served the people.

Hold fast to your confession

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. 

So dear brothers and sisters in Christ, you now have within you the boldness to enter into the Holiest place of God in heaven because of the blood of Jesus. His way became the new and living way, by which when He entered, He consecrated that place in heaven for us. Jesus crossed the veil into the Holiest Place in heaven by His death, resurrection and glorified body. As such, Jesus is now our High Priest over the house of God.

Therefore, let us draw near to with that boldness, yet with a humble heart full of faith, knowing our hearts have been sprinled from an evil conscience and our bodies have been washed with the pure water of the Word of God.

Believers in Jesus are a royal priesthood

Because Jesus Christ has cleared the way by His blood, acting as our High Priest before God, to enter into the Holy of Holies in heaven, we are priests. We are all a royal priesthood according to 1 Peter 2:9 under our High Priest Jesus.

I Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

As such, we have the privilege and responsibility to act as priests unto our High Priest Jesus. Out of a sincere heart, having the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are motivated to perform acts of love and good works toward others.

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.

Being of full belief and confidence, let us then stand firm in our conviction of who we are in Christ, and then look for ways how we can encourage, love and help others. In doing so, let us not neglect the meeting together regularly as a church body together as we encourage one another, worshiping together - especially as the day of Christ's return gets closer and closer every day.

Our responsibility then is to believe in our hearts Who Jesus is, remain faithful and obedient to Him, go to church to be around Christians, and exhorting one another in the things of the Lord. In all of this, we know that Christ is coming back soon - real soon.

What happens if we turn our back on Christ - not being faithful to Him?

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.

Under the Old Testament Law, thre needed to be the confession of two or three witnesses to convict a person for violating the Law. If then the penalty for breaking the Law of Moses was physical death, what do you think would happen if we turn our back on God's Son, ignoring or shun the sacrifice all that Jesus did for you to make you whole? Part of what He did for you was to send His Spirit to comfort, guide, instruct and empower you for wholeness and service to Him.  This is serious,

Today, our hearts give us away where if we delierately continue to sin after receiving the knowledge of the Truth. Our Bibles tell us in Matthew 7 that we shall know others by the fuit in their lives. In other words, do our lives demonistrate the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodnes, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control? Are we governed by the Holy Spirit or the ways of the world, self or Satan? Our lives do demonstrate who we follow.

• If we are not true to our faith, we can only fake the fruit of the Holy Spirity gfor a brief time, for our hearts will show forth in our behavior. When that happens, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin, but only the terrifying prospect of judgment in a raging fire that will consume.
• If we regard what God is saying to His people, just God's law alone will convict us without mercy.  We cannot treat the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unho9ly. If we do, we have insulted and distained the Holy Spirit who beings God's mercy to us.
• It is so critical that we not give up on what we know of as trutrh, turning our back on our faith.

God has warned us that He will hold us accountable to the Truth. He was quite explicit to say: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing.” God is our judge. Just know that no one escapes God's judgment.

Persevere - remain true to your faith

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.

^{The Christians of the 1st century were targets of severe persecution - even death on some occasions.  Friends were captured and martyred for their faith. Back hen, if a friend went to prison, you stuck by them. If the enemy broke in and stole your goods, you let them go, knowing they couldn't touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you nor set you back. Can we do the same thing today?}

• ^{What does that say to us? Regardless of whatever persecution we may be going through for the cause of Christ, God's Word tells us to never give up. Never quit. Remain faithful. Keep trusting in Jesus. He is remaining faithful to you, so remain faithful to Him.}

The just shall live by faith

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.

Don't throw away your courage because it brings great rewards.  Remember, Jesus is returning soon, so hang on - He will not delay. He will come at the perfect time. So then, be ready, for He carries great rewards for you.  Purpose to live righteously, trusting in the Lord. Don't shrink back, for God is not pleased with those who backslide and He grieves for those who fall away because of their own destruction.