Hebrews 10:1-18
10:1
“Shadow” here refers to the priesthood
and sacrifices
Paul
also calls the legal restrictions of the old covenant a “shadow” in Colossians
2:17 (in reference to food and holidays)
Paul
says the shadows are of “things to come”
Hebrews writer says “the good things to come.”
In
9:11 “Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here.”
σκιά γάρ ἔχω ὁ νόμος ὁ μέλλω ἀγαθός οὐ αὐτός
shadow
for having the
law the coming good things not itself
ὁ εἰκών ὁ πρᾶγμα κατά ἐνιαυτός ὁ αὐτός θυσία ὅς προσφέρω
the
image the
matters every year the same sacrifices offer
εἰς ὁ διηνεκής οὐδέποτε δύναμαι ὁ προσέρχομαι τελειόω
continually
never can the approaching perfect
The
old covenant could never bring people to a state of perfection or completeness
since they had to continue to renew their standing by repeating the sacrifice.
10:2
If
the old order had obtain perfection or if it were complete itself would they
not have stopped the ritual and moved on to what they had achieved? Instead, they simply went back and did it
again.
There
was forgiveness as in Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31, 35 but not complete cleansing
Here
we see that the new covenant inward cleansing is complete and perfection has
been obtained. It is different than the
OT in that the NT salvation/sacrifice can never be repeated. Once a person is cleansed in their conscience
they need not and can not repeat it.
“cleansed once for all” is in the
perfect tense.
This
is the sense of Jesus words to Peter in John 13:10,
“A person who has had a bath needs only to
wash his feet; his whole body is clean.”
The
Greek says
“The one having been bathed has not need
except the feet to wash, but is clean wholly.”
επει ουκ αν επαυσαντο προσφερομεναι δια το μηδεμιαν
since not
whatsoever have ceased being offered because the
no one
εχειν ετι συνειδησιν αμαρτιων τους λατρευοντας απαξ κεκαθαρμενους
to have still conscience of sin the serving
once having been cleansed
The
phrase “felt guilt” in the NIV or “conscience” from “suneidhsin” in the Greek is used to express the Hebrew sense of
burden or a smitten heart which was experienced and demonstrated on the Day of
Atonement each year.
απαξ κεκαθαρμενους
which is translated “once having been cleansed” is
in the NIV “would have been cleansed once for all.” The word “kekaqarmenouV” is in the perfect
indicating again a completed state. The
adverb “once” or απαξ reinforces
the concept of completeness that does not need to be repeated.
10:3
The
Old Testament rituals were a “reminder”
of the sins that would need to be dealt with some time in the future.
The
OT rituals clearly was not God reflecting to his people that he “would remember
their sins no more” since he reminded them of them annually, if not daily. The new covenant says he will remember them
no more in Jer. 31:31-35.
It
is important that the church does not allow this concept of remembering sins to
replace the purpose of the Lord’s Supper which is to remember Jesus death.
10:4
A
quote from Psalm 40:6-8 from the Septuagint.
Psalm
40:6 “but my ears you have pierced” is
in the Masoretic text
It
is interesting to notice that even in the Psalms the David wrote the concept of
the unfinished effect of the sacrifices is there and the need for the servant
of God to replace them is clear. Similar
to Isaiah 53.
10:10
“have
been made holy” is in the perfect tense again as a settled state.
10:14
“he has made perfect” is perfect tense
indicating:
1.
a past action with continuing results,
2.
a settled state,
3.
a past action with continuing results.
“are
being made holy” is present tense indicating:
1. a continuous action that happens over and
over
10:5
10:6
10:7
10:8
10:9
10:10
10:11
10:12
10:13
10:14
10:15
10:16
10:17
10:18