Readings Lev. 17:11, Ps. 40:6-8 Heb. 10:19-25
The book of Hebrews was written to encourage Jewish believers in Yeshua not to return to the old covenant system of sacrifices. In Hebrews 10, the writer’s focus is that the sacrifice of Yeshua is far superior to the repeated sacrifices of the Older Covenant, which could never fully remove sin.
This chapter presents to us a valuable foundation for the assurance of our atonement and the effectiveness of Yeshua’s work, emphasizing the necessity of faith and perseverance.
Hebrews 10:1 – “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves.”
Many people today do not know that the killing of animals was a necessary part of Jewish worship and atonement. But while they were required, they were only a Shadow, Not the Substance of what God wanted of His children.
Why was this required? So that we would understand that sin causes death. Remove blood from an animal it dies. Sacrifice showed God’s justice, in that sin was punished – and mercy – in that the sacrifice stood in our place.
These sacrifices pointed forward but could not provide lasting forgiveness. V 3 tells us that the sacrifices reminded people of their sin rather than removing it: But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.
And v 4 we learn that “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” This insufficiency highlights the need for a better sacrifice. It looked forward to a perfect sacrifice that was to come.
In v. 5-18 we learn about The Sufficiency of Yeshua’s Sacrifice. The key verses are 9-10 “I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second.
And by that will of Jesus to do what the Father wanted we have been made holy through the sacrifice of Yeshua once for all.”
Yeshua Fulfills God’s Will. Citing Psalm 40 the writer shows that Yeshua came to do God’s will, replacing animal sacrifices with His own body. His obedience to God brought about the fulfillment of the new covenant.
Unlike priests who stood daily offering sacrifices, Yeshua “sat down” at God’s right hand, signifying a finished work (v. 12). “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (v. 14).
This gives believers full assurance that their sins have been completely paid for.
In VW 15-18 The Holy Spirit confirms that under the new covenant, sins are truly forgiven. “Where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary” (v. 18). Believers are now fully reconciled to God.
In Heb 10:22 “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.” We can now through His work on our behalf enter God’s presence through Yeshua’s blood, which is the “new and living way” (v. 20).
Yeshua is the great High Priest over God’s house, mediating for us. So in vv 22-25 we are exhorted to Draw near to God (v. 22) – With sincere hearts and full assurance.
To Hold unswervingly to hope (v. 23) – Because God is faithful. And to Encourage one another (vv. 24-25) – Stirring up love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together. Which is why we gather here weekly.
Of all the Fathers of Israel none were able to open heaven for anyone, even themselves. Only the Messiah was qualified to be the bridge between God and Man. This is the overriding theme of Hebrews.
But now the emphasis shifts from what Messiah did for us to our responsibility.
The Blood of the Messiah has opened the way for us: Hebrews 10:19-20: Therefore, brethren, we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh,
Notice that we can now enter the Holy of Holies – into the very presence of God with confidence. We can walk with God with assurance. Remember that after they sinned Adam and Eve hid from the presence of God because they were naked: Physically and Spiritually.
But then in kindness God covered them with the sacrifice of animals and clothed them physically with their skins and spiritual by the shedding of their blood. This is how they could stand in His presence going forward.
Contrast this with the reality that for centuries God’s people had no confidence to enter into His presence because of the structure of worship in the Torah under the Older Covenant.
The sacrifices covered sin but did not provide a complete covering until the Messiah would come. They waited in faith for Him
If a person entered the Holy of Holies other than in the prescribed way, death would be instantaneous. We see this in the deaths of the sons of Aaron when they approached God in an inappropriate way.
But now we have confidence. In Hebrews 10:21 we are told that we have a great priest who is over the house of God. In Hebrews 3:6: but Messiah was faithful as a Son over His house–whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
Prior to 70 A.D. the House of God was the Temple. But as Jeremiah prophesied in Chap. 31, which is quoted in v. we have become the House of God. And the presence of God dwells in us.
“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”
“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.”
Because of this new Covenant God takes up residence by putting His Spirit within us. Our physical bodies are like the outer court of the Temple. Inside is the unseen part we call the soul, which gives the body its impulses and feelings. Within our soul is an inner sanctum: which is the house of the spirit.
When we come to the Messiah and enter the New Covenant by Faith the Presence of the God fills the house of through His Spirit.
This then becomes a Holy place where God does His work in our lives. 1 Cor. 6:19 “Do you not know that your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?”
So then these two facts are most important: The Blood of the Messiah has opened the way for us and The Presence of the Messiah is in us.
In light of these facts Let us draw near (v.22) – Like the Children of Israel when they left Egypt, God calls us to a journey of faith. We need to rely on God to do what He says He will do for us.
We need to come to Him with our inadequacy, relying on God who is more than adequate. But how do we do this? With a guilt free conscience, and a body washed in pure water as v. 22 tells us.
The water spoken of here does not refer to literal water but an expression concerning the cleansing of the heart – not a literal heart.
When the Bible says “heart,” it’s referring to the whole inner self—mind, emotions, will, and spiritual life. It’s the control center of a person. When we abide in God’s Spirit informed by God’s Word He transforms our heart.
The Spirit of God takes the Word and shows us our dirt so we can see it and confess it, so we can be cleansed. He washes us clean, sanctifying us by transforming us to grow in purity in our thoughts, words, and actions.
In v 23 we are told to speak out and to hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
The Believer who is in touch with God and under His control has a hope that the world does not. The world needs and desires to know about the hope we have. We need to confess and share this great hope we have.
In vv.24-25 Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
This involves getting together with others, being committed to others. “Let us consider” This suggests the thought of putting our mind to act. To show continuous care in stimulating (encouraging) one another in: (1) love, and (2) good deeds.
This raises the question How do we implement these commands? By not being absent when the assembly meets. It’s difficult to encourage each other when we don’t faithful gather together every week.
The act of encouragement is the work of taking others into ourselves. This is the one of the ways the Holy Spirit cleanses and matures us.
Each one of us are a necessary part of the body, and when we work together, we build each other up in love. We have an incredible example of how the power of God was seen in the early Body of Believers in Acts 2
2:42 – “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
They Were Devoted to the Fellowship. They were not just casual attendees; they were deeply committed to one another. They regularly gathered for teaching, fellowship, meals, and prayer.
Their unity and love for one another strengthened their faith. God Blessed Their Commitment (v. 47)Because of their active participation, God added to their number daily. The growth of the Church was directly tied to their deep community involvement.
So, if you want to grow in your faith and experience the joy of the Lord. Be an active member in a local fellowship. Get to know others, serve, and help in whatever capacity God enables you. Spiritual maturity happens in fellowship, not in isolation.
Does this happen only on Shabbat, once a week? No everyday. (Hebrews 3:13) But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Do we need to wait for hints that encouragement is needed? No. Rom 14:19 “So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
It doesn’t need to be anything extensive as Proverbs 15:23 says “A man has joy in an abt answer, and how delightful is a timely word! Prov. 15:2
So the Holy of Holies is no longer in Jerusalem, nor is it only a place in heaven, it is also present within the heart of all of who have given their lives to God through the Messiah.
Based on these wonderful truths we are given exhortations to action but we are also given a warning and an appeal.
The warning is found in vv. 26-31, and are written in the form of a contrast.
(Hebrews 10:26-27) For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, {27} but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.
Who is the “We” spoken of here? Whoever is being referred to here, we need to note that it includes the writer. There seems little doubt that the writer was a believer. It is for that reason that this admonition is not for unbelievers, as some suggest.
The fire is the purifying work of God in sanctification. It occurs through discipline and in some cases as 1 Cor. 11:30 tells us by premature death. “For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.
“if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth“ This demonstrates he is clearly speaking to believers.
V. 30 gives us even more support with the statement, “The Lord will judge His people”. The writer is speaking to believers who willfully sin after knowing the truth.
As Mark Twain observed “It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it’s the parts that I do understand.
These are people caught up in their old way of life of rationalizing, their self-will. These are people whose walk differ little from unbelievers.
This comparison moves from the lesser degree to the greater. We have first people who by their self-will and love of the things of the world, trample under foot the Messiah and His work.
People who deliberately disregard the Lordship of God in their lives, and consistently spurn Him, and refuse to submit to His authority and direction.
Then they profane the blood of the covenant. They do this by approving things which the new covenant condemns: human effort and a selfish life-style.
And thirdly they insult the Spirit of Grace, by ignoring His work by God’s Spirit in their lives. Then the writer indicts those comfortable self-justified believers with vv. 30-31.
For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” {31} It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
This is exactly what happened to our fathers when they came out of Egypt. Many of them fell in the wilderness and only two of them failed to enter the Promised Land: Joshua and Caleb.
Even Moses died in the wilderness. So again, it shows that the fire of judgment is only reserved for unbelievers. Moses experienced the fire of God’s judgment, and we know he is in heaven for He was present with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration.
If we would allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us, we would clearly know who we are. Have we come to trust in Messiah? If not, simply tell the Lord right now in your heart that you believe that Yeshua died for your sin. And rose from the dead and give your life to God through Him.
If you have been convicted in some way by God’s Word then repent, and cease the wrong actions, before it gets any deeper.
