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Hebrews Chapter
Ten
I.
Content of the Chapter
Christ is the High Priest of the Better
Covenant (Ⅲ)
A. The comparison of the offering between the
new and old covenants (v.1-18);
1. The sacrifices offered in the old covenant
cannot make those who approach perfect (v.1-4).
2. Christ makes those who approach Him
sanctified though the offering of His body (v.5-10).
3. The comparison of the effects between the
sacrifices of both the old and new covenants (v.11-14).
4. The Spirit testifies the perfectness of the
sacrifice of the new covenant (v.15-18).
B. Christ is the High Priest over the house of God (v.19-25);
1. He consecrated for us a new and living way (v.19-21).
2. Let us draw near to God to lead a normal
life in the house of God (v.22-25).
a. Let us draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith (v.22);
b. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering (v.23);
c.Let us consider one another in order to stir
up love and good works (v.24);
d. Do not forsake the assembling of ourselves
together (v.25);
C. Let us keep the sacrifice for sins with diligence (v.26-39);
1. If one sins willfully, he has trampled the Son of God
underfoot and counted His blood a common thing (v.26-31).
2. Let us accept joyfully the tribulations for
the sake of the better and enduring possession in heaven (v.32-36).
3. We are not of those who draw back to
perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul (v.37-39).
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Heb. 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.”
YLT: “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.”
Meaning of Words:
“image”: likeness; “never”: in no
wise; “continually”: perpetually;
“perfect”: fulfill, accomplish;
Literal Meaning:
“for the law, having a shadow of the good things to
come”, “law”: in the Mosaic system, the law is closely linked with the
priesthood of the Levites. “The good things to come”, the good things that have
been accomplished in the times of the new covenant is the salvation fulfilled
by Christ for us (see 9:11, 14). “Shadow”, the shadow produced by the real
substance or the vague outline of it. The law is only a shadow, which only
provides a concept of salvation dimly to us.
“And not the very image of the things”,
“the things” are synonymous with “the good things to come”. Strictly speaking,
here it refers to the true and efficacious sacrifices in the will of God,
namely, the body of Christ (see v.10). “The very image”: the clear image; the
law is merely a shadow, not the very image of the things.
“Can never with these same sacrifices,
which they offer continually year by year”, “offer continually”, it is an
action repeated continually.
“Make those who approach perfect”,
“those who approach”: those who draw near to God; “perfect”: achieve the goal
of offering the sacrifices;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The law is the shadow, which is unable to
manifest the real things completely. He that focuses on the letter or customs
or rules may have not seen clearly the real meaning of spiritual things, and is
blinded by the external doings (see Rom. 2:28-29).
2) Believers in the new covenant serve God by
the Spirit, not the letter. The letter kills and the Spirit quickens (2Cor. 3:6
the original). Therefore, we shall serve the Lord according to the newness of the
Spirit, not the oldness of letter.
Heb. 10:2 “For then would they not
have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no
more consciousness of sins.”
YLT:
“For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once
purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.”
Meaning
of Words: “cease”: refrain, stop;
Literal
Meaning: “for then would they not have ceased to be offered”? It indicates that
there would be of no necessity to offer any more if the sacrifices offered
under the law of the old covenant were perfect.
“For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more
consciousness of sins”, “worshipers”:
those who offer the sacrifices, including the priests and the people who
provided sacrifices (see Lev. 1:2-9; 2:1-2); “once purified”, it shows that the
purpose of offering in the old covenant is to be purified before God (see Lev.
16:30). However, the purification in the old covenant was done in rituals, and
its effect could not enter into the worshipers to give them peace and innocence
in conscience.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If we believers have made mistakes (e.g.
speaking wrong or doing wrong), we shall not confess our faults orally only,
but deal with the sins truly until we are peaceful in conscience.
2) Our conscience should be purified so that we
can serve God in a clear conscience (2Tim. 1:3). An unclear conscience cannot
enable a man to serve God (see 9:14).
Heb. 10:3 “But in those sacrifices
there is a reminder of sins every year.”
YLT:
“But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.”
Meaning
of Words: “reminder”: remembrance,
recollection;
Literal
Meaning: “but in those sacrifices”, “those sacrifices” refer to the sacrifices
offered according to the rules of the law (see v.8.)
“There is a reminder of sins every year”, the sacrifice itself could not remove the
sin (see v.4, 11), but cover the sins temporarily. And the fact shall be
repeated “year by year” in order to remind men that their sins has never been
taken away,
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God accepted the offering in the old
covenant, which had its negative function ---- it was a reminder of sins for
men so that men would know that sins prevented men having a normal fellowship
with God so as to stimulate them to seek the way of salvation.
2) The most terrible condition for a believer
in the new covenant is senselessness of any sin. If one who has sins apparently
says that he has no sin, he just deceives himself and the truth is not in him
(1John 1:8). What is important is that whenever we think of sins, we have to
confess and deal with our sins (1John 1:9).
Heb. 10:4 “For it is not possible
that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.”
YLT:
“For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away
sins.”
Meaning
of Words: “take away”: eliminate;
Literal
Meaning: for…the blood of bulls and goats”, it refers
to all the blood of the sacrifices in the old covenant.
“It is not possible that …could take away sins”, the reasons are listed
as follows: 1) it is only the shadow of the precious blood of the Lord, not the
real substance, and is not even the very image of the things (see v.1); 2) it
only purifies men externally (see 9:13), not internally (see v.2). 3) The
sacrifices are not human beings, and the life is not human, so they can serve
as a substitute for men.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Though the blood of the sacrifices cannot
remove the sin, God in the times of the old covenant still appointed men to
offer the sacrifices until the Lamb of God comes, which tells us that we have
to present all of us according to what God has appointed though our functions
are faint in the services of God.
2) A man who serves God has to be faithful in
the things that God has appointed him to do. Even though he is not so capable
to do that, he cannot lose heart or give up what he is able to do.
Heb. 10:5 “Therefore, when He came
into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a
body You have prepared for Me.”
YLT:
“Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering
You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.”
Meaning
of Words: “offering”: oblation, the
sacrifice without blood, the meat-offering;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore, when He came into the world, He
said”, it is quoted from the Book of Psalm (40:6) according to both the literal
and suggestive meaning. “Came to the world”, it refers to the incarnation of
the Son of God; “He said”, it is not a real oral word out of Him, but an
expression of the desire and purpose of Christ who came to the world to be a
man.
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire”, according to the original,
the words “desire” and “will” share the same etymon. The will of God is not to
obtain the sacrifice and gift from men, but to gain men.
“But a body You have prepared for Me”, it is “My ears You have opened”
in the Book of Psalm (40:6). The author of this epistle quotes this verse and
changes it slightly according to its meaning. In the law of the old covenant,
if a bondservant desires to serve his lord all his life, his lord will bore his
ear through with an awl to show his acceptance (see Ex. 21:5-6; Deut.
15:16-17). Therefore, “My ear You have opened” ---- a body You have prepared
for Me for devotion.
Since the sacrifice and gift in the old covenant could not satisfy God,
Christ then incarnated for the purpose of offering Himself.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The value of believers’ physical bodies is
offering as the sacrifice unto God. Therefore, let us present our bodies a
living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Rom. 12:1).
2) That God gives us a body is not to serve our
own need, but serve the need of Him. It is our intelligent service to present
our bodies (Rom. 12:1).
3) If believers do not present their bodies to
God, it will cause the greatest hindrance to their spiritual life. Many
believers do not put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit (Rom. 8:13),
but fulfill flesh’s lust (Gal. 5:16) and are even brought under the power of
it.
Heb. 10:6 “In burnt offerings and
sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.”
YLT:
“In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.”
Meaning
of Words: “burnt
offerings”:
the offering that the whole sacrifice is offered;
Literal
Meaning: it is quoted from the Book of Psalm (40:
“Burnt
offerings and sacrifices” and “sacrifice and
gift” (see v.5) are the whole offering system in the Book of Leviticus.
Moreover, “sacrifice and gift” in verse five are both in the singular form, so
it is not a certain offering, but any offering. And “burnt offering and
sacrifices” are in the plural form, so they are the totality of the offerings.
Anyway, none of them are not what God desires.
“Did not desire” (see v.5) belongs to the sphere of will, and here “had
no pleasure” is in the sphere of emotion. Both of them here emphasize God’s
dissatisfaction with the whole offering system in the old covenant.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) No matter what we do, earthly things or
spiritual things, we shall seek the will of God. And we shall do what God
desires and pleases, and will not do what He does not desire or please.
2) The basic principle of the walking of God’s
servants is: not seek to satisfy men, but God; and not please men, but God
(Gal. 1:10).
Heb. 10:7 “Then I said,
"Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To
do Your will, O God."'”
YLT:
“Then I said, "Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is
written of Me-- To do Your will, O God."'”
Meaning
of Words: “written of Me”: all that is about
me;
Literal
Meaning: “then I said”, it is quoted from the Book of
Psalm (40:7). “Then”, it is the time when Christ (Messiah) comes to the world
(see v.5), and it also refers to the time when God’s “not desiring and not
pleasing” are manifested (see v.5-6). “I said”: the declaration of Christ;
“I have come…O God”, “I have come”, it is
a more intensive and emphatic word in the original, which means “I have come,
Here I come”, showing that He has come to the world to fulfill the epoch-making
works.
“To do Your will”, since God “did not desire and please” the whole
offering system in the old covenant, He would surely have His will and
pleasure. And the coming of Christ is just for the purpose of obeying and
performing such will of God.
“In the volume of the book it is written of Me”, “volume” refers to the
scripture. Narrowly, it is the Pentateuch, in which the will of God and the way
of obedience are recorded. And broadly, it refers to all things about Christ
written in the scriptures (see Luke 24:27, 44, 46; John 5:39, 46).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus came to the world for the
purpose of keeping the will of God the Father (see John 6:38). Keeping the will
of God is the motivation and goal of His walking on the earth. It is also
supposed to be the principle of Christians all the lifetime (see 1Pet. 4:2).
2) Christ is the central character in the
Scriptures. The records of Him are filled in the whole Scriptures. Therefore,
we shall aim at seeking Christ when we search the scriptures, and come to Him
to receive life (see John 5:39-40).
Heb. 10:8 “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),”
YLT:
“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),”
Literal
Meaning: “previously saying”, it refers to all the
above-mentioned verses quoted from the Book of Psalm. And they are put together
again as below.
“Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings and offerings for sin”, it is
the whole Levitical offering system (see v.5-6). And what is different is that
the sacrifice and gift in the original are in the plural.
“You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them”, “did not desire, nor had
pleasure” (see v.5-6) the double negations emphasize God’s total disapproval.
Heb. 10:9 “then He said,
"Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first
that He may establish the second.”
YLT:
“then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes
away the first that He may establish the second.”
Meaning
of Words: “take away”: remove; “establish”: lay, appoint, stand;
Literal
Meaning:
“then He said”, what he said as follows was the quotation of verse
seven.
“"Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God."” “I have come”: the
incarnation of Christ. “Your will”, here it specifically indicates that God
will replace the offering system in the old covenant with better sacrifices.
“He takes away the first that He may establish the second”, “He”: God, or Christ; “the first”: the
sacrifices in the old covenant, or the whole offering system in the old
covenant; “the second”: the sacrifices in the new covenant, namely, Christ
Himself, or the whole content of the new covenant or the arrangement of the
salvation.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “He takes away the first that He may establish the
second.” In Christianity,
“the new covenant” is not used to supplement “the old covenant”, but to replace
“the old covenant”. Anyone who desires to keep the customs of the law in the
old covenant, he may destroy the faith of the new covenant (see Gal. 2:4-5).
2) Christians have to put off the “old man”,
and put on “the new man” (Eph. 4:22-24; Col. 3:9-10). Both of what is old and
what is new can not be kept together. Otherwise, it will get worse (see Matt.
9:16-17).
Heb. 10:10 “By that will we have been
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
YLT:
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.”
Literal
Meaning: “by that will …
through…Jesus Christ”, “that will”: it is “Your
will” (see v.7, 9), namely, the will of God that He does not please the
sacrifices offered according to the old covenant.
“We have been sanctified … the
offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”, “have
been sanctified”, here it is not
sanctification in life experience, but in status, namely, the position of being
received by God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “By that will we have been sanctified…”,
when we receive Christ, we have received the will of God that He has
accomplished for us. Now we are renewed by the Spirit by this will (Titus 3:5)
and are sanctified.
2) “Have been sanctified” (it refers to the
sanctification in status), it is not the ultimate purpose of salvation, but a
necessary step of salvation so that we are enabled to enter into the Holiest of
All to God with boldness (see v.19, 22) and have fellowship with the holy God.
3) “Sanctification” is the prerequisite
condition of having fellowship with God. No wonder that the book mentions it
again and again (see 2:11; 9:13; 10:10, 14, 23; 13:12). And the importance of
sanctification can be viewed here. Sanctification in status for us is perfected
by the Lord. And sanctification in life should be sought by us.
Heb. 10:11 “And every priest stands
ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never
take away sins.”
YLT:
“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same
sacrifices, which can never take away sins.”
Meaning
of Words: “the
same”: similar; “take away”: eliminate;
Literal
Meaning: “and every priest stands ministering daily”, “daily”, it shows that the work continues
unceasingly. “Stand”, it is a contrast with Christ’s “sitting down” (see v.12;
8:1). “Stand” also shows that the work is not finished. Here, it emphasizes the
action of the priest’s offering, not the nature of the offering.
“And offering repeatedly the same sacrifices”, “repeatedly”, it is
a contrast with Christ’s “one” (see v.12). “The same sacrifices”, it is not the
same animals, but the sacrifices of the same kind.
Heb. 10:12 “But this Man, after He
had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,”
YLT:
“But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at
the right hand of God,”
Literal
Meaning: “but this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins
forever”, “forever”, the word is used to describe both
“sacrifice” and “sat down”. Anyway, it is always connected with the effect of
His offering once for all (see v.14). And He needs not to offer sacrifices
“many times” thereafter (see 9:25-26), and He can sit down.
“Sat down at the right hand of God”, “the right hand of God”, it refers to the
authority and honor (see 1:3; 8:1). “Sat down”: the work has been perfected.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “One forever” speaks of two characteristics
of Christ’s works ---- on one hand, His “one” sacrifice perfects “eternal”
salvation. On the other hand, if we really do the services in the Lord, or the
Lord does in us, there will be eternal effect (see 1Cor. 15:58).
2) “Sat down” implies a meaning of enjoying the
rest. If believers really “take the yoke of the Lord upon them and learn from
the Lord” in services, they will surely find rest to their souls (Matt. 11:29).
Heb. 10:13 “from that time waiting
till His enemies are made His footstool.”
YLT:
“from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.”
Meaning
of Words: “from that time”: after that, later;
Literal
Meaning:
“from that time”, after His
offering and sitting down;
“waiting”, there is none
other thing but waiting for that moment; “His enemies are made His footstool”, it means that His enemies are totally
subdued to His footstool (see 1:13; 2:7).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The great redemption of Christ has
accomplished, and the end of the devil is set. Though it is rampant and furious
today, it is merely deathbed struggle.
2) As Christ has wined, those who are of Him
shall also win likewise. As long as we appropriate the precious blood of
Christ, we will surely overcome all the enemies (see Rev. 12:11).
Heb. 10:14 “For by one offering He
has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
YLT:
“For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
Literal
Meaning: “for by one offering”,
“for”, it is not explaining the reason for
His offering, but explaining the result of the offering.
“He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” “Has perfected forever”, it shows that
those who are being sanctified will never that holy position that they have
obtained.
This verse shows that Christ’s working of
offering has been perfected once for all, and He needs not to offer again.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The “one” offering of Christ enables us to
obtain the “eternal” sanctified position (see v.19, 22). And henceforth, we are
enabled to come to God through Him with boldness at any time (see v.19, 22).
2) We are “those who are being sanctified”.
Sanctification is not only our position but also our life performance.
Therefore, let us separate our mind, interests and words and works continually
everyday though the Holy Spirit and be real saints.
Heb. 10:15 “But the Holy Spirit also
witnesses to us; for after He had said before,”
YLT:
“But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,”
Meaning
of Words: “witness”: testify;
Literal
Meaning: “but the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us”, “the Holy Spirit” is
the Spirit of God, who dwells in believers (1Cor. 3:16) to lead us into all the
truth (John 16:33). “Us” here refers to the author of this epistle and its
readers as well as believers at all times and in all over the world. “Witness”:
testify or prove to us.
“For after He had said before”, the words of verse sixteen are quoted from the
Book of Jeremiah (Jer. 31:33).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Scriptures are the words spoken by the
holy men of God under the power of the Holy Spirit (2Pet.1:21). The writer of
the Epistle to the Hebrews here also confesses that the words in this epistle
are the witness of the Holy Spirit to him. Therefore, the Holy Bible should not
be regarded as a masterpiece of men, but shall read it in fear.
2) The Holy Spirit also witnesses to all
believers, and His witnesses are according the works “God has spoken”, namely,
the Holy Scriptures that have been written. Therefore, let us read the
scriptures with diligence so that the Spirit will continue to witness to us
through the words of the scriptures.
Heb. 10:16 “"This is the
covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put
My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"”
YLT:
“"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says
the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write
them,"”
Literal
Meaning: “says the LORD”,
the following words are quoted from the Book of Jeremiah (31:33).
“"This is the covenant that I will make with them after
those days”, “them” refers to the house of Israel (see 8:10),
namely, the elect of God that typifies believers in the New Testament.
“I will put My laws into their hearts”, “My laws” refers to
God’s requirements to His people. And it is the law of Christ to believers in
believers in the New Testament
(Gal. 6:2). “Into their hearts”, the characteristic
of the law in the New Testament is writing on fleshly tables of heart with the
Spirit, not on stone tables (2Cor. 3:3).
“And in their minds I will write them”, “in”, it is opposite to the word “outside
of…”, which shows that God does not ask men to keep the letter of the law
externally, but keep the spirit of the law internally (see Rom. 2:28-29; 2Cor.
3:6).
Heb. 10:17 “then He adds, "Their
sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."”
YLT:
“then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no
more."”
Literal
Meaning: “then He adds”, the following words are
quoted from the Book of Jeremiah (31:34).
“Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more”, the
sacrifices in the old covenant could not take away sins (see v.4, 11). However,
Christ offered Himself as the sacrifice in the new covenant so as to solve the
problem of sin once for all. Therefore, God will not remember the sins and
lawless deeds no more.
Heb. 10:18 “Now where there is
remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”
YLT:
“Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for
sin.”
Meaning
of Words: “sin”: miss the mark;
Literal
Meaning: “where there is a remission of these”,
“these” refer to the above-mentioned sins and lawless deeds (see v.17).
“Remission”: what is remitted will never be remembered any more (see v.17).
“There is no longer an offering for sin”, “sin”: the totality of all
unrighteousness, sins and transgressions etc.
Heb. 10:19 “Therefore, brethren,
having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,”
YLT:
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of
Jesus,”
Meaning
of Words: “boldness”: confidence; “the Holiest”: the sanctuary, holy places;
Literal
Meaning: “brethren…by the blood of Jesus”, “by”: rely
on, depend on; “the blood of Jesus”, it refers to the precious blood the Lord
Jesus shed on the cross. The blood has two aspects of effect: 1) which redeems
the sins of men (see Rom. 3:25); 2) which enables men to draw near to God (see
1John 1:7). Here, the effect of the blood of Jesus relates more to the latter
one ---- make us draw near to God through His blood.
“Having boldness to enter the Holiest”, “having boldness”: for their
sins have been remitted (see v.18); “the Holiest”: the holy places in the
heaven are the dwelling place of God (see 9:24).
Heb. 10:20 “by a new and living way
which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,”
YLT:
“by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that
is, His flesh,”
Meaning
of Words: “consecrate”: inaugurate, renew,
dedicate; “new”: lately made, recently slain (fresh);
“veil”: the door screen falling to the ground;
Literal
Meaning: “by a new and living way which He
consecrated for us”, “new …way”, it is not only an unprecedented way but also
an ever fresh and living way.
“Through the veil”, “veil”, it separated the first and second
tabernacles (see 9:3), above which were the cherubim (see Ex. 26:31-33), which
implied that the glory and righteousness of God prevented all sinners from
drawing near to God (see Gen. 3:22-24). When the Lord Jesus died on the cross,
the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom. Henceforth,
the access to God has opened for men.
“That is, His flesh”, some Bible expositors think it is difficult to
apprehend this word. They hold that the veil is the hindrance between God and
men, and the physical body of the Lord cannot be the barrier between God and
men. Therefore, they do not think “that” refers to the veil. The author of this
epistle takes the veil as a type of the body of Christ to emphasize that fact
both of them were rent at the same time. The body of Christ was divided for us
just like the rock that was struck and forthwith there came out water (see Ex.
17:6; John 19:34; 1Cor. 10:4). Likewise, the veil is rent because of the
crucifixion of His body. Therefore, we are enabled to enter into the Holiest
through Him.
Heb. 10:21 “and having a High Priest
over the house of God,”
YLT:
“and having a High Priest over the house of God,”
Meaning
of Words: “over”: above;
Literal
Meaning: “the house of God”: the church of the living
God (1Tim. 3:15) which is composed of those who are sanctified by the offering
of the High Priest (see v.14). The High Priest takes away our sins as well as
resolves all the problems after we have been saved (see 3:6).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The salvation of Christ not only saves us to
give us eternal blessings but also makes us the house of God for God to dwell
in to manifest the glory of God.
2) The church is the house of God, and the
divine Trinity is in us. And Christ is the head of the church over us.
Therefore, let Him have the first place in all things (Col. 1:18-19).
Heb. 10:22 “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.”
YLT:
“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.”
Meaning
of Words: “evil”: wicked; “draw near”: approach;
Literal
Meaning: “having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience”, “conscience”: it is a function of man’s heart (Rom. 2:15). “Evil”,
it means that man is condemned by conscience because of doing wrong and has not
given proper response. Gradually, the conscience becomes an evil conscience
(see Acts 24:16; 1Tim. 1:19), namely, the corrupted and defiled conscience
(see2Tim. 3:9).
“And our bodies washed with pure water”, the priests had to wash their
bodies in the laver before fulfilling the ministry (Ex. 40:11-12). The Lord
Jesus called His disciples those who had been washed in the New Testament (John
13:10). Therefore, this verse shows that believers have obtained the washing of
regeneration (Titus 3:5).
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of
faith”, “a true heart”:
the worship of God should be in spirit and in truth (John 4:24); “full
assurance of faith”: assured confidence (Eph. 3:12), for it is impossible to
please God without faith (see 11:6).
Heb. 10:23 “Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
YLT:
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who
promised is faithful.”
Meaning
of Words: “hold fast”: withhold, seize on,
retain, possess; “confession”: profess, acknowledge;
“without wavering”: firmly, unyieldingly;
Literal
Meaning: “let us hold fast the confession of our hope
without wavering”, it means that we shall not be waved by any argument or
opinion appearing in our mind, thinking that we need another Mediator and
losing the confidence toward this High Priest.
“For He who promised is faithful”, “faithful”: He will fulfill all that
He has promised.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ in us has been the hope of glory
(Col. 1:27). And our hope is secure and firm (see 6:19), for Christ is our
hope.
2) Believers have assurance toward the hope in
the future, for we “stand on the ground of God’s promises”. And God who
promises is faith, and He never lets out hope come to nothing.
Heb. 10:24 “And let us consider one
another in order to stir up love and good works,”
YLT:
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,”
Meaning
of Words: “consider”: behold, discover,
perceive, observe fully; “stir up”: provoke unto, incite, dispute;
“good works”: worthy works, proper works;
Literal
Meaning: “and let us consider one another”, let us not look on our own things, but that of
others (Phil. 2:4). That is to say, we have to consider the needs and burdens
of others (Gal. 6:2).
“In order to stir up love and good works”, it means that the considering of one
another will stir up love and good works. Love and good works are cultivated
and encouraged in the church life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We often know the need of ourselves, but
ignore that of others. We may usually consider our own benefit, but forget that
of others.
2) Since the Lord loved His own who were in the
world, He commanded us to love one another (John 13:1, 34). God shows favor to
us to enable us to do good works (Eph. 2:10). Love and good works are normal
responses which are expected in those who have been saved (see Eph. 5:1-2;
8-9).
Heb. 10:25 “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.”
YLT:
“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.”
Meaning
of Words: “forsake”: leave behind in some place,
abandon, reject, give up; “exhort”: encourage; “approach”: draw near;
Literal
Meaning: “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together”, “assembling”, here it particularly refers to the gathering that
believers are assembled according to the way of the New Testament. Here the
author intentionally exhorts the Hebrew believers not to forsake the former
gathering and come back to the gathering according to the Judaic way in the Old
Testament.
“As is the manner of some”, it suggests that the forsaking of the
assembling has become a habit.
“But exhorting one another”: oral and practical encouragement, or
affectionate encouragement from the heart;
“And so much the more as you see the Day approaching”, “the Day” refers
to the Day of the second coming of Christ.
Heb. 10:26 “For if we sin willfully
after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins,”
YLT:
“For we -- willfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the
truth -- no more for sins doth there remain a sacrifice,”
Meaning
of Words: “received”: know, stain, obtain; “the knowledge of the truth”: the full knowledge of the reality; “willfully”: voluntarily;
Literal
Meaning: “after we have received the knowledge of the
truth”, “the knowledge of truth” refers to the knowledge of truth concerning
the faith in the New Testament.
“If we sin willfully”, “willfully”, it emphasizes that there remains a
motivation after the action. “Sin”: commit sins continually and habitually.
Here, the willful sin refers to the sin of apostasy, namely, the sin of giving
up the assembling of the New Testament and turning back to the rituals of the
Old Testament.
“There no longer remains a sacrifice for sins”, since the sacrifices in
the old covenant had already been replaced by the only sacrifice of Christ, if
believers give up the sacrifice of Christ, there will be no longer any other
sacrifice for atonement.
Controversial Clarification: someone misunderstands the verses here,
thinking that believers who have committed any purposeful sin will never be
remitted by God again. Such view is contradictory to other verses in the
Scriptures (see 1John 7-9), so it is unworthy of acceptance.
Heb. 10:27 “but a certain fearful
expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the
adversaries.”
YLT:
“but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery zeal, about to devour
the opposers;”
Meaning
of Words: “fearful”: terrible; “expectation”: looking for; “adversaries”:
opponents;
Literal
Meaning: “but a certain fearful expectation of
judgment”, “judgment” refers to the judgment in the second coming of the Lord.
“And fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries”, God will no
longer judge with water (see Gen. 9:11), but with fire (see 2Pet. 3:10).
Heb. 10:28 “Anyone who has rejected
Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
YLT:
“any one who did set at nought a law of Moses, apart from mercies, by two or
three witnesses, doth die,”
Meaning
of Words: “reject”: disregard, disannul; “mercy”: pity;
Literal
Meaning: “who had rejected Moses’ law”, the
transgressions against the rules of the law;
“Dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses”, it is
ordained in the law of the old covenant that the one who sins shall not be put
to death at the mouth of one witness, but is die to be put to death at the
mouth of two or three witnesses (see Deut. 17:6).
Heb. 10:29 “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?”
YLT:
“of how much sorer punishment shall he be counted worthy who the Son of God did
trample on, and the blood of the covenant did count a common thing, in which he
was sanctified, and to the Spirit of the grace did despite?”
Meaning
of Words: “sanctified”: holy, hallowed; “common”: unclean, unholy, profane; “insult”:
despise; “suppose”: think; “worse”: more terrible;
Literal
Meaning: “trampled the Son of God underfoot”, the
disrespect for the salvation the Son of God has accomplished on the cross is an
open shame to Him (see 6:6).
“Counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common
thing”, “the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified”, it shows that
the blood of the Lord has the sanctifying effect (see v.10). And the new
covenant is established by His blood (see 9:14-22), so the Lord’s blood is
called the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified. “Counted … a
common”, “common” in the original is opposite to “holy”, so “counted … common”
means “counted … holy”, which contains a tone of despise.
“And insulted the Spirit of grace”: humiliated the Spirit in the
extreme; men are saved by the works of the Spirit on him (see John 16:8-11), so
the Spirit is called the Spirit of grace.
“Of how much worse punishment, do you
suppose…”, it means that such men will be severely punished.
Heb. 10:30 “For we know Him who said,
"Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again,
"The LORD will judge His people."”
YLT:
“for we have known Him who is saying, `Vengeance Mine, I will recompense, saith
the Lord;' and again, `The Lord shall judge His people;' --”
Meaning
of Words: “vengeance”: retribution;
Literal
Meaning: “for we know Him”, the following words are
quoted from the Book of Deuteronomy (32:35).
“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay”, it indicates that God will manifest
His righteousness and deal with all unrighteousness among those who are of Him.
“And again”, the following words are quoted from the Book of Psalm
(50:4), or from the Book of Deuteronomy (32:36).
“The LORD will judge His people”, the time of having the judgment begins
from the house of God (1Pet. 4:17).
Heb. 10:31 “It is a fearful thing to
fall into the hands of the living God.”
YLT:
“fearful the falling into the hands of a living God.”
Meaning
of Words: “fall into the hands
of…”: under the power of…;
Literal
Meaning: “fall into the hands of the living God”, it
refers to the judgment of God caused by the willful sin (see v.26).
“Fearful”, it shows that the consequences will be too ghastly to
contemplate and make men tremble with fear.
Heb. 10:32 “But recall the former
days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with
sufferings:”
YLT:
“And call to your remembrance the former days, in which, having been
enlightened, ye did endure much conflict of sufferings,”
Meaning
of Words: “recall”: remind; “former”: previously; “endure”: be patient and
suffer with hope; “struggle”: conflict;
Literal
Meaning: “but recall the former days”, “recall” means
“remind”; “the former days”: the days that the Hebrew believers had experienced
after their being saved;
“In which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with
sufferings”, here it indicated that the Hebrew believers had ever been
persecuted for the sake of the gospel of truth and experienced a great struggle
and afflictions.
Heb. 10:33 “partly while you were
made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you
became companions of those who were so treated;”
YLT:
“partly both with reproaches and tribulations being made spectacles, and partly
having become partners of those so living,”
Meaning
of Words: “reproach”: shame, despise,
insult; “tribulation”: affliction; “made a
spectacle”: expose as a spectacle, make a gazing stock; “companions”: sharer,
partner;
Literal
Meaning: “both by reproaches and tribulations”, it
meant that they had suffered unreasonable condemnation and maltreatment.
“Were made a spectacle”, the word showed
that they were exposed as a spectacle of the public insult and struggle.
“Partly while you became companions of those
who were so treated”, both they and those who suffered tribulations experienced
and had fellowship with their afflictions.
Heb. 10:34 “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.”
YLT:
“for also with my bonds ye sympathised, and the robbery of your goods with joy
ye did receive, knowing that ye have in yourselves a better substance in the
heavens, and an enduring one.”
Meaning
of Words: “had
compassion”:
sympathize; “goods”: the whole possessions;
Literal
Meaning: “for you had compassion on me in my chains”,
they became the companions
of those who were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations (see v.33), because they sympathized with
those who were in chains and did not fear to be troubled.
“And joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods”, “goods”: all their
possessions; they gave up all and were willing to be dispossessed for the sake
of the Lord.
“Knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for
yourselves in heaven”, “knowing”: the motivation of their willingness; “a
better and enduring possession” refers to the reward reserved in the heaven for
them.
Heb. 10:35 “Therefore do not cast
away your confidence, which has great reward.”
YLT:
“Ye may not cast away, then, your boldness, which hath great recompense of
reward,”
Meaning
of Words: “confidence”: boldness,
assurance, bluntness; “reward”: recompense of reward, requital;
Literal
Meaning: “therefore do not cast away your
confidence”, there are two aspects of meaning of “therefore” here: 1) because
of knowing that there is a better and enduring possession (see v.34); 2) since
they had good performance in the past, they were supposed to be stronger. “Do
not cast away your confidence”: do not fear or shrink back.
“Which has great reward”, “great reward” includes the better and
enduring possession (see v.34) and the promise of God (see v.36).
Heb. 10:36 “For you have need of
endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the
promise:”
YLT:
“for of patience ye have need, that the will of God having done, ye may receive
the promise,”
Meaning
of Words: “endurance”: patience with
earnest hope;
Literal
Meaning: “for you have need of endurance so that
after you have done the will of God”, “endurance”: to endure the persecutions
of the Judaism (see v.32-34); here “the will of God” refers to: 1) holding fast
the faith of the new covenant (see v.19-23); 2) keeping in the church of the
new covenant and manifesting the characteristic of God’s life (see v.24-25); 3)
in no wise turning back to the rules of the old covenant from the new covenant
(see v.38-39).
“You may receive the promise”, “receive the promise”: the fulfillment of
the hope of our confession (see v.23);
Heb. 10:37 “"For yet a little
while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.”
YLT:
“for yet a very very little, He who is coming will come, and will not tarry;”
Literal
Meaning: “for yet a little while”, it is quoted form
the Book of Isaiah according to its meaning (Is. 26:20).
“And He who is coming will come and will not tarry”, it is quoted form
the Book of Habakkuk (2:3). “He who is coming will come”, in the original, it
mentions the day of the fulfillment of God’s words. Here, it relates to the day
of Christ’s second coming. The whole verse means “Christ comes quickly” (see
Rev. 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20; 2Pet. 3:9).
Heb. 10:38 “Now the just shall live
by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."”
YLT:
“and `the righteous by faith shall live,' and `if he may draw back, My soul
hath no pleasure in him,'”
Meaning
of Words: “draw back”: withdraw, shrink;
Literal
Meaning: “the just shall live by faith”, it is quoted
from the Book of Habakkuk (2:4). Besides this epistle, it is also quoted in
other two epistles, namely the Epistles to the Romans (1:17) and the Epistle to
the Galatians (3:11). Each of them emphasizes the different points
respectively: 1) Rom. 1:17, it emphasizes that “righteousness” is manifested by
“faith”; 2) Gal. 3:11, it emphasizes that one “obtains life” by “faith”. That
is to say, man is delivered from death and is quickened before God by faith; 3)
Heb. 10:38, it emphasizes the one continually “lives” before God by “faith”.
“If any one draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him”, “anyone” refers
to the just previously mentioned. “Draw back”: apostasy; “has no pleasure”: it
means that the one who draws back will not be rewarded and shall be punished by
God (see v.27, 29-31).
Controversial Clarification: according to the traditional exposition of
the Bible, it was inferred that a true believer would in no wise give up the
true faith, so this verse was a supposition. And the writer of this epistle
also adds: “but we are not of those who draw back to perdition” (see v.39).
Therefore, the traditional Bible expositors counted those apostates as “false Christians”, who had never
truly received or believed the Lord Jesus Christ.
However, we believe that such interpretation misunderstands the
exhortations in this epistle and thinks that one is incurable once he draws
back, e.g. “renew them again unto repentance” (see 6:6), “there no longer
remains a sacrifice for sins” (see v.26) etc., and regards the chastisement as
eternal perdition, e.g. “curse…be burned” (see 6:), “fiery
indignation…punishment… perdition” (see v.27, 29, 39). Please read the
commentary of each above-mentioned verse. We believe that a true believer may
also have the possibility of apostasy. However, their end is not eternal
perdition, but some severe chastisement after judgment in the second coming of
the Lord.
Heb. 10:39 “But we are not of those
who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the
soul.”
YLT:
“and we are not of those drawing back to destruction, but of those believing to
a preserving of soul.”
Meaning
of Words: “draw back”: withdraw; “perdition”: destruction;
Literal
Meaning: “but we are not of those who draw back to
perdition”, “to perdition”: be punished by God’s fiery indignation after God’s
judgment (see v.27-31); note that the perdition here is not eternal perdition
according to the truth “believers are saved once for all”, but a kind of great
loss (see 1Cor. 3:15).
“But of those who believe to the saving of the soul”, if we are willing
to lose our life for the sake of the Lord, we will obtain life (Matt. 16:25;
Luke 9:24; 17:33; John 12:25). That is to say, if we lose the pleasure of soul
for the sake of the Lord in this life, we will receive the effect of faith,
namely, the salvation of soul (1Pet. 1:9) and will be greatly rewarded in the
future (see v.35).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The Sacrifices that Christ Offered
A. The sacrifices offered according to the law
of the old covenant were not perfect (v.1-4).
B. The sacrifices Christ offered fulfill the
will of God (v.5-10).
C. The sacrifices Christ offered make us
perfect forever (v.11-18).
D. The sacrifices Christ offered are the
foundation of our faith (v.19-25).
E. The sacrifices Christ offered have the
function of admonishment (v.26-31).
F. The sacrifices Christ offered have the
function of encouragement (v.32-29).
“No More”s in This Chapter
A. Once purified, believers would have had “no
more” consciousness of sins (v.2).
B. God will remember “no more” our sins and
lawless deeds (v.17).
C. Christ will offer for sin “no more” (v.18).
D. If we sin willfully after we have received
the knowledge of the truth, there remains a sacrifice for sins “no more”
(v.26).
Differences between the High Priests among
Men and the High Priest Christ
A. The high priests among men “minister daily”
(see v.11), and Christ “offered once” (see v.14).
B. The high priests among men “stand” (see
v.11) ---- which shows that the work has not been finished, and Christ “sat
down” (see v.12) ---- which shows that the work has not been perfected.
C. The high priests among men “offer repeatedly
the same sacrifices” (see v.11), and Christ “offered His body once for all”
(see v.10).
D. The high priests among men “offer the
sacrifices that can never take away sins” (see v.11), and Christ “had offered
once sacrifice for sins forever” (see v.12).
The Sacrifice Christ Offered is Perfect for
the Reasons As Follows
A. The same sacrifice ---- he offered Himself
once for all (v.10, 12).
B. He sat down ---- the priests on the earth
stand ministering daily and offering repeatedly (v.11-12).
C. He is at the right hand of God ---- God has
been perfectly satisfied (v.12).
D. He is waiting till His enemies are made His
footstool ---- He needs not to offer any sacrifice for sin any more (v.13).
E. He has perfected forever those who are being
sanctified (v.14).
F. The Spirit witnesses the fulfillment of
Christ’s works (v.15).
G. Now we are enabled to come to the holy God
with confidence (v.19).
Three Important Exhortations
A. “Let us” draw near to God ---- present “our
worship” (v.21-22);
1. With a true heart ---- composed;
2. Full assurance ---- confident;
3. Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience ---- cleansed;
B. “Let us” hold fast the confession of our
hope ---- adhere to “our witness” (v.23);
C. “Let us” consider one another in order to
stir up love and good works ---- do “our works” (v.24);
Go Forward with Confidence and Endurance
till that Day
A. He who draws back will be under God’s
judgment in that Day (v.26-31);
B. He who goes forward with confidence and
endurance will receive great reward in that Day (v.32-39).
1. The motivation of going forward with
confidence and endurance ---- recall the former days (v.32-34).
2. The result of confidence ---- receive great
reward (v.35).
3. The reason for endurance ---- do the will of
God (v.36).
4. The power of endurance ---- the just shall
live by faith (v.37
5. The goal of advance ---- the saving of the
soul (v.38b-39).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible Commentary
Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou