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Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice
Hebrews 10:1–18 explains why repeated sacrifices under the law could not fully deal with sin and why Jesus Christ’s offering is different. It contrasts what happened again and again with one offering made once for all.
Understanding the passage
The setting of these words
This teaching section speaks about the law as a shadow, sacrifices offered year by year and day by day, and words about doing God’s will. It also includes God’s promise of a covenant in which his laws are written on hearts and minds and sins are remembered no more.
Hebrews 10:1–18Main takeaway
Jesus Christ’s one offering does what repeated sacrifices could not, so no further offering for sin is needed.
Follow the letter’s teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A shadow, not the full realityThe law is called a “shadow of the good to come”, not the very image itself. The same sacrifices were offered continually, yet they could not make those who drew near perfect.
Explanation
The law is called a “shadow of the good to come”, not the very image itself. The same sacrifices were offered continually, yet they could not make those who drew near perfect. Instead, those sacrifices brought a yearly reminder of sins. The writer says plainly that the blood of bulls and goats could not take away sins.
02Christ came to do God’s willThe passage then quotes words about coming into the world to do God’s will. Sacrifices and offerings, though offered according to the law, were not God’s final answer.
Explanation
The passage then quotes words about coming into the world to do God’s will. Sacrifices and offerings, though offered according to the law, were not God’s final answer. The writer says the first is taken away so the second may be established. By that will, “we have been sanctified” through the offering of Jesus Christ’s body once for all.
03One sacrifice for sins foreverThe contrast becomes sharper. Every priest stands day by day, offering often the same sacrifices, and those sacrifices can never take away sins.
Explanation
The contrast becomes sharper. Every priest stands day by day, offering often the same sacrifices, and those sacrifices can never take away sins. Christ, however, offered one sacrifice for sins forever and sat down at the right hand of God. By one offering, he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
04A covenant with remembered sins no moreThe closing lines say the Holy Spirit testifies about a covenant in which the Lord puts his laws on hearts and writes them on minds.
Explanation
The closing lines say the Holy Spirit testifies about a covenant in which the Lord puts his laws on hearts and writes them on minds. Then comes the promise, “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.” The writer’s conclusion is direct: where there is remission, there is no more offering for sin.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to verses 1–4, what did the repeated sacrifices do, and what could they not do?
Look for the contrast between a yearly reminder of sins and the statements that these sacrifices could not make people perfect or take away sins.
02What does this passage say Jesus came to do?
Read the quoted words about doing God’s will, then notice how verse 10 connects that will with the offering of Jesus Christ’s body.
03How does the end of the passage explain why no more offering for sin is needed?
Trace the link from God’s promise to remember sins no more to the conclusion in verse 18.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Hebrews 10:1–18
1For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.
2Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?
3But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.
4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
5Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “You didn’t desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me.
6You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.
7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’ ”
8Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law),
9then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,
10by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins,
12but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God,
13from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.
14For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
16“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;” then he says,
17“I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”
18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.