Hebrews 10: One Sacrifice Forever
Where the law's repeated sacrifices could never take away sin, Christ's single offering perfects us forever, so let us draw near and hold fast without wavering.
Hebrews 10 (WEB)
1 For 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.
2 Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?
3 But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.
4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
5 Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “Sacrifice and offering you didn’t desire, but you prepared a body for me;
6 You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’”
8 Previously 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),
9 then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,
10 by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins,
12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.
14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
15 The 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.”
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 and having a great priest over God’s house,
22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,
23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.
24 Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.
28 A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.
29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be judged worthy of, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me,” says the Lord, “I will repay.” Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings;
33 partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.
34 For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.
35 Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.
36 For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
37 “In a very little while, he who comes will come, and will not wait.
38 But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”
39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10 (KJV)
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an 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.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10 (ASV)
1 For the law having a shadow of the goodthingsto come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect them that draw nigh.
2 Else would they not have ceased to be offered? because the worshippers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance made of sins year by year.
4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, But a body didst thou prepare for me;
6 In whole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sin thou hadst no pleasure:
7 Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O God.
8 Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law),
9 then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins:
12 but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us; for after he hath said,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind also will I write them; then saith he,
17 And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,
20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 and having a great priest over the house of God;
22 let us draw near with a true heart in fulness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience: and having our body washed with pure water,
23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised:
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works;
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins,
27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries.
28 A man that hath set at nought Moses’ law dieth without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses:
29 of how much sorer punishment, think ye, shall he be judged worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings;
33 partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used.
34 For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one.
35 Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise.
37 For yet a very little while, He that cometh shall come, and shall not tarry.
38 But my righteous one shall live by faith: And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul.
Summary
The law was only a shadow of the good things to come, so its repeated yearly sacrifices could never make worshipers perfect; if they could, the offerings would have ceased. Instead, those sacrifices were a yearly reminder of sins, for the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin. So when Christ came into the world he said that God desired not sacrifice but a body prepared for him, and declared, “I have come to do your will, O God.” By that will, the writer says, we have been sanctified through the offering of Jesus' body once for all. Every priest stands daily offering sacrifices that can never remove sins, but Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever and sat down at God's right hand, waiting until his enemies are made his footstool; by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. The Holy Spirit confirms this with the new-covenant promise to remember sins no more—and where sins are forgiven, no further offering is needed. Therefore, having confidence to enter the holy place by Jesus' blood, by the new and living way he opened through the veil of his flesh, and having a great priest over God's house, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, hold fast our confession without wavering, and stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as the Day approaches. The writer then warns that deliberate, persistent sin after receiving the truth leaves no further sacrifice, only fearful judgment, for it is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. He urges them to recall their earlier days of endurance under persecution, not to throw away their confidence, which has great reward, and to live by faith and not shrink back, for they are not of those who shrink back to destruction but of those who believe and are saved.
Key Figures
- Christ the once-for-all sacrifice — The one who came to do God's will, offered his body once for all, perfected the sanctified forever, and sat down at God's right hand.
- The Holy Spirit — The one who testifies through the new-covenant promise that God remembers our sins and iniquities no more, confirming that no further offering is needed.
- The enduring readers — Believers urged to draw near, hold fast their confession, keep meeting together, and not shrink back but live by faith to the saving of their souls.
Key Verse
Hebrews 10:14 (WEB)
For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
Lessons Learned
- Repeated animal sacrifices could only remind of sins, never remove them.
- Christ's single offering perfects forever those who are being sanctified.
- Through Jesus' blood we have a new and living way to draw near to God with confidence.
- Believers are called to hold fast, meet together, and not shrink back from faith.
- The old sacrifices could not finally cleanse. “It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4, WEB). Their repetition exposed their inability to perfect.
- One offering perfects forever. “By one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14, WEB). Christ's finished work needs no supplement.
- We may draw near with full assurance. “Let's draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith” (Hebrews 10:22, WEB), through the new and living way opened by Jesus' blood.
- We hold fast together, not alone. “Not forsaking our own assembling together… but exhorting one another” (Hebrews 10:25, WEB). Endurance is sustained in community as the Day draws near.
- Why does the repetition of the old sacrifices prove they could not take away sin (10:1-4)?
- What does it mean that Christ “sat down” after offering one sacrifice, unlike priests who always stand (10:11-12)?
- How does the new and living way through Jesus' blood change our access to God (10:19-22)?
- Why does the writer link drawing near to God with not neglecting to meet together (10:24-25)?
- Where are you tempted to “shrink back,” and what would it look like to hold fast your confidence this week?
- If those sacrifices had truly removed sin, they would have stopped, since the conscience would be clear (10:1-4). Their endless repetition was itself proof of their inadequacy. Animal blood could only point forward to the sacrifice that would actually take sin away.
- Standing pictured unfinished work, but Christ sat down because his single sacrifice fully accomplished what no priest's repeated offerings ever could (10:11-12). The seated posture announces completion. Help the group rest in a salvation that is finished, not perpetually in progress.
- Where the veil once barred the way, Jesus' torn flesh has opened a new and living way straight into God's presence (10:19-22). We come now not timidly but with a true heart in full assurance, our consciences cleansed. The result is bold, confident, cleansed access.
- Drawing near to God and drawing near to one another belong together; we hold fast by stirring up and encouraging each other, especially as the Day approaches (10:24-25). Faith is not meant to be solitary. Note how neglecting fellowship leaves believers exposed to the very drifting the letter warns against.
- This is a personal-application question. Many feel the pull to retreat under pressure, weariness, or fear. Invite members to name one such area and one act of holding fast—prayer, gathering, confession. As leader, reassure the group that we are among those who believe and are saved, and encourage perseverance rather than fear.