'Heb 10:1-18

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Sacrifice under the new covenant (Heb 9:23-10:18)

Levitical sacrifices were part of a material order and brought symbolic cleansing. Christ’s death is concerned with the spiritual order and brings actual cleansing (Heb 9:23).

The Levitical high priest entered the symbolic presence of God with the blood of a sacrificial animal, a ceremony that had to be repeated yearly. Christ entered God’s real presence on account of his own blood, and he did so only once. His death is sufficient to remove completely the sins of the whole world, past, present and future (Heb 9:24-26).

People die once and face judgment. Christ died once and gained eternal salvation for those who trust in him. By his death believers are forgiven; their sins are taken away. They will enjoy the fulness of their salvation when Christ reappears, coming out of the heavenly tabernacle to be with them for ever (Heb 9:27-28).

The repeated offering of the Levitical sacrifices showed that they were unable to bring complete cleansing. They indicated that there must have been something better yet to come (Heb 10:1-4).

God’s plan was not that animal sacrifices be offered for ever, but that they prepare the way for Jesus Christ. As the man who came from God, Jesus spent his life doing God’s will, even though it led him to offer that life in sacrifice. His death puts an end to all the old sacrifices, for it cleanses people from sin once and for all (Heb 10:5-10).

Israelite priests stood offering sacrifices day after day. Their work was never finished, because animal sacrifices could not remove sin. The great high priest offered one sacrifice (himself), took away sin for ever, then sat down in God’s presence. His work of salvation is complete, and is available for those who want it. But there remains his work of judgment on those who refuse it (Heb 10:11-14).

Under the new covenant a complete and permanent spiritual work is done in the lives of God’s people. There is no need for further sacrificial offerings. God’s work through Christ removes all sin and gives believers new life in the Spirit (Heb 10:15-18).