ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Hebrews 10

Heb. 10:1–18 In contrast to the repeated OT sacrifices, Jesus came in order to eternally sanctify his people through offering himself as a sacrifice once for all.

Heb. 10:4 impossible . . . to take away sins. These animal sacrifices symbolized the payment for sin, but they did not in and of themselves accomplish it. No animal was worthy of paying the price for a human’s sin before a holy God.

Heb. 10:5–7 The quotation is from Ps. 40:6–8, a psalm applied here to the Messiah. David and the other OT authors knew that God desired faithful hearts and lives, not mere performance of sacrificial rituals (see Hos. 6:6). The psalm prophesies the coming of one who will do God’s will, and God’s preparation of a human body for that person. a body have you prepared for me. The esv translates the corresponding phrase in Ps. 40:6 as, “you have given me an open ear.” The translators of the Greek version of the OT (Septuagint) and the author of Hebrews understood this Hebrew metaphor to mean the physical creation of a person’s body.

Heb. 10:8–9 The OT sacrifices were not desired (literally, “willed”) by God because of any intrinsic value they possessed. However, it was God’s will for the messianic speaker of Ps. 40:6–8 to come to do your will. God did ordain the OT sacrifices and offerings for the time when the Mosaic covenant was in force, but not for the future time anticipated in this psalm. He does away with the first refers to the “sacrifices and offerings” (Heb. 10:8) of the old covenant. Christians no longer have to offer animal sacrifices and keep other ceremonial parts of the OT laws. In order to establish the second means in order to establish obedience to God’s “will” (v. 9).

Heb. 10:10 will. See vv. 8–9.

Heb. 10:11–13 The priest stands, showing that his work of offering sacrifices never ends. which can never take away sins. See note on v. 4. Christ’s sacrificial work is complete, and now he sits at the right hand of God (see especially Ps. 110:1, cited in Heb. 1:13). The securing of full and final forgiveness of sins has been accomplished.

Heb. 10:14 Perfected for all time means that Christ has fully earned salvation for his people. Thus, believers look to Christ for a cleansed conscience, full forgiveness of sins, and total flawlessness in the future. those who are being sanctified. Believers are sanctified, “set apart for God” (v. 10). Yet they are also in the process of becoming more fully like Christ (2:11; 6:10).

Heb. 10:15–18 Holy Spirit also bears witness. The Holy Spirit led the biblical authors to write as they did (2 Pet. 1:20–21). saying. Hebrews 10:16 cites Jer. 31:33 (see note on Jer. 31:31–34). I will remember their sins . . . no more. The new covenant’s superiority to the old is shown most clearly in the full and final forgiveness of sins.

Heb. 10:19–12:29 Call to Faith and Endurance. The discussion of Christ’s superiority concludes with calls to faith and perseverance (10:19–39; 12:1–29) and with examples of how faith endures through hope in God (11:1–40).

Heb. 10:19 confidence to enter. See note on 4:16.

Heb. 10:20 through the curtain. Christ opened the veil of the heavenly tabernacle through his death (6:19–20; 9:11–12; 24). that is, through his flesh. Jesus’ flesh is identified with the tabernacle “curtain” or veil, because that was torn open just as Jesus’ flesh was torn at his death (see Matt. 27:51).

Heb. 10:21 great priest. Jesus (see 5:5–10; 7:11–8:7). house of God. See 3:1–6.

Heb. 10:22 let us draw near. Christians are called to enter by the blood of Christ (v. 19) into God’s presence (see 4:16; 7:25; 11:6; see 10:1). true heart. A cleansed and believing heart (in full assurance of faith) that is obedient to God (contrast v. 26; 3:8; 12; 4:12). hearts sprinkled clean. Jesus’ death allows for sinners to be made pure in God’s sight (see notes on 9:14; 10:15–18). bodies washed. Likely a reference to baptism (see 6:2; Acts 22:16; 1 Cor. 6:11), which employs ritually pure water (compare Num. 5:17; Ezek. 36:25).

Heb. 10:23 confession of our hope. The church’s assent to the teachings about Christ and his work (see 3:1; 4:14). These teachings produce hope (6:18–20; 7:19).

Heb. 10:25 meet together. Mutual encouragement toward perseverance (v. 24) requires being together. That some were neglecting this duty may have been among the motives for the author’s warnings throughout this book. the Day drawing near. The coming day of Christ’s return and judgment (9:28; 10:37; see notes on Amos 5:18–20; 2 Tim. 1:12).

Heb. 10:26–27 after receiving. The author refers especially to people within the Christian community, who have thus heard the truth. The fact that they go on sinning deliberately even after receiving knowledge of the truth indicates that the people in view are not (and never were) genuine believers. No longer remains a sacrifice for sins could refer to the inability of willful, unrepentant sinners to be restored (see 6:4–6). More likely it means there is no place to turn for forgiveness once they have rejected Christ’s sacrifice. All people face judgment (see 9:27–28), and apart from Christ’s sacrifice his adversaries receive eternal damnation. These verses, then, are a means God uses to call genuine Christians to faith, obedience, and perseverance; and, if there is no evidence of fruit in one’s life, to challenge such people to fearfully consider whether they are in fact genuine believers.

Heb. 10:28–29 These verses argue from the lesser to the greater (compare 2:1–4; 9:14). In the Mosaic law, the death penalty was given to those who blasphemed God or who worshiped other deities (e.g., Lev. 24:13–16; Deut. 17:2–7); in the superior new covenant the expectation of judgment should be even stronger. How much worse punishment . . . will be deserved by the one who . . . ? The description that follows is of a person who has consciously and persistently deserted “the living God” (compare Heb. 3:12; 10:31; 12:22), renouncing Christ and the community of faith (6:4–8). Such a person has done three specific things: trampled underfoot the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant, and outraged the Spirit of grace. Some have argued that the statement by which he was sanctified indicates that the person in view here was a true believer. Given the context, it seems most likely that “he was sanctified” means someone who had been “set apart” or identified as an active participant in the Christian community, but who has subsequently committed apostasy by renouncing his identification with other believers, by denying the “knowledge of the truth” that he had heard. Such a person’s apostasy is thus evidence that he was not a genuine believer. Another view is that the author is confident that the grave warning in these verses will be the means by which those who are truly elect will be emboldened to persevere in faith and obedience, and thus will be saved (see note on 6:4–8).

Heb. 10:30–31 Using two citations from Deut. 32:35–36, the living God (see Heb. 3:12; 9:14; 12:22) is pictured as the heavenly judge. He will judge even his own people.

Heb. 10:32–34 recall the former days. The author reminds readers how they proved their faith through serving Christ despite suffering (see 6:9–12). enlightened. See note on 6:4. sufferings. Government persecution seems likely here, given the mention of imprisonments.

Heb. 10:36 what is promised. See 4:1; 6:12; 8:6; 9:15.

Heb. 10:37–38 The quotation from Hab. 2:3–4 encourages perseverance.