Hebrews 10
Geneva Study Bible
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.
For {1} the law having a shadow of good things to {a} 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.

(1) He prevents a private objection. Why then were those sacrifices offered? The apostle answers, first concerning the yearly sacrifice which was the solemnest of all, in which (he says) there was made every year a remembrance again of all former sins. Therefore that sacrifice had no power to sanctify: for to what purpose should those sins which are purged be repeated again, and why should new sins come to be repeated every year, if those sacrifices abolished sin?

(a) Of things which are everlasting, which were promised to the fathers, and exhibited in Christ.

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
{2} Wherefore when he {b} cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a {c} body hast thou prepared me:

(2) A conclusion following those things that went before, and encompassing also the other sacrifices. Seeing that the sacrifices of the law could not do it, therefore Christ speaking of himself as of our High Priest manifested in the flesh, witnesses plainly that God rests not in the sacrifices, but in the obedience of his Son our High Priest, in whose obedience he offered up himself once to his Father for us.

(b) The Son of God is said to come into the world, when he was made man.

(c) It is word for word in the Hebrew text, You have pierced my ears through that is, you have made me obedient and willing to hear.

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
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;
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;
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the {d} first, that he may establish the second.

(d) That is, the sacrifices, to establish the second, that is, the will of God.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
{3} And every priest standeth {e} daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

(3) A conclusion, with the other part of the comparison: The Levitical high priest repeats the same sacrifices daily in his sanctuary: upon which it follows that neither those sacrifices, nor those offerings, nor those high priests could take away sins. But Christ having offered one sacrifice once for the sins of all men, and having sanctified his own for ever, sits at the right hand of the Father, having all power in his hands.

(e) At the altar.

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
{4} From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

(4) He prevents a private objection, that is, that yet nonetheless we are subject to sin and death, to which the apostle answers, that the full effect of Christ's power has not yet shown itself, but shall eventually appear when he will at once put to flight all his enemies, with whom we still struggle.

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
{5} Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

(5) Although there remains in us relics of sin, yet the work of our sanctification which is to be perfected, hangs on the same sacrifice which never shall be repeated: and that the apostle proves by referring again to the testimony of Jeremiah, thus: Sin is taken away by the new testament, seeing the Lord says that it shall come to pass, that according to the form of it, he will no more remember our sins: Therefore we need now no purging sacrifice to take away that which is already taken away, but we must rather take pains, that we may now through faith be partakers of that sacrifice.

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;
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;
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
And their sins and iniquities will I remember {f} no more.

(f) Why then, where is the fire of purgatory, and that popish distinction of the fault, and the punishment?

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for {g} sin.

(g) He said well, for sin: for there remains another offering, that is, of thanksgiving.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
{6} Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

(6) The sum of the former treatise: We are not shut out from the holy place, as the fathers were, but we have an entrance into the true holy place (that is, into heaven) seeing that we are purged with the blood, not of beasts, but of Jesus. Neither as in times past, does the High Priest shut us out by setting the veil against us, but through the veil, which is his flesh, he has brought us into heaven itself, so that we have now truly an High Priest who is over the house of God.

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his {h} flesh;

(h) So Christ's flesh shows us the Godhead as if it were under a veil, For otherwise we could not stand the brightness of it.

And having an high priest over the house of God;
And having an high priest over the house of God;
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.
{7} Let us draw near with a {i} true heart in full assurance of faith, having our {k} hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with {l} pure water.

(7) A most grave exhortation, in which he shows how the sacrifice of Christ may be applied to us: that is, by faith which also he describes by the consequence, that is, by sanctification of the Spirit, which causes us to hope in God, and to procure by all means possible one another's salvation, through the love that is in us one towards another.

(i) With no double and counterfeit heart, but with such a heart as is truly and indeed given to God.

(k) This is it which the Lord says, Be ye holy, for I am holy.

(l) With the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
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.
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: {8} and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

(8) Having mentioned the last coming of Christ, he stirs up the godly to the meditation of a holy life, and cites the faithless fallers from God to the fearful judgment seat of the Judge, because they wickedly rejected him in whom only salvation consists.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
For if we sin {m} wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

(m) Without any cause or occasion, or show of occasion.

But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the {n} adversaries.

(n) For it is another matter to sin through the frailty of man's nature, and another thing to proclaim war on God as on an enemy.

He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
{9} He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

(9) If the breach of the law of Moses was punished by death, how much more worthy of death is it to fall away from Christ?

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?
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?
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.
{10} For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall {o} judge his people.

(10) The reason of all these things is, because God is a revenger of those who despise him: otherwise he could not rightly govern his Church. Now there is nothing more horrible then the wrath of the living God.

(o) Rule or govern.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
{11} But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

(11) As he terrified the fallers away from God, so does he now comfort them that are constant and stand firm, setting before them the success of their former fights, so stirring them up to a sure hope of a full and ready victory.

Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Partly, whilst ye were made a {p} gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became {q} companions of them that were so used.

(p) You were brought forth to be shamed.

(q) In taking their miseries, to be your miseries.

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.
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 {r} substance.

(r) Goods and riches.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
For yet a {s} little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

(s) He will come within this very little while.

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
{12} Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

(12) He commends the excellency of a sure faith by the effect, because it is the only way to life, which sentence he sets forth and amplifies by contrast.

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599]

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