Having encountered the new covenant that Jesus initiated for us, the author addresses this covenant in the context of the old covenant of the Law of Moses:
“For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins” (Heb 10:1-2)?
This is genius! If the Law could be obeyed to the point of perfection (which it cannot be), wouldn’t the need for sacrifices have disappeared?
“But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book”’” (Heb 10:3-7; Ps 40:6-7).
Picture Jesus, the Son, standing up in full manhood before his Father, acknowledging that his Father is unhappy with the old covenant of sacrifices and offerings, but that his Father would celebrate the body prepared for Him instead. This sounds insane at first glance – what father would be overjoyed over the dead body of his son? Take time right now and read all of Psalm 40:6-12 and see how powerfully David represents Jesus himself describing the body God desires in order to forgive sins!
“When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings (these are offered according to the law), then he added, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will.’ He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb 10:8-10).
Let there be no doubt: Jesus came to do God’s will – to justify the forgiveness of our sins through the offering of his body, once for all! I cannot think of a better description of perfect unity with Jesus than this passage from Psalm 40, which was written long before Jesus appeared, by King David.
Now revisit the contrast with the Law of Moses:
“And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sin, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting for that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Heb 10:11-14).
The Hebrews to whom this letter was written simply cannot give up their addiction to the first covenant of Moses for the second covenant of Jesus. And this suggests a parallel with non-believers today who are in disunity with God and Jesus because they cannot give up their dependence on addictions.
We are reminded here of the importance of the Holy Spirit as an equal member of the Trinity with God and Jesus:
“And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,’ then he adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’ Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin” (Heb 10:15-18).
Never forget, and never underestimate, the sacrifice of Jesus – once for all, and one for all in perfect unity.