What does Hebrews 10:1 mean?
ESV: 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.
NIV: The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.
NASB: For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect.
CSB: Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year.
NLT: The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship.
KJV: 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.
NKJV: For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
Verse Commentary:
In the previous verses, the writer of Hebrews explained how the old covenant was meant as a symbol of the new covenant. The physical qualities of the tabernacle were meant to explain both the weaknesses of the old covenant and the superior nature of the new covenant. In particular, the writer pointed out how the blood of animals was an imperfect sacrifice. Not only did animal sacrifice need to be offered over and over, it did not have the power to actually "cleanse" man from sin, only to "cover" that sin temporarily (Hebrews 9:8–10).

Here, the same ideas are summarized. The old covenant was not incorrect, or useless. However, its true purpose was not eternal salvation. The real purpose of the old covenant was to point people towards Jesus Christ, as the fulfillment of God's ultimate plan.

The phrase "made perfect," as used here, is not a reference to absolute sinlessness. In this context, "perfection" carries the same meaning it usually does in the New Testament, which is that of completion and maturity. The sacrifices of the old covenant could not fully cleanse man in order to stand before God. The new covenant, however, can change the conscience of man and totally remove sin, allowing us to be "perfected"—matured and completed—in the eyes of God.
Verse Context:
Hebrews 10:1–18 summarizes the writer's argument that the new covenant, in Jesus Christ, is superior to the old covenant, based on animal sacrifices. Using themes developed in earlier passages, this section points out that God's own Word promised to replace the system centered on the priests and the temple. Those flawed earthly components were symbols of the ''real'' remedy for sin, which is the one-time sacrifice of Jesus. Having completed this long, detailed discourse, the writer will move on to practical applications, including a very stern warning.
Chapter Summary:
God's own words, found in the Old Testament Scriptures, declare His intention to replace the old covenant with a new covenant. Jesus fulfills all of these prophecies, and all of the symbolism found in the system of priests, the tabernacle, and animal sacrifices. Knowing that Jesus Christ is, undoubtedly, God's remedy for our sin, we should be encouraged in holding on to our faith in the face of persecution. However, that same confidence means dire spiritual consequences for those who know Christ's salvation, but choose to act in defiance of His will.
Chapter Context:
Chapter 10 completes the long, detailed explanation of why the new covenant is superior to the old covenant. Starting in chapter 7, the writer gave various arguments and Scriptures to support this idea. The theme of these points is that God had always intended to send Jesus, as the real fulfillment of the old covenant's symbolism. The second half of this chapter transitions into more practical ideas, including an extremely dire warning about the dangers of apostasy.
Book Summary:
The book of Hebrews is meant to challenge, encourage, and empower Christian believers. According to this letter, Jesus Christ is superior to all other prophets and all other claims to truth. Since God has given us Christ, we ought to listen to what He says and not move backwards. The consequences of ignoring God are dire. Hebrews is important for drawing on many portions of the Old Testament in making a case that Christ is the ultimate and perfect expression of God's plan for mankind. This book presents some tough ideas about the Christian faith, a fact the author makes specific note of.
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