Hebrews 10:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

NIV: And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

NASB: By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

CSB: By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

NLT: For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

KJV: By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

NKJV: By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Prior verses indicated that God's plan was always to use Old Testament sacrifices as a temporary measure, pointing towards the eventual ministry of the Messiah. Psalm 40:6–8 was quoted to show how God's intent for His will involves a physical body, not offerings. The writer has been careful to point out that animal sacrifices could never fully cleanse man from sin, nor could they change us from the inside (Hebrews 9:8–10). The new covenant which God promised was to be in each person's heart and mind (Hebrews 8:7–13). Animal blood was only able to atone for ceremonial issues, not to solve our deepest problems of sin. Jesus' sacrifice, on the other hand, obtains what animal blood never could. Instead of being offered over and over, Jesus was sacrificed "once for all." If animal sacrifices could have obtained that salvation, there would have been no need to repeat them (Hebrews 10:1–2). The very fact that priests offered the same sacrifices over and over was proof that God never intended them to fully pay for sin. Our "sanctification" comes only by the blood of Christ, not the sacrifice of animals.

The term "sanctification" here is from the Greek word hēgiasmenoi, which is also translated as "made holy." The context here is important. While the Bible often speaks of a lifelong, progressive growth in holiness—often referred to as "sanctification"—the topic at hand here is salvation. The writer of Hebrews is currently speaking of the difference between temporary, repeated animal sacrifices, and the single, perfect sacrifice of Jesus. The context, then, indicates that this reference to "sanctification" is a reference to our salvation from eternal judgment, not our progressive growth in Christ.

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.

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 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.

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.