Hebrews 10:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

NIV: Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

NASB: Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;

CSB: Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins.

NLT: Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.

KJV: And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

NKJV: And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

This continues the same theme begun several verses earlier: the very nature of the Old Testament sacrifices proves they were not meant to be our ultimate salvation. The priests of the old covenant had to constantly offer sacrifices. They had to pass the priesthood along when they died (Hebrews 7:23), and to repeatedly bring the same atonement to God, both for their own sin and for those of the people (Hebrews 7:27). If it was possible for those sacrifices to permanently cleanse us from sin, there would have been no need to offer them over and over (Hebrews 10:1–2). They simply could not "take away sins." All they could do was temporarily cover them.

This means that a large part of God's intent in arranging the old covenant was to prepare us for Jesus. The purpose of the tabernacle, and the old covenant, was to explain our own weakness, and foreshadow the coming of One who would offer a single, perfect, permanent payment for human sin (Hebrews 9:7–12). Part of this symbolism is in the fact that the priests are said to be "standing," a contrast to Christ as described in the next verse.

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.