Hebrews 10:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying,

NIV: The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

NASB: And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

CSB: The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. For after he says:

NLT: And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,

KJV: Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

NKJV: But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

Since Hebrews was written to persecuted Jewish Christians, the writer often makes use of quotations from the Old Testament. Use of these Jewish Scriptures is meant to reassure the reader that these are not new ideas. On the contrary, the ministry of Jesus Christ is exactly what God was predicting and promising in the Old Testament. The old covenant was a symbol of the new covenant, meant to teach and prepare us. The new covenant was promised, directly, by God. This is supported by references to figures such as Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:11–17) and prophets such as Jeremiah (Hebrews 8:7–13).

This is why this verse points out that it is the Holy Spirit who speaks to us. The segment quoted in the next verse is from Jeremiah 31:33, first quoted in Hebrews chapter 8. In the Jeremiah passage, God predicted a new covenant which would be written on the hearts and minds of the people. This new covenant, in contrast to the old, would mean a real resolution for human sin.

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.

Accessed 5/4/2024 11:31:11 AM