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By a New and Living Way
What it says:Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
What it means:
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Whom did Jesus perfect? Them that are sanctified.
For how long are they perfected? For ever.
Eph_1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph_4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
When a person places his or her trust in Jesus Christ for salvation, they receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who writes the law of God in our hearts and minds. In Ephesians we see also that after someone becomes a believer they are sealed with “that Holy Spirit of promise” unto the day of redemption. Sealed with a holy promise. We are also warned not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God with continued sin. That sealing by the Holy Spirit of God is the same as “sanctification” which means we have been set apart to God to be His people by His own Spirit.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Who does the Holy Ghost witness to? To us - to believers
How does He do that? By His Word (the Bible), and in our hearts
Notice the colon after the word “us:” which signifies that what follows is an explanation of the previous phrase. God has given us His witness previously in His word “after” or “patterned after” His promised new covenant – as follows:
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Where will the Lord write his laws? God actually writes His laws in our hearts and minds. He purges our consciences (our hearts and minds) from dead works (sin) to serve the living God (sanctification for good works). He begins to speak directly to us in His gentle way. He never intrudes, he listens and he advises. When we feel conviction, that is the Holy Spirit speaking to us, and thank God for that, because He is guiding us to right behavior (according to His law) if we will humble ourselves.
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
What will God purposely forget? Our sins, and our iniquities.
Robert Morris, Gateway Church, “Divine Benefits, Divine Forgiveness” -- God forgives our acts of sin (transgressions). God is omniscient and has all knowledge, but by an act of His will, He also chooses not to remember our sin. God has forgiven us for our inward motivations to sin (iniquities). He has released us from our inward bent towards sin. Jesus said it is all sin, outward and inward, acts and thoughts, but through God’s divine forgiveness:
⦁ He removes our transgressions
⦁ He remembers our sins no more
⦁ He releases us from our iniquities
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Define: Remission – release from debt, penalty, or obligation; forgiveness or pardon
If we have complete eternal remission (forgiveness and pardon) why would we need to make more offerings for sin? One of the reasons Christ died for us was because God was not pleased with offerings for sin. Christ has given us remission, therefore there is no further need for the priests to make sin offerings. The new has replaced the old.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
What do we have instead of an offering for sin? Boldness to enter into the holiest.
By what do we enter the holiest? By the blood of Jesus.
We have liberty to draw near to God in Christ, His Son!
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
By what kind of a way? A new and living way.
Notice that by the blood of Jesus, all animal sacrifices then ceased for Christians, and rather than receiving remission of our sins by the death of more animals we now have a new and living way – for Jesus was resurrected from the dead. This is the most tremendous difference between the old way and the new way: Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Not one of the animal sacrifices was resurrected to new life. They simply paid the penalty by their death, which was not sufficient to provide new life.
A new and living way has been consecrated for us through what? Through the veil.
What is the veil? His (Jesus') flesh.
Popular Commentary on the New Testament: The thing to note is that ‘through’ does not mark the instrument, but the intervening hindrance that needed to be removed or rent that man might enter—the way was through it unto God, so that the true parallel is Mat 27:51 “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”. Christ came in ‘the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin,’ and it is exactly the sin and the sinful flesh His incarnation and dying represent, that come between us and God; and when He died for sin, the veil was rent; and when He ascended and entered heaven for us, it was completely taken away. Thus it is that we are reconciled in the body of his flesh through death (Col_1:22).
Col 1:21-23 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Biblical Illustrator: II. THE WAY OF ACCESS. (adapted)
1. A new way. (The old is passed away, the new has replaced it – God’s promise fulfilled.)
2. A living way. (By the resurrection of Jesus from death to life!)
3. A consecrated way. (By the gift of the Holy Spirit given to each believer.)
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Who governs the house of God? Jesus, our High Priest.
Our author has just listed an almost staggeringly wonderful list of things that God blessed us with when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer.
1. Heb 10:14 -- We are perfected forever
2. Heb 10:15 -- The Holy Ghost has witnessed to us
3. Heb 10:16 -- The Holy Spirit speaks to our minds and hearts
4. Heb 10:17 -- We are forgiven of our sins, and of the motivation to sin
5. Heb 10:18 -- We no longer have to make offerings for sin
6. Heb 10:19 -- We have liberty to speak to God ourselves (boldness at the Throne of Grace)
7. Heb 10:20 -- We have a new and living way.
8. Heb 10:21 -- Jesus is our High Priest -- Hallelujah!
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near
Above is what God has done for us. Now we look at our part:
Let who draw near? Let us (believers) draw near.
Near to what? Near to God.
When people draw near to something it shows their interest, curiosity, and desire to know something that they have not known intimately before. When people draw near to God it implies the recognition of new safety and goodness. All the aforementioned blessings and advantages are certainly incentive to draw near to God.
Biblical Illustrator: DRAWING NEAR. Observe by way of contrast
1. Moses at the burning bush. “Draw not nigh hither.” (Do not come near here.) Fire symbolic of judgment. God cannot thus be approached unto.
2. Children of Israel of Mount Sinai. The injunction given to stand off from the mount, God present in holiness, requiring perfect obedience to His law. This, man could not render. Therefore there was no hope of being reconciled to God by the law.
3. Yet now the apostle says, “Let us draw near.” How is this? Because
(1) Christ hast fulfilled the law—He has become a (mediator) between us and God,
(2) God has drawn near to us.
(3) He Himself has invited us to draw near -- "Come unto Me,”....
with a true heart
Define: True – faithful, dedicated, constant, loyal, sincere, firm, stanch, confirmed, dutiful, devoted, unwavering, steadfast, persevering, purposeful (Antonym: unfaithful)
Define: Heart – spirit, mind, soul, center, core, nucleus, hub
Our drawing near requires something from us, too: A true and sincere heart that seeks God.
Amo_5:4 For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:
Luk_12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Draw near to God with a true heart.
in full assurance of faith,
Full assurance is complete confidence. Faith is based on trusting God’s witness to us that we are accepted in Jesus.
Eph 1:6-7 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Paul Bayne --The grace of God brings us to receive favour and grace in and through His Beloved. Christ has satisfied justice, so that grace may be freely bestowed upon us.
Draw near to God in full assurance of faith.
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Under the law, these were done physically by the high priest or, in the case of the ashes of the heifer, a clean person could take a tiny pinch of ashes combined with quantities of pure water to wash the whole body and the defilement away. Under grace these were both done spiritually by Jesus Christ – we are no longer defiled. We have faith that these things have already been done for us by Jesus Christ. God has made us accepted in the Beloved!
We draw near to God trusting that our hearts have been sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Joh_13:8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
Biblical Illustrator: III. THE MANNER OF APPROACH.
1. With boldness.
2. With a true heart.
3. In full assurance of faith.
4. With hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience.
5. With bodies washed with pure water.
We no longer need either the blood or the ashes of a dead animal mixed with water to cleanse us, for Jesus Christ has washed us clean by His blood – and blessed us by His resurrection to new life!! Amen!
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering;
Define: Hold – cling to, grasp something, to take something firmly and retain it in the hands or arms, fix something in position, to keep something fixed in a particular position, embrace something whole heartedly, clutch, seize, take hold of, grip, understand, comprehend, take in
Define: Fast – unfading, strong and close, steadfast, fastened, shut, firmly closed
Define: Wavering – indecisive, inconsistent, of two minds, hesitant, fickle, fluctuate between possibilities, to go back and forth or be indecisive about something, begin to change opinion, to become unsure, or begin to change from a previous position or opinion, move in different directions, zigzag, fluctuate, flicker
What is the antonym or opposite of “wavering?” (Antonym to wavering: steadfast, resolute, persistent, dedicated, unswerving, firm, loyal, trusty, reliable, trustworthy, settled, sure, convinced, positive, confident, firm, assured, consistent)
What are we to “hold fast” to what? We are invited and admonished to hold tightly to our profession of faith. Then he says the same thing another way: “without wavering” which means to be decisive, resolute, and unyielding in our acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. This is what faith does!!
BBC: The second exhortation is to hold fast the confession of our hope. Nothing must be allowed to turn us from the staunch confession that our only hope is in Christ.
For those who were tempted to give up the future, unseen blessings of Christianity for the present, visible things of Judaism (or the world), there is the reminder that He who promised is faithful. His promises can never fail; no one who trusts in Him will ever be disappointed. The Savior will come, as He has promised, and His people will be with Him and (be) like Him forever.
Jesus is our only hope… and He is all the hope we need!!
(for he is faithful that promised;)
God is faithful to His word and His promise.
Isa_55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Joh_5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another
Define: Consider – bear in mind, respect, take into account, care about, be concerned about, (Antonym: disregard)
What does it mean to “consider one another?” To care about each other. To consider or to think about our fellow believers, not just ourselves.
Adam Clarke: And let us consider one another - Κατανοωμεν· Let us diligently and attentively consider each other’s trials, difficulties, and weaknesses; feel for each other, and excite each other to an increase of love to God and man; and, as the proof of it, to be fruitful in good works.
Php 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
to provoke unto love and to good works:
Define: Provoke – cause, bring about, trigger, stir up, incite, hassle, needle, goad
What two things are we to encourage or provoke each other to do: To love and to good works.
Adam Clarke: The words εις παροξυσμον, to the provocation, are often taken in a good sense, and signify excitement, stirring up, to do any thing laudable, useful, honorable, or necessary. Xenophon, Cyrop., speaking of the conduct of Cyrus towards his officers, says: Και τουτους επαινων τε, παρωξυνε, και χαριζομενος αυτοις ὁ τι δυναιτο. “He by praises and gifts excited them as much as possible.”
When do people need to be “provoked to do something?” When they are not doing it, or have forgotten to do it, or when they are afraid they cannot do it. We need to both give and receive support from our fellow Christian friends and family to do what is right in all circumstances: show love and do good works.
BBC: We should also be discovering ways of encouraging fellow believers to manifest love and to engage in good works. In the NT sense, love is not an emotion but an act of the will. We are commanded to love, therefore it is something we can and must do. Love is the root; good works are the fruit. By our example and by our teaching, we should stir up other believers to this kind of life.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
Define: Forsake – abandon, desert, leave, disown, renounce, relinquish, give up, turn your back on
Define: Assemble – bring together, collect, gather, convene, congregate, rally, marshal, meet, (Antonym: disband)
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
It is not only good to assemble ourselves, we are commanded to “not forsake” the practice of assembling. The size of the group does not matter as long as there are at least two who believe in Jesus and they are gathered for the purpose of prayer, worship, and Bible study, to draw near to God. We gather together to support ourselves in our faith.
Bible Illustrator: But in thus drawing near unto God, and holding fast the profession of our hope, we must bear in mind that we are called to be a brotherhood, and that faith and hope are to be exercised in love. We are the body of Christ, and members one of another. We are to please not ourselves, but our brother unto edification. We are to consider one another as fellow pilgrims; to study our brother’s need and sorrow, difficulty and trial; to exercise our mind on our duty and relation to him, that thus we may be helpful to him in his course, and stimulate and encourage him to good works. … And in this spirit of love we should cherish Christian communion; “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” Christianity is eminently an individual heart-affair; but it is also eminently social. The promise of Christ’s presence is to the assembly gathered in His name. (A. Saphir.)
as the manner of some is;
There were some who had forsaken or abandoned the group, but we are not to be like them.
but exhorting one another:
Define: Exhorting – urge, advise, advocate, support, recommend, insist on, push for, press, push, encourage, insist, pressure (Antonym: oppose, demand, prevent)
and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
What day approaches? The day of Jesus’ return is closer than it has ever been before. We are to be even more earnest to give and to receive support and encouragement from our fellowship of Christians to continue to love and to do good works. From our group of believers we receive our encouragement. From the Holy Spirit we receive our personal inner guidance.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
I believe that to truly understand what is being said here, we need to look at these two verses as a whole statement. If we break it down phrase by phrase as we usually do, it may become muddled and confused with things that our author is not speaking of. The main point is that of “willfully sinning” and its consequences. Notice the very last phrase is talking about “adversaries.”
Define: Adversaries – opponent, challenger, rival, enemy, foe, antagonist, opposition (Antonym: supporter)
Define: Antichrist – antagonist of Jesus Christ, opponent of Jesus Christ, a person or power opposed to Jesus Christ, enemy of Jesus Christ
Define: Apostasy – renunciation of faith, denial or rejection of moral or religious belief, repudiation, abandonment of a previous loyalty, defection
Our author is, again, reminding us that if we stop believing we shall fall in the wilderness and never get to the Promised Land. He is repeating the warning that he previously gave in chapter 6:
Heb 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
A person who falls away from the faith and becomes anti-Christ (becomes apostate) has no chance to be renewed a second time. The thought that lead to him repeating his warning was back in verse 25:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Define: Manner – way, mode, method, behavior, conduct, comportment
Through this whole book our author has been holding up opposites to shine the light of understanding on the two poles: the faithful believer, and those who fall away in unbelief.
What do the faithful believers keep their eyes on? Continuing to assemble together to support and encourage each other as we see the day of Jesus’ return approaching. We are working hard to love, to do good works, and to keep our faith in the salvation of Jesus Christ and the promises of God.
What do the unfaithful apostates have to look forward to? “A certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”
Define: Certain – sure, firm, definite, convinced, assured, clear, evident, undeniable, guaranteed, certified
So what is the “willful sin” our author is speaking about? Refusing to continue to believe -- and assemble with other believers. When a person begins the process of “falling away” the very first thing he does is abandon the congregation of believers to whom he had been attached. Our obedience is born of belief, so if we decide (make a willful decision) to no longer believe… we again become one of the disobedient.
These Hebrew folks can no longer go to the Priest with a sacrifice in hand to receive the forgiveness of sins. That day is over and done. We know it is done because it is no longer needed.
Heb_9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
What about my sin, as a believer? We are not perfect – and in this life we are never going to be. But Christ is perfect and is holding our perfection in heaven for us. We need to keep in mind that Christ is our High Priest in the present -- today -- living in heaven, sitting on the right hand of God FOR US!.
1Jn 2:1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Pe 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Read our verses again:
Heb 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Heb 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Heb 10:18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Heb 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Heb 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
