Hebrews 10:2-9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 10:2

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? - Margin, “Or they would have.” The sense is the same. The idea is, that the very fact that they were repeated showed that there was some deficiency in them as to the matter of cleansing the soul from sin. If they had answered all the purposes of a sacrifice in putting away guilt, there would have been no need of repeating them in this manner. They were in this respect like medicine. If what is given to a patient heals him, there is no need of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 10:3

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year - The reference here is to the sacrifices made on the great day of atonement. This occurred once in a year. Of course as often as a sacrifice was offered, it was an acknowledgment of guilt on the part of those for whom it was made. As these sacrifices continued to be offered every year, they who made the offering were reminded of their guilt and their desert of punishment. All the efficacy which could be pretended to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 10:4

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins - The reference here is to the sacrifices which were made on the great day of the atonement, for on that day the blood of bulls and of goats alone was offered; see the notes on Hebrews 9:7. Paul here means to say, doubtless, that it was not possible that the blood of these animals should make a complete expiation so as to purify the conscience, and so as to save the sinner from deserved wrath. According to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 10:5

Wherefore - This word shows that the apostle means to sustain what he had said by a reference to the Old Testament itself. Nothing could be more opposite to the prevailing Jewish opinions about the efficacy of sacrifice, than what he had just said. It was, therefore, of the highest importance to defend the position which he had laid down by authority which they would not presume to call in question, and he therefore makes his appeal to their own Scriptures.When he cometh into the world - When... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 10:6

In burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure - This is not quoted literally from the Psalm, but the sense is retained. The reading there is, “burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required.” The quotation by the apostle is taken from the Septuagint, with the change of a single word, which does not materially affect the sense - the word ὀυκ ἐυδόκησας ouk eudokēsas - “ouk eudokesas” - “thou hast no pleasure,” instead of ὀυκ ἠθέλησας ouk ēthelēsas - “ouk... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 10:7

Then said I - “I the Messiah.” Paul applies this directly to Christ, showing that he regarded the passage in the Psalms as referring to him as the speaker.Lo, I come - Come into the world; Hebrews 10:5. It is not easy to see how this could be applied to David in any circumstance of his life. There was no situation in which he could say that, since sacrifices and offerings were not what was demanded, he came to do the will of God in the place or stead of them. The time here referred to by the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 10:8

Above when he said - That is, the Messiah. The word “above” refers here to the former part of the quotation. That is, “having in the former part of what was quoted said that God did not require sacrifices, in the latter part he says that he came to do the will of God in the place of them.”Sacrifice and offering, and burnt-offerings ... - These words are not all used in the Psalm from which the apostle quotes, but the idea is, that the specification there included all kinds of offerings. The... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 10:9

Then said he - In another part of the passage quoted. When he had said that no offering which man could make would avail, then he said that he would come himself.He taketh away the first - The word “first” here refers to sacrifices and offerings. He takes them away; that is, he shows that they are of no value in removing sin. He states their inefficacy, and declares his purpose to abolish them.That he may establish the second - To wit, the doing of the will of God. The two stand in contrast... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 10:2-3

Hebrews 10:2-3. For then would they not have ceased, &c. There would not have been need to have offered them more than once: that is, if these sacrifices had made the worshippers perfect, in respect of pardon, they would have ceased to be offered; because the worshippers once purged Or fully discharged from the guilt of their transgressions; should have had no more conscience of sin There would have remained no more sense of guilt upon their consciences to have troubled them, and no... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 10:4

Hebrews 10:4. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats Or of any brute animals; should take away sins Should make full satisfaction and atonement for them, so as to procure the pardon of them on its own account. To understand the apostle, we must remember, that though remission of sins be originally from mere grace and mercy, yet it is not to be accomplished by sovereign grace alone, which would be inconsistent with God’s truth, holiness, and righteous government of the... read more

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