Hebrews 10

Bible Passage:  Hebrews 10

Ever since I came to Israel, I have been constantly thinking about the similarities and differences of how Jews view their God and religion and how Christians, or us specifically, view God and our faith. Also as my Companion was studying the Old Testament and the translation to what it means today, in order to preach to his Jewish colleague, I was exposed to a lot of revelations about current Jewish beliefs and traditions, how they interpreted the scriptures compared to our understanding of the Old Testament.

As previously mentioned by other writers, Peter, Stephen and Paul all preached Christ from the Old Testament. Can we, the members of True Jesus Church, also be able to preach Christ to the Jews from the Old Testament? Whether they listen to us (gentiles) or not is another matter.

Atonement for Sin

Hebrews is a book that draws a lot of references to Old Testament. The beginning of chapter 10 mentions about animal sacrifices that the Israelites offered year by year, continually, repeatedly, yet it is only a reminder of sins but not possible to take away sins. But Jesus came to be our perpetual sacrifice and by His blood our sins can be taken away.

But in reality, the Jews that we relate so closely to the Israelites in the past, do not burn sacrifices anymore, because they don’t have the temple, the Ark of Covenant, and there are no more priests.

Today, they even do not believe that shedding of blood is necessary for forgiveness of sin.

The 5 offerings of the Mosaic law was such an important part of the Israelites’ faith but now it has been totally played down and ignored, just as the temple was the central of Israelites’ faith but now the temple is totally not important because it is not existent (there are Jews who still believe in the Mosaic law and wants to rebuild the temple of God someday). There are also writings that quote “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire” (cf Ps 40:6, Heb 10:6,8) – and said that God did not like offerings at all!

So why did God tell Moses to command the people to offer the sacrifices? Unable to do the commandments of God but recognising that and desiring to do is one thing. Not doing the commandments and finding your own explanation of what God is and saying what God did not say is another.

Do we understand why God established the 5 Offerings in Leviticus, the role of the High Priest and the Temple?

If they were to understand that, they will also understand how Jesus came to fulfill the role of the High Priest, and significance of all the offerings, and established the new temple. So its paradoxical, yet essential for them to deny Jesus is Christ.

Our faith that we can have direct access to God today is based on the fact that Jesus came down as man to die for the sins of man.

Without His sacrifice, we have no access to God; we are separated by our sins from God and we need a mediator. The high priest in the Old Testament was the temporary mediator, and eventually Jesus became the ultimate and perpetual Mediator between God and Man. Without the faith in the offerings that God established in the Mosaic Law, it is difficult to see how Jesus fulfills the Law.

Sin vs fear of God

v.26-27 “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice of sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

v.31 “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

When we discuss sin with some so-called Christians, they sometimes respond in such a way that all of us cannot claim we have no sin, and we naturally will agree with the statement.

But that deviates from what we are supposed to be driving at. We are supposed to bring to their attention commandments which they have overlooked so that they return to the right path leading to salvation!

The problem lies in that many Christians use this thinking that because we cannot claim we have no sin so it is okay to continue to sin.

Since we will always sin, and we cannot claim we have no sin, we just rely on the great mercy of God.

While the statement seems correct, thinking deeper we will realise with such a concept they gave themselves excuses to commit sin, forgetting that the Bible warns us agains wilful sinning, which will result in no more forgiveness. It is strange that such Christians do not seem to live a life of fearing God, whom they should, for we all believe God is living; they continually go against the commandments of God.

I guess it is the same for some of us who do not receive punishment after sinning and we think that God forgives us and do not hold it against us.

In the same way the Jews believe that God has forgiven them even when they did not have the temple nor made sacrifices after 70 years of captivity because He had heard their cries and saved them. It is dangerous to mistake the mercy of God to atonement for our sins, as if we have done enough to obtain His forgiveness. It is more dangerous for us to think we have so much “faith” in His mercy that we do not lead a life that seem to fear God.

Just a reminder – realise that the 5 Offerings in Leviticus there is no sacrifice for intentional sin? Even Sin offering is for unintentional sin. Does that not remind us that God does not condone intentional sins? It is a fearful reminder and we ought to be fearful!

Let us seek to truly understand the significance of Jesus sacrifice, His perfect sanctification and not discount the blood that He shed for us. All glory to Jesus’ perfect sacrifice!