The Bible — World English Bible

Hebrews 10

In brief

Hebrews 10 concludes the great argument of the letter: the sacrifices of the old covenant could not take away sins, but Jesus offered one sacrifice, once for all, and then sat down at the right hand of God. From this certainty comes an invitation: to draw near to God with a sincere heart, to hold fast to hope, to watch over one another and not to abandon the gatherings. The chapter also contains a grave warning for those who willfully reject grace, then a call to endurance, because the righteous will live by faith.

The chapter in 5 parts

  1. v. 1-10The sacrifices of the law were not enough: Christ comes to do God's will
  2. v. 11-18One sacrifice, a new covenant, sins forgiven
  3. v. 19-25Drawing near, holding on to hope, not abandoning the assembly
  4. v. 26-31A grave warning against willfully rejecting grace
  5. v. 32-39Enduring by faith without shrinking back

1For the law, having a shadow of the good to come, not the very image of the things, can never with the same sacrifices year by year, which they offer continually, make perfect those who draw near.

2Or else wouldn’t they have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having been once cleansed, would have had no more consciousness of sins?

3But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.

4For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

5Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, “You didn’t desire sacrifice and offering, but you prepared a body for me.

6You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.

7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’ ”

8Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law),

9then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,

10by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and often offering the same sacrifices which can never take away sins,

12but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God,

13from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.

14For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,

16“This is the covenant that I will make with them: ‘After those days,’ says the Lord, ‘I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;’ ” then he says,

17“I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”

18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

19Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus,

20by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh,

21and having a great priest over God’s house,

22let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water,

23let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.

24Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,

25not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

26For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,

27but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.

28A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses.

29How much worse punishment do you think he will be judged worthy of who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant with which he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?

30For we know him who said, “Vengeance belongs to me;” says the Lord, “I will repay.” Again, “The Lord will judge his people.”

31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings;

33partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions; and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.

34For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.

35Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward.

36For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

37“In a very little while, he who comes will come, and will not wait.

38But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

39But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul.

Key verses

Verse 10
by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Sanctification is not the result of our efforts: it comes from the offering of the body of Jesus, made once for all. This is the foundation on which everything else in the chapter rests.

Verse 12
but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God,

Unlike the priests who offered the same sacrifices every day, Jesus sat down after offering one sacrifice. This image says that the work is finished and that nothing can be added to it.

Verse 23
let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.

Holding on to hope does not mean forcing yourself to feel optimistic. The reason to hold on is given in the second half of the verse: the one who promised is faithful.

Verse 25
not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

The Christian life is not designed to be lived alone. Believers are invited to gather and encourage one another, all the more as the Day approaches.

Verse 36
For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

After doing the will of God, there is still endurance needed to receive what is promised. This verse speaks to weary believers who have already endured a great deal.

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What the sermons say

Frequently asked questions about Hebrews 10

What does Hebrews 10:25 mean about the assembly?

The verse invites believers not to stop meeting together, as some had made a habit of doing, but to encourage one another. It does not speak of an outside obligation: it describes a need. It is easier to stand firm in faith when we are surrounded by others, and mutual encouragement is presented as all the more important as the Day approaches.

What is the main message of Hebrews 10?

Jesus offered a single, sufficient sacrifice to take away sins, where the sacrifices of the law had to be repeated. Believers can therefore come near to God with confidence, hold on to their hope, stay in community and persevere by faith despite trials. The chapter also contains a warning against deliberately rejecting this grace.

What does “boldness to enter into the holy place” mean?

In the temple, the innermost sanctuary was separated by a veil, and only the high priest entered it, once a year. The author of the letter states that, thanks to the blood of Jesus, this entrance is now open to all believers. It is an image of the direct access to God that Christ opened through his death.

Does Hebrews 10:26 mean that you can lose your salvation?

Christian traditions do not read this passage the same way. Some see a real warning for the believer who willfully turns away from Christ. Others see a description of those who never truly believed. All agree on the main point: the text warns against willful contempt for the sacrifice of Jesus, and it ends with an encouragement to faith (verse 39).

Articles quoting Hebrews 10

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World English Bible translation — public domain.