Hebrew 10:11-14 - A Christian’s Confidence
Hebrews 10:11And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” 13and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” 14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 19Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, 20by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), 21and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
The Book of Hebrews: Hebrews is not actually a letter. It is a long sermon that made the rounds of house churches in and around Jerusalem in the time of rising persecution prior to the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Many in those house churches were immigrants who came to Jerusalem after the Pentecost experience to be near the Temple to await the return of Jesus. The author of this work is unknown.
The Central problem addressed: Two things were happening that threatened the very fabric of faith and life. 1)The rise of persecution and the necessity for people who chose faith to pay a very high and dangerous price. 2) A kind of internal spiritual laziness and apathy. Many of these early believers came to the faith on a great religious high on or right after Pentecost. Ordinary life in the church was becoming boring and repetitive to them. They were falling off in their worship attendance and were not keeping the disciplines of prayer. They had expected more to change after the resurrection than they saw actually changing. Evil still seemed to persist. With some of their expectations thwarted, they were growing tired of trying to live the Christian life in a culture that did not support it at all. In a sense they were being attacked from without and within.
Atonement in the book of Hebrews: The word atonement refers to the saving action of Jesus on the cross that makes it possible for all people to be reconciled to God, to each other, and to live a transformed life for eternity. There are a number of different explanations of atonement in the New Testament. In theological language these explanations are called theories. All of them are supported by scripture in one way or another. They are in a sense different ways of looking at a reality so full of grace and wonder that we can never finally define it. Each of the New Testament writers seems to have a favorite lens through which to look at the cross. The author of Hebrews is a substitutionary atonement person. He or she understands the blood of Christ shed on the cross as substituting for the sacrifice that our own sin would require. Jesus gave his life so we wouldn’t have to. For the three chapters prior to today’s lesson, the author has argued that Jesus as our High Priest has made the once and for all time sacrifice to make all things right with God. Unlike the human high priests that offered blood sacrifices day after day after day, Jesus accomplished the final sacrifice. No more blood is needed. Sin is pardoned and guilt is no longer warranted. In today’s verses the author restates that case then moves on to address how we should live once we have accepted and been claimed by our forgiven status.
Word Study
Vs.12 – single sacrifice - our author reminds us that Jesus’ action on the cross was effective once and for all. There is no longer any estrangement due to sin. Therefore, guilt and fear are no longer to be a part of the believer’s life. They are unwarranted.
Sat down at the right hand of God – the author turns to Psalm 110 for images to describe our situation. The picture is of Jesus, having completed his work, sitting down to rest while God finishes the mop up operations and finally puts everything under Jesus’ control. It is kind of like Europe after D Day. The victory was sure but there were still battles being fought.
Vs. 14 – perfected – consummated, finished, fulfilled, completed, accomplished.
Sanctified – the word means to be made holy. In Greek it is in the present tense and indicates an on going process of becoming holy day by day.
Vs. 19 – sanctuary – refers to the holy place where God dwells, anywhere, not just in the Temple.
Vs. 20 – new – rare word used only here in the New Testament. Scholars think it means something like fresh, untried before.
Living way – this refers to the way of obedience to God’s plan.
He opened for us – literally ‘he inaugurated.’ This word carries theological overtones about the bringing about of a new covenant.
Vs. 22 – approach – draw near with humility and courage.
True heart – with sincerity and integrity.
Pure water – this refers to baptism. The word implies clear and clean water.
Vs. 23 – hold fast – seize, possess, retain.
Hope – this word is used of pleasurable confidence.
Vs. 24 – consider – to think mutually about,
Provoke – wonderful word! It means to pester, to irritate, to disturb the apathetic, to prod.
Good deeds – actions that both look good and are intrinsically moral.
Vs. 25 – neglecting – abandoning.
Meeting together – refers to both worship and fellowship.
Day – this refers to the coming day of fulfillment and judgment at the end of the age.
Questions for Personal Reflection
- When you think about what Jesus has done for you on the cross, what are the words that are most meaningful to you? Ransom? Redemption? Others?
- Our author emphasizes that we are to abandon all former guilt. It is of the past. To cling to it is to deny the power of the cross. Have you ever experienced guilt that would not seem to let go? How do you deal with this?
- What are the qualities of sanctified life that our author encourages us to cling to?
- How can you deepen your own spiritual walk so that you can better bear each other’s burdens and encourage people to hold on to hope?