Add parallel Print Page Options

Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All

10 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared.

But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Read full chapter

Concluding Exposition: Old and New Sacrifices Contrasted

10 For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship.[a] For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have[b] no further consciousness of sin? But in those sacrifices[c] there is a reminder of sins year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 10:1 tn Grk “those who approach.”
  2. Hebrews 10:2 tn Grk “the worshipers, having been purified once for all, would have.”
  3. Hebrews 10:3 tn Grk “in them”; the referent (those sacrifices) has been specified in the translation for clarity.