Well. Tomorrow is the lesson so I had better be through studying by now.
Thanks to all of you who have shared your thoughts on this verse. It has been an interesting study and your input has certainly help give me thoughts on directions to head in. I always enjoy others thoughts on things that I study because, without fail, there are thoughts and issues brought up that I would not have thought of on my own and my understanding is enhanced by the experience.
So... this is a basic overview of where the lesson is going tomorrow.
Point #1. Pay attention to the title of the book. Hebrews. Romans was written to the Romans. Ephesians was written to the Ephesians. And Hebrews was written to the Hebrews. This already gives us a point of understanding to build from in understanding God's Word. The audience can make a lot of difference.
Point #2. The context leading up to the verse. While the context of this conversation goes back a number of chapters and all of it is relevant and should be read to gather a complete understanding of the scriptures we will dwell mainly within the 10th Chapter.
Looking through the chapter we can put together the topic of conversation and pick up where the author has been heading when we get down to verse 26.
(Sorry... I don't have time to put the blow by blow discussion of all of these verses in here tonight. But, suffice it to say, the subject is that of the law and the fact that it was a shadow of things to come and cannot remove sin or else they wouldn't have to keep doing it again and again. It goes on to talk about the sacrifice that DOES take away sin forever and was prophesied about in Jeremiah. Then we get down to Verse 26)
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Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Hebrews 10:2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
Hebrews 10:3 But in those [sacrifices there is] a remembrance again [made] of sins every year.
Hebrews 10:4 For [it is] not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
Hebrews 10:6 In burnt offerings and [sacrifices] for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
Hebrews 10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and [offering] for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure [therein]; which are offered by the law;
Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [for all].
Hebrews 10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
Hebrews 10:15 [Whereof] the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
Hebrews 10:16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Hebrews 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
Hebrews 10:18 Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.
Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Hebrews 10:21 And [having] an high priest over the house of God;
Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
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Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Hebrews 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Hebrews 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
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We actually find the definition of the "willful sin" being spoken of in verse 29. Verse 29 says...
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Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
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All sin is willful to some extent. To view this as speaking of any time that we do something wrong willfully pretty nearly negates the entire sacrifice of Christ. In verse 29 we see that it is talking about someone who has trodden under foot the Son of God and has counted the blood of the covenant an unholy thing.
Considering this is written to the Hebrews.
Considering the lengthy oratory on the law and how it could not forgive sin.
Considering the talk on the prophesy of this new covenant and how it takes our sins away and removes them from our conscience.
Considering the defining of a willful sin in verse 29.
This seems to be clearly speaking of those who had come to the knowledge of the Messiah, the Christ, the one sacrifice for sin and then turned from that great work and returned to the ways of the law, thereby, calling the work of Christ and the cross an unholy thing.
You did once have sacrifices made for you. You did once walk in the way God had given you. But now you have walked in a more perfect way. Now you have lived the fulfillment of that type and shadow and seen it's fullness.
There is no sacrifice to go back to. There is no more sacrifice for you because the old is fulfilled in the new and you have rejected and trodden under foot the very work of you God, Christ and King.
There is no redeemer left. You have rejected him at every angle.
So... I am not the wise man. I am a simple sunday school teacher who is doing his best to answer his students questions and, in the process, teach them how to study the word for themselves. So please do continue the conversation as I remain ready to continue learning and perfecting my understanding of our great God and His Holy Word.
Thanks again for all of your input.
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