This commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1For 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.
2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8Above 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;
9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The Greek word here for “are sanctified” is Strong's G37 - hagiazō and it is in the perfect tense. Which means it is one and done. We don’t have to maintain our salvation or sanctification.
”Perfect tense: In Greek corresponds to the perfect tense in English, and describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated.” - Sourced form blueletterbible.com
11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
We are sanctified now, this is not a future or ongoing event, Jude 1 says“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”
Verse 10 above also states the same and that this sanctification is once and for all“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
The Greek word here for “are sanctified” is Strong's G37 - hagiazō and it is in the present tense. Some modern translations like the NKJV render it as “being sanctified” which can be confusing as it can sound like it is still happening or something we must achieve. Those that teach works salvation will incorporate this into their false teachings and cause fear in people (to clarify they are false, compare to verse 10 above in the NKJV, as G37 is in the perfect tense there). The Greek definition of the present tense reads as follows:
”Present tense: represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time. In most cases this corresponds directly with the English present tense. Some phrases which might be rendered as past tense in English will often occur in the present tense in Greek. These are termed "historical presents," and such occurrences dramatize the event described as if the reader were there watching the event occur. Some English translations render such historical presents in the English past tense, while others permit the tense to remain in the present.” - Sourced form blueletterbible.com
15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16This 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;
17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
All sin is gone, past, present and future. There is literally not more sin to have a sacrifice offered for.
19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21And having an high priest over the house of God;
22Let 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.
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25Not 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.
26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
First off we must establish two things when looking at this passage:
The “we” here and verse 30 below “The Lord shall judge his people” make it clear the author is speaking of himself and the Christians he is writing to. Therefore, this passage is written to and referencing Christians.
The author of Hebrews is citing some verses from Deuteronomy 32, a passage in which God is chastising (disciplining) His people, the Israelites, His children, for their unfaithfulness. As we progress down, we will see different verses from Deut 32 being quoted throughout.
James 4:17 parallels this here “after that we have received the knowledge of the truth”and says“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”. Once we know what is right and deliberately choose to do otherwise, we become fully accountable for that sin. In this sense, “no more sacrifice for sins” means there is no additional covering or exemption we are now subject to God's discipline as His children.
We are still saved, justified, as Romans teaches and in keeping context as Hebrews 10:14 affirms “perfect forever”. So this passage is not about losing salvation or justification, but about the consequences of willful sin in our ongoing relationship with God.
In summary, Hebrews 10:26 highlights the relational consequences of willful sin in the life of a believer. As we will see as continue below, it is not speaking of a loss of salvation, but rather a serious warning that continued disobedience, rebellion, places us under God’s active and sometimes severe discipline for our sanctification. It is not that Christ’s blood stops being sufficient for our justification as this would contradict the beginning of Hebrews 10 and much other scripture.
Why? Because God is a loving Father, fully committed to our growth in holiness. As verse 30 emphasizes, “The Lord shall judge His people” not the world, but His own children, believers. This is not condemnation, but perfect, loving correction. God's discipline is never rash, harsh, or abusive, like the flawed parenting many have experienced on earth. Instead, His judgment is measured, purposeful, and always rooted in His desire to restore and sanctify His children.
27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Hebrews 12:31 tells us that God is an all consuming fire and in context to that chapter it is speaking of his chastisement upon His children. Here we see he will have two things “judgement”and“indignation”.The word “fiery” here is describing just how furious He is, some translations describe this as “fury of fire”, but essentially God is really ticked off. If we are in sin, we should be afraid.
In the Old Testament we can really see this described more in verses like Deuteronomy 32:22, where God’s fury “fiery indignation”is described like a fire when He is chastising the children of Israel: "For a fire is kindled in my anger, and burns unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains."
The phrase “which shall devour the adversaries” is describing that the anger and fury which God will use upon those that reject Him (non-believers). It is the same level He will use on His own children when they go astray and treat the sacrifice of Son as an unholy thing.
28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Although there was no mercy here the justice of God was still enacted by the mouth of “two or three witnesses”(Deuteronomy 17:6, Numbers 35:30). God was sure the punishment fit the crime just as He will do to us as His children.
Again here we see the death isn’t the second death/spiritual, referencing our eternal soul but instead, it is contrasted to the physical death the Israelite's experienced in the Old Testament for disobedience.
As 1 Corinthians 11:30 states, we too can be chastised unto the point of our physical death “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”
And in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read our bodies are the temple of God. Then in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 we see that again God may cause us to die for chastisement of defiled it through fornication. He may destroy our body: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
29Of 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?
This entire passage is clearly talking to believers and the phrase here ”he was sanctified” confirms this. Just as verse 10 and 14 describes believers as those that are perfect forever and sanctified. Forever means it cannot be undone.
Verse 10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Verse 14 “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
In 1 Corinthians 6:3 Paul also says that we are sanctified“And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
All throughout the New Testament letters of the apostles we are told to walk and live holy for we were bought at such a high price for our freedom from salvation and the consequences of sin itself. We are to therefore glorify God and if we don’t and count the blood of the covenant as holy. So much so that we walk in awe, fear and reverence of it. How evil it is for a believer to not care and “trodden under foot the Son of God”. This is the one that loved us so much He died for us and now we act like we don’t care? We should be punished sorely.
Lastly, we can see this is speaking to saved believers that are still going to heaven. They aren’t going to possibly lose salvation like some teach. In verse 34 below he says they know “knowing”they are going to heaven ”ye have in heaven” and not only that they are going there but a reward awaits them.
30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
As stated initially above and further supporting this all is referring to God’s chastisement of His people, believers, is the Old Testament source from which it was quoted. The author of Hebrews is citing Deuteronomy 32:35 when he says “Vengeance belongeth unto me”, “I will recompense”, and“The Lord shall judge his people”, a passage in which the context is God chastising (disciplining) His people, the Israelites, His children, for their unfaithfulness:
Verse 35 “To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
Verse 36 “For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.”
In 1 Corinthians 11:29-32 Paul parallels this passage and speaks of this judgement for those in sin and taking communion. It causes some to be sick and others to even die.“29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”
The Greek word used for “judge” in both 1 Cor 11:31,32 and here in Heb 10:30 is Strong's G2919 - krinō.
Hebrews 12 speaks of this judgement of when “The Lord shall judge his people”, believers. This is not a judgement for everyone in the world, non-believers are not included. In verses 5-7 we read “5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not”
We can be encouraged that we are called “His people”here. This passage is not about the loss of salvation, but it should still discourage us from walking in the flesh after seeing the consequences described.
So as verse 26 above says if we willfully sin after “knoweth to do good, and doeth it not,” as James 4:17 says will be chastised or punished.
31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
In Hebrews 12 verse 29 after the author just spoke about the chastisement of God he then says “For our God is a consuming fire”. Again, keeping chastisement in view here we see the parallel, this should cause a believer to have a holy fear of their Father if they are living in repentant sin.
32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
If there was any doubt the writer is speaking of chastisement towards believers in this chapter he says here they know they are going to heaven and not only that but a reward awaits them there ”ye have in heaven”.
35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
10
Hebrews 10 — Forever Word commentary
King James VersionThis commentary is a work in progress and may be revised as study continues. If you have a question, spot an error, or want to discuss a passage, please reach out.
1For 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.
2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8Above 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;
9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
The Greek word here for “are sanctified” is Strong's G37 - hagiazō and it is in the perfect tense. Which means it is one and done. We don’t have to maintain our salvation or sanctification.
”Perfect tense: In Greek corresponds to the perfect tense in English, and describes an action which is viewed as having been completed in the past, once and for all, not needing to be repeated.” - Sourced form blueletterbible.com
11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
We are sanctified now, this is not a future or ongoing event, Jude 1 says “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”
Verse 10 above also states the same and that this sanctification is once and for all “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
The Greek word here for “are sanctified” is Strong's G37 - hagiazō and it is in the present tense. Some modern translations like the NKJV render it as “being sanctified” which can be confusing as it can sound like it is still happening or something we must achieve. Those that teach works salvation will incorporate this into their false teachings and cause fear in people (to clarify they are false, compare to verse 10 above in the NKJV, as G37 is in the perfect tense there). The Greek definition of the present tense reads as follows:
”Present tense: represents a simple statement of fact or reality viewed as occurring in actual time. In most cases this corresponds directly with the English present tense. Some phrases which might be rendered as past tense in English will often occur in the present tense in Greek. These are termed "historical presents," and such occurrences dramatize the event described as if the reader were there watching the event occur. Some English translations render such historical presents in the English past tense, while others permit the tense to remain in the present.” - Sourced form blueletterbible.com
15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16This 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;
17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
All sin is gone, past, present and future. There is literally not more sin to have a sacrifice offered for.
19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21And having an high priest over the house of God;
22Let 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.
23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25Not 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.
26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
First off we must establish two things when looking at this passage:
The “we” here and verse 30 below “The Lord shall judge his people” make it clear the author is speaking of himself and the Christians he is writing to. Therefore, this passage is written to and referencing Christians.
The author of Hebrews is citing some verses from Deuteronomy 32, a passage in which God is chastising (disciplining) His people, the Israelites, His children, for their unfaithfulness. As we progress down, we will see different verses from Deut 32 being quoted throughout.
James 4:17 parallels this here “after that we have received the knowledge of the truth” and says “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”. Once we know what is right and deliberately choose to do otherwise, we become fully accountable for that sin. In this sense, “no more sacrifice for sins” means there is no additional covering or exemption we are now subject to God's discipline as His children.
We are still saved, justified, as Romans teaches and in keeping context as Hebrews 10:14 affirms “perfect forever”. So this passage is not about losing salvation or justification, but about the consequences of willful sin in our ongoing relationship with God.
In summary, Hebrews 10:26 highlights the relational consequences of willful sin in the life of a believer. As we will see as continue below, it is not speaking of a loss of salvation, but rather a serious warning that continued disobedience, rebellion, places us under God’s active and sometimes severe discipline for our sanctification. It is not that Christ’s blood stops being sufficient for our justification as this would contradict the beginning of Hebrews 10 and much other scripture.
Why? Because God is a loving Father, fully committed to our growth in holiness. As verse 30 emphasizes, “The Lord shall judge His people” not the world, but His own children, believers. This is not condemnation, but perfect, loving correction. God's discipline is never rash, harsh, or abusive, like the flawed parenting many have experienced on earth. Instead, His judgment is measured, purposeful, and always rooted in His desire to restore and sanctify His children.
27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Hebrews 12:31 tells us that God is an all consuming fire and in context to that chapter it is speaking of his chastisement upon His children. Here we see he will have two things “judgement” and “indignation”. The word “fiery” here is describing just how furious He is, some translations describe this as “fury of fire”, but essentially God is really ticked off. If we are in sin, we should be afraid.
In the Old Testament we can really see this described more in verses like Deuteronomy 32:22, where God’s fury “fiery indignation” is described like a fire when He is chastising the children of Israel: "For a fire is kindled in my anger, and burns unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains."
The phrase “which shall devour the adversaries” is describing that the anger and fury which God will use upon those that reject Him (non-believers). It is the same level He will use on His own children when they go astray and treat the sacrifice of Son as an unholy thing.
28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Although there was no mercy here the justice of God was still enacted by the mouth of “two or three witnesses” (Deuteronomy 17:6, Numbers 35:30). God was sure the punishment fit the crime just as He will do to us as His children.
Again here we see the death isn’t the second death/spiritual, referencing our eternal soul but instead, it is contrasted to the physical death the Israelite's experienced in the Old Testament for disobedience.
As 1 Corinthians 11:30 states, we too can be chastised unto the point of our physical death “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”
And in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 we read our bodies are the temple of God. Then in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 we see that again God may cause us to die for chastisement of defiled it through fornication. He may destroy our body: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
29Of 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?
This entire passage is clearly talking to believers and the phrase here ”he was sanctified” confirms this. Just as verse 10 and 14 describes believers as those that are perfect forever and sanctified. Forever means it cannot be undone.
Verse 10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Verse 14 “For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”
In 1 Corinthians 6:3 Paul also says that we are sanctified “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
All throughout the New Testament letters of the apostles we are told to walk and live holy for we were bought at such a high price for our freedom from salvation and the consequences of sin itself. We are to therefore glorify God and if we don’t and count the blood of the covenant as holy. So much so that we walk in awe, fear and reverence of it. How evil it is for a believer to not care and “trodden under foot the Son of God”. This is the one that loved us so much He died for us and now we act like we don’t care? We should be punished sorely.
Lastly, we can see this is speaking to saved believers that are still going to heaven. They aren’t going to possibly lose salvation like some teach. In verse 34 below he says they know “knowing” they are going to heaven ”ye have in heaven” and not only that they are going there but a reward awaits them.
30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
As stated initially above and further supporting this all is referring to God’s chastisement of His people, believers, is the Old Testament source from which it was quoted. The author of Hebrews is citing Deuteronomy 32:35 when he says “Vengeance belongeth unto me”, “I will recompense”, and “The Lord shall judge his people”, a passage in which the context is God chastising (disciplining) His people, the Israelites, His children, for their unfaithfulness:
Verse 35 “To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
Verse 36 “For the Lord shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.”
In 1 Corinthians 11:29-32 Paul parallels this passage and speaks of this judgement for those in sin and taking communion. It causes some to be sick and others to even die. “29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”
The Greek word used for “judge” in both 1 Cor 11:31,32 and here in Heb 10:30 is Strong's G2919 - krinō.
Hebrews 12 speaks of this judgement of when “The Lord shall judge his people”, believers. This is not a judgement for everyone in the world, non-believers are not included. In verses 5-7 we read “5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not”
We can be encouraged that we are called “His people” here. This passage is not about the loss of salvation, but it should still discourage us from walking in the flesh after seeing the consequences described.
So as verse 26 above says if we willfully sin after “knoweth to do good, and doeth it not,” as James 4:17 says will be chastised or punished.
31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
In Hebrews 12 verse 29 after the author just spoke about the chastisement of God he then says “For our God is a consuming fire”. Again, keeping chastisement in view here we see the parallel, this should cause a believer to have a holy fear of their Father if they are living in repentant sin.
32But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
If there was any doubt the writer is speaking of chastisement towards believers in this chapter he says here they know they are going to heaven and not only that but a reward awaits them there ”ye have in heaven”.
35Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.