The Final Priest and the Final Sacrifice for Sins

Almighty God works all things after the counsel of His own free will (Eph 1:11), to the end that He alone should be glorified. In His eternal purpose, God determined to save His elect from out of the mass of humanity (Acts 2:23; Rom 11:5–6; Eph 1:4–5; 2 Tim 2:19). Salvation is Christ Jesus sanctifying His church (Mt 16:18; Eph 5:25; 1 Thess 5:23; Heb 10:14; 1 Pet 1:2), setting her apart to be holy and blameless before Him in eternity (Eph 1:4; 5:27; Col 1:22; 1 Thess 3:13; 5:23; Jude 1:24).

It was the will of God the Son, as Mediator of the new and better covenant (Heb 12:24), to offer Himself to God the Father as the substitutionary sacrifice for sins (Heb 10:12). In this, Christ put away sins by the blood of the Cross (Heb 9:26). Further, in the exercise of His free will, God brought us forth by the Word of truth (Jas 1:18, 21). Thus, we are taught that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ (Rom 10:17). We are made to know He saved us (Titus 3:5; 2 Pet 3:18), by His will (Jn 1:13), by His work (Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3; 1 Pet 3:18), for His own glory (Ps 106:47; 2 Tim 2:10; Jude 1:25; Rev 19:1).

It is the testimony of the Holy Spirit, to reveal the insufficiency of the old covenant types and shadows to take away sin (Heb 10:11). At the same time, it is the Spirit who testified long before the arrival of the divine testator (Christ) that He alone is all-sufficient to perfect His people from every age and place (Jer 31:31–34; Heb 10:14), that is, to make them acceptable in the holy presence of Almighty God.

In Hebrews 10:11–18, there are contrasts presenting the final priest and the final sacrifice as “better” in every way. “Every priest” (v. 11) in Levitical system is contrasted with “He” (v. 12) of the Melchizedekian system (Ps 110:4–6). We note that the Aaronic priests “stand daily” (v. 11), while Christ “sat down at the right hand of God” (v. 12).

The contrasting imagery presented by the writer of Hebrews is of continuing work versus a finished work. “Daily ministering” again suggests a frequent, never-ending work. This is set in contrast with “one sacrifice, once for all time.” Endless offerings of the same sacrifices points to the inability of the old covenant system to meet the demands of divine justice. Today, we must protest against the intrusion of any unending religious activities purported to secure peace with God.

Self-made religion has no power to remove sins (Col 2:23; Heb 10:11). It was, is, and always will be repetitious and inefficacious. The same sacrifices, prescribed by the Law, presented over and over again to no avail, speaks of futility. Types and shadows have no substance; but substance came with Jesus Christ (Col 2:17).

The finished work of our great high priest, Jesus Christ, is demonstrated by His sitting down, which is what one does when work is completed. Jesus sits down but in no ordinary place. He sits at the center of the throne of God (Rev 7:17), at the right hand of Majesty (Heb 1:3; 8:1; 10:12). This indicates the high value of the work. He is a permanent priest, forever upon His throne (Ps 110; Zech 6:13; Heb 7:24).

For all time, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God contrasts with the Aaronic priests standing daily (temporal ongoing work). Jesus is seated in glory (Heb 1:3). He is seated pre-eminently above all other priests (Heb 8:1). Jesus’ acceptable sacrifice, never to be repeated again, affords Him the sitting position (Heb 10:12). In finishing the course set before Him, Jesus sat down as the Victor victorious (Heb 12:2).

God has appointed a day in which Jesus will judge the nations in perfect righteousness (Acts 17:31; 19:11–21). On that day, all of His enemies will be made a footstool for His feet (Ps 110:1; Heb 10:13). The end will come when the Gospel has been preached to all nations; and the full number of God’s elect will have entered the sheepfold (Christ’s church).

In verse 14, we see the writer’s emphasis in the words “one offering.” It is this one offering that completes or consummates the sanctified (saints). Christ Jesus’ perfect work in life and death has accomplished exactly what was intended for exactly whom it was intended. This is the idea of perfection. True worshipers of God are those in Christ Jesus, who have full access to all the blessings and benefits of what it means to be a Christian. It is not that the Christian is perfect and no longer sins. It is that the Christian, despite being a sinner, can enter the presence of the holy God in order to serve and worship in perfect peace.

Sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:2), who is ever cleansing the Christian because sin is always encroaching. The born again remain in their bodies of sin and death. The flesh is ever at war with the Spirit (Rom 7; Gal 5:17). Sanctification is the will of God for His chosen people in Christ (1 Thess 4:3). The Holy Spirit and the Word of God sanctify us (Jn 17:17) from beginning to end (Rom 8:30; Phil 1:6).

The Holy Spirit is a witness to the Father and the Son’s agreement regarding the eternal covenant of grace (Titus 1:1–2). The terms of the covenant were revealed by the Holy Spirit to the prophet Jeremiah (31:31–34). It is the same Spirit who is in the writer of Hebrews to explain Christ’s cutting the covenant in fulfillment of the Word given to the weeping prophet some 570+ years before Messiah’s first advent. This is a Word “to us” (Heb 10:15).

God’s Word was given to the writers of Scripture by the Holy Spirit inspiring them (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21). The written Word is living and active because the Spirit of truth is teaching us through it (Jn 14:26; Heb 4:12). Coincidentally, it is the Word that reveals the work of the Spirit to us. Stated another way, the Spirit reveals to us His very own work through the Word He has revealed to us through the prophets and apostles. He teaches us what He has revealed to all His people.

Two graces are listed by the Hebrews’ author: first, the Law of God being written by the Spirit on the hearts and minds of the new covenant beneficiary (10:16); second, the removal of the sins of His people from the memory of God (10:17) because they have been forgiven (10:18). Further, there is no prompt of recollection because there are no more priests offering more sacrifices. The final priest uttered the ultimate declaration of the final sacrifice for sins, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30).

The Law of God upon the heart of God’s chosen people is a marvelous juxtaposition. The Law of God on stone tablets produced a stony heart (Ex 20; Ezek 36:26). The inability to perform the Law (Rom 8:7) produced an enmity against God and His Law. Love for God’s Law is the product of a new heart where that Law is now written. It is the Spirit who causes us to walk in God statutes under the new covenant. The mind is informed by the Law, while the heart is reformed by the Law.

The unbeliever walks in darkness, in the vanity of his mind (Eph 4:17). Sin is lord of his heart (Rom 6:6). Lawlessness is the very nature of the unregenerate soul (heart and mind). The renewal of the heart and the renewing of the mind are the nature of God’s grace at work in the saint. Believers in Jesus have the mind of Christ and a heart for God because the indwelling Spirit is at work manifesting both (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11).

Knowing what God in Christ has accomplished and communicated to His chosen people is the key to their being set apart (made holy). God first loved us (1 Jn 4:19), pouring out His love within our hearts by His giving us His Spirit (Rom 5:5). Knowing our sins are forgiven, we are set free to love the Law of the Lord, which reveals to us His holiness, which is being worked in us by the divine Helper (Jn 14:16), who is also the One who teaches us these things that have made us complete in Christ (Col 1:28).

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

February 27, 2024

Hebrews 10:11–18