Hebrews 10:1-14 NKJV
10 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
This section of Hebrews concludes the long exposition on the nature of proper worship (or Divine Service) in the new covenant that began all the way back at chapter 5. After the author has discussed the priesthood of Jesus in a new order in contrast with the old Levitical order (chapters 5 through 7) — along with His priestly service in the heavenly realm (chapters 8 through 9), he now explains how the gain from that service surpasses the benefits of the old order. This shift reveals an emphasize on what Jesus accomplished by his bodily self-offering.
Worship in “shadow” has no power because it has no substance of its own and does not participate directly in the spiritual reality. Proper worship is, however, united with eternal realities and participates in the Kingdom to come. It does so by participating in the Passion and exultation of the incarnate son.
Old Testament sacrifices prefigured Christ’s sacrifice, they were powerless in themselves. An effective sacrifice requires a body prepared, a righteous human being who voluntarily obeys the Father. It’s not hard to figure out who that is, is it?
We rejoice that our Lutheran Confessions profess to a proper scriptural belief: “There are two kinds of sacrifice and no more. One is the atoning sacrifice, that is, a work that makes satisfaction for guilt and punishment. It reconciles God or reconciles His wrath and merits the forgiveness of sins for others. The other kind is the eucharist [thankful], which does not merit the forgiveness of sins or reconciliation. It is practiced by those who have been reconciled, so that we may give thanks or return gratitude for the forgiveness of sins.” (Apology, XXIV 19, emphasis added)
Let us pray: O Lord, continue to open our eyes of faith, that we may have proper discernment of Your Holy Scripture and a right understanding how Christ made full satisfaction and accomplished everything for us. Amen.