Useful Bible Studies > Hebrews Commentary > chapter 10

Christ’s work to forgive sins is complete and perfect

Hebrews 10:11-12

The author of Hebrews is referring to Psalm 110:1. That Psalm, and especially that verse, astonished him. He has often mentioned them in his book – see Hebrews 1:3; 1:13; 5:6; 7:21 and 8:1.

Psalm 110 says that God invited Christ, as his priest, to sit down in his house. But the author knew about Israel’s priests and their work. And inside the temple (God’s house in Jerusalem), there were no chairs for the priests. Every day, some priests went into that building. They stood to carry out their duties. Not even the chief priest had a seat there.

They did not sit down in God’s house because their work was never complete. Every day those priests had to offer sacrifices (gifts to God). They offered those sacrifices because of sin (people’s wrong and evil deeds). But their sacrifices could not overcome the power of sin. Sin still controlled the lives of God’s people, so more sacrifices were always necessary.

That was so until Christ died. His death was the perfect sacrifice for sin because, by his death, Christ overcame the power of sin. His death made it possible for God to forgive sin. So sin does not rule the lives of God’s people now. Instead, they allow God’s Holy Spirit to rule their lives (Galatians 5:19-25). And when God’s people confess their sins, God forgives them (1 John 1:8-9).

Those priests offered sacrifices daily. Christ’s death happened only once. Their sacrifices could not overcome the power of sin. Christ’s death destroyed the power of sin. They stood to serve God. But after his death, Christ entered heaven to serve God as priest. And because his work was both complete and perfect, he sat down in God’s house there. God the Father gave his Son the place of greatest honour, at his own right side.

Next part: God is establishing Christ’s rule (Hebrews 10:13)

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