Useful Bible Studies > Hebrews Commentary > chapter 10
God’s ‘will’ means the things that he wants to happen. It includes especially his plans for his people.
The word ‘sanctified’ means that God has made someone or something holy. ‘Holy’ means that the person or thing belongs to God in a special way. He has separated them from other people or from similar things, for himself.
In the past, the sacrifice of animals made certain things holy. A sacrifice is a gift to God. The author of Hebrews has already explained that the blood of sacrifices made God’s house and its contents holy (Hebrews 9:21).
But here in Hebrews 10:10, it is people that God has made holy – not buildings or objects. And God has made them holy because that is his will, his plan for them. These are people who once were God’s enemies. They did many wrong and evil things against him. But now God has saved (rescued) them. So they have become his people. He has separated them so that they belong to him in a special way.
The sacrifice of animals made God’s house holy. But a better and more wonderful sacrifice has made these people holy. That sacrifice was the death of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.
The sacrifice of animals was a ceremony that taught people about God’s will for his people. The sacrifice of Christ was the reality. He carried out God’s will to make his people holy.
The sacrifice of animals happened often. The priests’ work was never complete or perfect. The sacrifice of Christ happened once only. His work was both complete and perfect.
The sacrifice of animals could not change people’s lives. But the sacrifice of Christ makes unholy people holy. It separates those people, so that they belong to God.
Next part: Christ’s work to forgive sins is complete and perfect (Hebrews 10:11-12)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.