Christ’s Once-for-All Sacrifice
Heb 9:23-10:4, 11-14, 19-25
SS Lesson for 04/06/2025
Devotional Scripture: Rom 5:8-15
The book of Hebrews clarifies the relationship between the old and new covenants. Its original intended audience seems to have been Christians of Jewish heritage who were in danger of slipping back into Judaism. To address this issue, the unnamed author demonstrates how the regulations of the Law of Moses pointed to Christ and his work. After identifying Christ as the high priest of the new covenant (Hebrews 4:14-5:10; 8:1-13), the author summarized the regulations for worship under the old covenant (9:1-7) and how those practices were not permanent (9:8-10). They have been superseded by the one-time sacrifice of Christ, the ultimate high priest (9:11-22). These details set the stage for the outstanding summary presented in chapters 9 and 10, the focus of today’s text.
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
23 Therefore it was necessary that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;
25 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another —
26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,
28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
58 "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.'"
11 When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.
8 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man.
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
16 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
1 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 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain."
21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.'" 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, 'Here I am — it is written about me in the scroll, I have come to do your will, O God.'" 8 First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9 Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.
24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.
31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.
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.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
1 Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness. 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people. 4 No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. 5 So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." 6 And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."
20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever.'" 22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—
10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,
21 and having a High Priest over the house of God,
22 let 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.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin
2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."
7 We live by faith, not by sight.
23 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."
The Death of Christ and the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:23-28)
23 So it was necessary for the sketches of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves required better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representation of the true sanctuary – but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us. 25 And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice. 27 And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, 28 so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation (Hebrews 9:15-28).
In the preceding verses, we have just seen that the people and things associated with the Old Covenant needed to be ceremonially purified by animal blood for the implementation and ongoing ministry of the Mosaic Covenant. Now the author reminds us that these things which needed purification were “sketches of the things in heaven.” The author reasons that since these earthly “sketches” needed purification, then the heavenly realities needed purification as well, but it must be accomplished by means of “better sacrifices” – better than the blood of sacrificial animals. That “better sacrifice” is the once-for-all offering of the blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
In verses 23-28, the author contrasts the better ministry of our Lord under the New Covenant with that of the priests who served under the Old Covenant. He has already set the stage by speaking of the earthly prototypes as “sketches” of heavenly realities, which must be purified by better sacrifices (verse 23). Our Lord has a superior place of ministry, seated at the right hand of the Father,11 where He now appears “for us” (verse 24). He does not need to repeatedly offer Himself as a sacrifice, as did the priests. His sacrifice was that of His own blood, and thus His one offering was sufficient once for all (verses 25-26).
Actually, our Lord will appear on earth again, but it will not be to repeat what He has already accomplished, once for all:
27 And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, 28 so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation (Hebrews 9:27-28).
Since the Lord Jesus offered Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, thus dying in our12 place, He cannot die again. It is appointed for men to die but once (verse 27), and our Lord is no exception. But there is a great difference between the one-time death of Jesus and the one-time death of man. Although Christ died to bear the sins of many He will appear again, but this time it will not be to repeat His sacrifice; it will be to bring salvation to those who eagerly await His return (verse 28).
Prototypes are not Perfection (Hebrews 10:1-4)
1 For the law possesses a shadow of the good things to come but not the reality itself, and is therefore completely unable, by the same sacrifices offered continually, year after year, to perfect those who come to worship. 2 For otherwise would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers would have been purified once for all and so have no further consciousness of sin? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year. 4 For the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.
There is a great difference between a shadow and the reality it reflects. As I was sitting in the pew during the Lord’s Table I was leaning forward in such a way that the ceiling lights cast a shadow of my head on the pew in front of me. As I observed my shadow I was a little troubled. It appeared that my hair was in disarray. My wife Jeannette is out of town helping one of our daughters with a new baby, so I had to get myself ready for church – a risky endeavor indeed. I was fairly confident that my socks were the same color, and that they matched my pants and shoes. But had I forgotten to comb my hair? A hasty look in the bathroom mirror put my mind at rest. The shadow was not reality; my hair was combed. The shadow was not an exact representation of the reality in the same way that Jesus is an exact representation of the Father.2
The Old Testament Law and the Levitical priesthood (with all of its sacrifices) was but a shadow of the “good things to come,” namely the New Covenant as inaugurated by the incarnation and sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus. The Levitical sacrifices were made year after year, and this repetition was evidence of their ineffectiveness. If, the author reasons, these sacrifices were able to perfect those who drew near then they would not have had to be offered over and over again. One offering would have been sufficient. The offerer would have been cleansed of sin and likewise his conscience would have been cleansed as well. There should be no guilty conscience regarding sin where the guilt and penalty of sin has been removed.
As though being ineffective was not bad enough, the Old Testament sacrifices also served as a reminder of past sins, as yet not removed. If I were to get distracted as I was driving and run into a guard rail, there would be some tell-tale evidences of my failure somewhere on my car. Until that damage was repaired, every time I looked at my car I would see the damage and be reminded of my failure. So, too, with the Old Testament sacrifices. Every time a sacrifice was offered (again) I would be reminded of the fact that my sin had not been permanently removed. It would be like getting a monthly credit card statement when I had been unable to make a payment. The statement would not remove my debt, but it would surely remind me that I was in debt.
The reason for the failure of the Old Testament sacrifices to remove sin is given in verse 4: “the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins.” Animal blood is not a sufficient sacrifice for sins. It would be like me trying to pay my credit card bill with Monopoly money.
The ineffective nature of the Old Testament sacrifices is not a new revelation. The author of Hebrews is only repeating something that was commonly taught in the Old Testament Scriptures:
Then Samuel said, “Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams (1 Samuel 15:22).
16 Certainly you do not want a sacrifice, or else I would offer it; you do not desire a burnt sacrifice. 17 The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit – O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject (Psalm 51:16-17).
11 “Of what importance to me are your many sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am stuffed with burnt sacrifices of rams and the fat from steers. The blood of bulls, lambs, and goats I do not want. 12 When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this – animals trampling on my courtyards? 13 Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations! (Isaiah 1:11-13)
For I delight in faithfulness, not simply in sacrifice; I delight in acknowledging God, not simply in whole burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6).
21 “I absolutely despise your festivals! I get no pleasure from your religious assemblies! 22 Even if you offer me burnt and grain offerings, I will not be satisfied; I will not look with favor on your peace offerings of fattened calves. 23 Take away from me your noisy songs; I don’t want to hear the music of your stringed instruments. 24 Justice must flow like torrents of water, righteous actions like a stream that never dries up” (Amos 5:21-24).
6 With what should I enter the Lord’s presence? With what should I bow before the sovereign God? Should I enter his presence with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? 7 Will the Lord accept a thousand rams, or ten thousand streams of olive oil? Should I give him my firstborn child as payment for my rebellion, my offspring – my own flesh and blood – for my sin? 8 He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord really wants from you: He wants you to promote justice, to be faithful, and to live obediently before your God (Micah 6:6-8).
When Jerusalem was destroyed along with the temple in 70 A.D. the Jews could no longer offer sacrifices as they had formerly done. Hughes points out that they were forced to recognize that their animal sacrifices could not atone for sin:
“It is a fact that at the time of Christ many pious Jews honored the sacrificial system and even offered sacrifices, but realized that those sacrifices could not remove sin. This is why, when the Temple was destroyed and the sacrifices ended, the people so easily adapted. They understood that animal sacrifice was insufficient to obtain forgiveness.”3
(Adapted from URL:https://bible.org/seriespage/dealing-death-or-worlds-greatest-bailout-hebrews-915-28)
Most people in the ancient Greco-Roman world believed that their gods were remote and cared little for them. Some Jewish people of the time between the Testaments also viewed God as distant, so they developed (imagined) elaborate systems of angels to bridge the gap between God and humanity. It is easy for us to believe that God is distant. His silence can lead us to think he doesn’t care about us. But such a belief is proven false when we consider the actions of Jesus, our great high priest. He put on flesh and came to earth to offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins - those aren’t the actions of a “distant” God! The next time you feel distant from God, perhaps ask yourself is: Which of us moved?