Help me understand Hebrews 10:26
Did you notice that the verse state "sin" and not sins? This means that there was a single particular "sin" that these first century Jews were capable of committing.
Do you know which particular "deliberate sin" to which the writer of Hebrews is referring?
The answer is within the text of the context. It begins in chapter 9 where the writer differentiate between the earthly tabernacle and the heavenly tabernacle. Both represent Christ. Hebrews 9:1-5
The writer then differentiate between the earthly tabernacle service and the heavenly tabernacle service by the priests. Both again represents Christ. Hebrews 9:6-10
The writer then differentiate between the earthly High Priest offering the blood of the covenant and the Heavenly High Priest offering His own blood for the effectual covenant. Both again represents Christ. Hebrews 9:11-15
Next the writer tells us how the offering of the single sacrifice provided by and conducted by the Heavenly High Priest brought into effect the heavenly new covenant which is superior to the earthly old covenant. Hebrews 9:16-22
The writer then turns his attention to the greatness of Christ's the Creator sacrifice verses over the earthly sacrifice of cursed created animals which were made out of the cursed created earth. Hebrews 9:23 - Hebrews 10:4
The writer then explains the necessity of Christ's the Messiah sacrifice by quoting the Old Testament scriptures from Psalm 40. The writer surely expected the intended Jewish readers to know the passage from Psalm 40. No Gentiles would have understood what the writer was referring too, as evident by the interpretation of most of today's Gentile readers, as indicated by the constant misquote and misunderstanding of this passage. Hebrews 10:5-10
The writer's intent is to prove through the OT scriptures that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Jewish Messiah. The writer now brings it home by explaining to this Jewish audience that it was necessary for the Messiah to die because it for prophesied that He would by quoting Jeremiah 31. Hebrews 10:11-18
Therefore what was the writer's goal by stating this? The writer was attempting to stop these first century Jews from returning to participating in the ritual of animal sacrifice currently being conducted in that day in the Jewish temple king Herod was building.
These Jews were trying to determine whether to trust that Jesus is the Messiah or to go back to sacrificing animals thereby revealing that they do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah hence they are awaiting the "true Messiah".
Beginning in verse 19 the writer presents his closing argument against returning to animal sacrifices and fully trusting in Christ. The writer tells them to do something that only the Jewish High Priest was allowed to do, only once per year. He instructed them to enter not only the Holy Place but the Holy of Holies!!!! This was utter blasphemy to this Jewish audience but to us Gentiles it's utterly meaningless. God would kill any PRIESTS for doing such a thing as well as the High Priest if he would enter any other day outside of the Day of Atonement. Therefore he begs them to holdfast to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. That He is the true High Priest. That He is the only acceptable sacrifice for sins. That He is alive and intercedes for all true born again believers. That the animal sacrifices, the priesthood, and the covenant of Law written on tables of stone has ended. Do you understand how difficult that was for a first century Jewish person to believe? Nearly impossible because they misread, misunderstood, and misapplied the OT scriptures. Hebrews 10:19-23
The writer now sends this these non-believing Jews who were torn between Judaism and following Christ who is the God and object of Judaism a very stern warning given by the Lord Himself in Luke. First, don't delay, come to Christ. Second, don't waver in that decision, be decisive. Third, come join the loving fellowship of your brothers and sisters in Christ. Fourth, we must begin preparing for that which the Lord told us would soon come to pass, the destruction of the Jewish temple that will eliminate the possibility of any future animal sacrifices. That event will make Judaism incomparable to the Law and impossible to meet the Laws demand for payments for sin. No blood, no remission of sins. No temple, no sacrifices. No sacrifices leaves the Jews in Judaism with no hope!
Hebrews 10:24-25
Finally, we get to Hebrews 10:26-31. What is the writer telling these Jews who are torn between a decision of committing to faith Christ or returning to Judaism and the temple sacrifices which is now blasphemy against God. Going back to the animal sacrifices would be calling God a liar, Christ unholy, and displaying hatred for the only sacrifice and offering for sin acceptable to God!
How would they sin willfully? By returning to the temple to participate in a sacrifice that God can no longer accept since Christ has died, been buried, and raised from the dead.
What knowledge and truth did the Jews receive? Everything the writer told them concerning Christ, he preached the gospel to them.
Why is there no longer any sacrifices for sins? The writer told them verses 11-14, 18: And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified...Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Verse 27-31 tells them the penalty they will receive if they choose to return to the temple and the temple sacrificial system.
Hopefully, this is helpful to you all.
Now, with this background, reread Hebrews 10:26 and you decide what it is saying.
