Hebrews chapter 10

vs 1

We continue on with our poking of the Law and its inadequacies. The sacrifices under the law had no power to make people perfect. The actual realities of the Law are found elsewhere - not in the Law itself.

vs 2

It's interesting that this is at least the second time the author has spoken about feeling guilty for sin, or not feeling guilty. There seems to be an importance for not feeling guilty. I wonder if non-Christians feel guilty? Or is this only because the Jews would judge themselves by the Law, find themselves wanting, then feel guilty?

The cleansing can't really be much better measured, except perhaps that those cleansed go straight ahead and sin again.

vs 3

No wonder you never stop feeling guilty for sin - you constantly watch animals get mangled for it!

vs 4

There's a stark, clear statement. It's obvious fact, but sometimes people need obvious fact pointed out.

vs 5-7

I would say more about these verses other than they are from Psalm 10:7 and apparently are more accurately reflected in the Septuagint than the Masoretic text, but the author is about to exposit them - for the purposes of their current argument, at any rate.

vs 8

God doesn't desire sacrifices per se. He does desire obedience - so when he says "Make sacrifices", sacrificing to him is something done out of obedience.

vs 9

So firstly he makes the statement about the inadequacy of the sacrifices and how they do not sate God's desire. Then he offers himself up to become an acceptable sacrifice to God.

vs 10

It was the will of Christ, willing to be acceptable to God, and to be sacrificed for his plan, that brought us to God. It was willing - most likely unlike the animals who went before him.