Hebrews 10:8-16: a reflection

8Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law), 9then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second, 10by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11Every priest indeed stands day by day serving and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, 12but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, 13from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet. 14For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. 15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, 16“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;” then he says,

The letter to the Hebrews contrasts the old sacrifices with the sacrifice of Christ, and the contrast is striking. Every priest under the old covenant stood day after day, offering again and again the same sacrifices, which could never take away sins. But Christ, having offered a single sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. Notice the difference: the priests stood, repeating endless sacrifices that never finished the work; Christ offered one sacrifice, once for all, and then sat down, his work complete. By that one offering, the passage says, he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.

Notice the finality of Christ's work: he sat down. The endless standing and repeating of the old priests showed that their work was never done, the sacrifices never sufficient. But Christ sat down, the posture of finished work, because his one sacrifice was complete, sufficient, once for all. There is nothing more to add; the offering that takes away sin has been made, once and forever, and the Son sat down.

That is deeply freeing. We are prone to feel that the work of dealing with our sin is never finished, that we must keep striving, keep atoning, keep adding to what Christ has done. But Christ sat down; his one offering was once for all, complete and sufficient. There is nothing to add to it; the sacrifice for your sin has been fully made. Rest in the finished work of Christ. You do not need to keep striving to atone for your sin, or to add to his sacrifice; he offered one sacrifice for sins forever, and sat down. By that one offering he has perfected those he saves. Rest in the completed, sufficient, once-for-all work of Christ, who sat down because it was finished.

Lord Jesus, unlike the priests who stood day after day offering sacrifices that could never take away sins, you offered a single sacrifice for sins for all time, and then sat down at the right hand of God, your work complete. Let the finality of your work free me. I am prone to feel that the work of dealing with my sin is never finished, that I must keep striving, keep atoning, keep adding to what you have done. But you sat down; your one offering was once for all, complete and sufficient. There is nothing to add to it. Help me rest in your finished work, not striving to atone for my sin or to add to your sacrifice, but trusting that by your one offering you have perfected those you save. Thank you that you sat down because it was finished. Let me rest in your once-for-all, sufficient work.