Catholic Commentary on Hebrews 10

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23)

Christ's Perfect Sacrifice

The Law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming, not the realities themselves. It can never make perfect those who draw near to worship by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? But those sacrifices are a reminder of sins every year, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. When Christ came into the world, he said: sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then he said: here I am, I have come to do your will, my God. He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. The Catechism cites this as the theological foundation of the Church's teaching that the Mass is not a repetition of Calvary but the one sacrifice made present: Christ does not offer himself again; his one offering is eternally available in the Eucharist (CCC 1364).

A Call to Persevere

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. The communal gathering, the Sunday assembly, is not optional. It is the place where the one sacrifice is made present and where the community of the hopeful encourages one another in holding unswervingly to what they have professed.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, do not give up meeting together. This is the clear instruction of Hebrews for every generation tempted to a private, individual Christianity that attends Mass occasionally and gradually slips away. The Day is approaching. The encouragement of the assembly, the shared holding of the hope, the spurring on toward love and good deeds: these need the gathering. Come. Come consistently. Come all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, by your one sacrifice you have made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess. Spur us on toward love and good deeds. Keep us faithful to gathering together, encouraging one another all the more as your Day approaches. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

10
Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice
(Psalms 40:1–17)
1 For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins.
 
3 Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 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 In burnt offerings and sin offerings
You took no delight.
7 Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll:
I have come to do Your will, O God.’ ”* 10:7 Psalms 40:6–8 (see also LXX)
 
8 In the passage above He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (although they are offered according to the law). 9 Then He adds, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
 
11 Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet, 14 because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.
 
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says:
 
16 “This is the covenant I will make with them
after those days, declares the Lord.
I will put My laws in their hearts
and inscribe them on their minds.Ӡ 10:16 Jeremiah 31:33
 
17 Then He adds:
 
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”‡ 10:17 Jeremiah 31:34
 
18 And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.
A Call to Persevere
(Jude 1:17–23)
 
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place § 10:19 Or the Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body,* 10:20 Literally through the veil that is His flesh 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
 
23 Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. 25 Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
 
26 If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. 28 Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think one deserves to be punished who has trampled on the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
 
30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,”† 10:30 Deuteronomy 32:35 (see also LXX) and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”‡ 10:30 Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalms 135:14 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
 
32 Remember the early days that you were in the light.§ 10:32 Or Remember when you were first enlightened. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering. 33 Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated. 34 You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.
 
35 So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward. 36 You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. 37 For,
 
“In just a little while,
He who is coming will come and will not delay.
38 But My righteous one will live by faith;* 10:38 BYZ and TR But the righteous will live by faith
and if he shrinks back,
I will take no pleasure in him.”† 10:38 Habakkuk 2:3–4 (see also LXX)
 
39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

*10:7 10:7 Psalms 40:6–8 (see also LXX)

†10:16 10:16 Jeremiah 31:33

‡10:17 10:17 Jeremiah 31:34

§10:19 10:19 Or the Holy Place

*10:20 10:20 Literally through the veil that is His flesh

†10:30 10:30 Deuteronomy 32:35 (see also LXX)

‡10:30 10:30 Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalms 135:14

§10:32 10:32 Or Remember when you were first enlightened.

*10:38 10:38 BYZ and TR But the righteous will live by faith

†10:38 10:38 Habakkuk 2:3–4 (see also LXX)

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