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DIVINELY PREPARED SACRIFICE. Hebrews 10:5-10. 12/31/2023. #30.
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—In the volume of the book it is written of Me—To do Your will, O God.’ ”
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1. Unsatisfying offerings
a. Psalm 40:6-10 before the foundation of the world, the Son knew that animal sacrifices would be inadequate so He offered Himself to be the satisfactory offering
b. God took no pleasure in the OT sacrifices
a1. They were offered according to His will
a2. God was pleased when truly obedient faithful worshipers made sacrifices
c. However, the sacrifices fell short of satisfying God’s righteousness
b1. God was not pleased with the quality of the offering (a cheap gift not worthy of God’s glory)
b2. Impoverished common gifts
c. The offerings were all that man had to give
a1. Nothing man could offer could please God
a2. Twice Hebrews states that God took no pleasure in the offerings that God willed
2. Infused holiness
a. 3 points emphasized by Jesus offering Himself
a1. He volunteered: “I come…”
a2. He surrendered to God’s will
a3. God prepared a body for Him
b. A prepared body is unusual language
a1. Genesis 2:7 Adam was “formed” out of dust
a2. Genesis 2:18-20 Eve was brought forth out of man
a3. All other people had been begotten
a4. Only the body of Jesus was prepared
c. A body prepared within Mary
a1. Prepared (to furnish completely) = the Spirit made a sinless body for Christ
a2. This body could not contain sinful flesh, but had to be a descendant of David
a3. The union of man and woman produces a sinful human being (Psalm 51:5)
d. Only by being joined to a sinless body could the Son be the perfect sacrifice
3. The last offering
a. God did not desire (will) animal sacrifices for these had no ability to satisfy His will
a1. These sacrifices merely satisfied the Law as symbols of the one effective sacrifice
a2. The offerings were used to teach that men are sinners; they need to placate God; and they were in need of a better sacrifice
b. Due to the fact that God desired a better sacrifice, He had to take away the one sacrifice which could not satisfy in order to replace it with the ultimate sacrifice that could satisfy for all times
a1. The two sacrificial systems could not exist side-by-side
a2. In 70 AD, the old sacrificial system was eliminated through the destruction of the Jewish temple by the Roman general Titus
c. Since the OT sacrifices were offered by sinful men using mortal animals, they were ineffective
d. Since Jesus’s sacrifice was completed by the holy Son of God using a sinless body, the offering is effective for all sin for all time
e. All other religious systems, including the OT, fail to provide an effective means of salvation
f. Romans 6 overwhelming sin is abolished by greater grace
Key verse: Psalm 40:6-10
6 Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8 I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.”
9 I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
In the great assembly;
Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You Yourself know.
10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth From the great assembly.