Daily Devotion in Hebrews 10

Daily Nugget:
For the early Hebrews, and those that still do not understand what Paul said about the practice of the Mosaic law being a glimpse of futuristic worship, one further word was used to describe that time. Paul illustrates that practice as a “shadow” of good things to come (Hebrews 10:10).

When a person approaches you in the dusk of a fall evening and is several hundred feet away, he is but a shadow. One can see that it is a person approaching, but the details of what the person looks like and what he is wearing are not clear. 

That is how those practicing the Mosaic laws saw future worship. They saw it as a distant shadow. They could see the furniture of the temple worship, the priest, and all the sacrifices. They knew they stood for something and were prophetic, but they did not grasp their whole meaning until Christ came. After the Saviour came, many saw clearly what God had planned to show them for a long time. 

They knew their sacrifices were not enough to take away their sins (Hebrews 10:4, 11) permanently, even when offering them. If the offerings could have taken away their sins, they would have had no more concern (guilt) for them (Hebrews 10:2). They must have realized that if the sacrifices could permanently remove their sins, they would not have had to repeat the sacrifices each year (Hebrews 10:3). They also knew that bulls and sheep's blood did not take away sins (Hebrews 10:4).

Since they knew their offerings were not permanent and only pictured a future way of worship, why did they still offer those sacrifices to the Lord? The Hebrews performed the worship as God instructed them. They were obedient. 

The Hebrews obedience was much like “credit,” as Oliver B Greene describes it. When Jesus came and sacrificed His life for all mankind’s sin, He paid man’s sin debt in full (John 1:29)! The Old Testament saints’ sins were paid for, and all after them as well. We have a perfect sacrifice when we accept Jesus’ offering. He paid it all on Calvary’s cross!

Today’s Thought: 
“Those saved before Jesus’ sacrifice looked forward by faith to the cross. Those saved after His sacrifice looked back by faith to the cross.”

Words to Understand:
Consecrated: set apart for God’s use
Indignation: anger at injustice
Perdition: everlasting misery; Hell
Recompense: paying back
Remission: pardon; forgiving

Today’s Reading:
Hebrews 10
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 ¶ Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.