In Chapter 10, the writer of Hebrews repeats some of his previous thoughts concerning the superiority of Jesus’ sacrifice to those offered under the old religious system. Verses 1-4 say, “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The primary point seems to be the repetitive nature of the sacrifices under the law versus the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus. Pfeiffer writes, “The worshiper who brought his sacrifice to the Tabernacle or the Temple did not leave with the thought that his problems were solved. He had performed the prescribed rite, but he carried with him a continuing consciousness of sin. He knew it would be necessary to return again and again. The guilt of sin lay heavy on the sinner.”[1]
The Day of Atonement, Yom Kipper, was a day that came every year over and over. It served not to remove guilt, shame and sin, but to temporarily cover them up. Everyone knew they would have to come back next year. Long writes, “…the whole Day of Atonement ritual, repeated annually, is like a sledgehammer to the human spirit, pounding away year after year after year with its constant battering away on the theme of sin. In other words, it does not work to heal; it works only to drub it into us that we are sinful, sinful, sinful—guilty, and unacceptable to God.”[2] Unfortunately many Christians today have their own day of atonement every Sunday when they go to church. Here’s how Long finishes his comments: “Often churches are far more effective in preaching sin than they are in proclaiming grace. Sunday after Sunday, month after month, year after year, sermon after sermon beats out the message of sin. Every Sunday is the “Day of Atonement,” but sadly an atonement we must accomplish for ourselves. The sacrifices placed on the altar are those of the unfortunate congregation who have come to be told one more time that they do not measure up and, because this is the constant theme, become convinced they will never measure up.”[3]
What a shame that many pulpits focus on our failure to measure up rather than on the fact the Jesus has measured up for us. Christianity becomes just another religion of trying harder, doing more and repeatedly repenting with our sacrificial offerings every week. Thomas Long sees the book of Hebrews as a sermon and often refers to the writer as “The Preacher.” He believes the main point of the sermon is in Christ you are forgiven once and for all. He writes, “The Preacher is driving home the central claim of the sermon, and one could think of this section as a repeated assurance of pardon: ‘In Jesus Christ you are forgiven; in Jesus Christ you are forgiven; in Jesus Christ, I tell you, you are forgiven.’”[4]
[1] Charles F. Pfeiffer, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1962), 77.
[2] Thomas G. Long, Hebrews, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997), 101.
[3] Thomas G. Long, Hebrews, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997), 102.
[4] Thomas G. Long, Hebrews, Interpretation, a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1997), 101.