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Hebrews 10

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.

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

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;

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

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;

And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

And having an high priest over the house of God;

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.

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

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.

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

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?

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.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;

Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.

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.

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

What does Hebrews 10:17 mean?

Explanation

The verse "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" from Hebrews 10:17 emphasizes the idea that God, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, will no longer hold the sins and wrongdoings of believers against them.

This promise is a core concept of Christian theology, as it denotes the complete forgiveness and the obliteration of the memory of sins for those who have accepted Christ's atonement.

The 'forgetfulness' of God here is not a literal lack of omniscience, but a metaphorical expression of full pardon and the removal of the barrier of sin between God and humanity.

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Historical Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Hebrews that discusses the inadequacies of the Old Covenant's sacrificial system, which required repetitive offerings for sins.

Hebrews was likely written to a community of Jewish Christians who were well-acquainted with Old Testament scriptures and practices.

The mention of 'remember no more' is a direct quote from Jeremiah 31:34, thus the author is linking Jesus' sacrifice to the promised New Covenant, where a perfect sacrificial offering would make continual sacrifices unnecessary.

Theological Insights

From an Evangelical Protestant perspective, this verse encapsulates the doctrine of justification by faith – the belief that faith in Christ alone is sufficient for full forgiveness of sins.

From a Roman Catholic viewpoint, while the sacrifice of Christ absolves original sin and personal sins, there is still a process of sanctification and penance.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Orthodox tradition emphasizes the mystery of salvation, where God's grace leads to the transformation of the believer, and remembrance of sins indeed has no place.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, this verse can serve as a source of comfort and encouragement for individuals grappling with guilt or shame from past actions. It encourages believers to accept God's forgiveness fully and to live lives freed from the burden of sin.

Furthermore, this concept calls for Christians to emulate God's forgiveness in their personal relationships, by forgiving others and not holding past transgressions against them.

Cross-References

Here are some related verses from the King James Version of the Bible:

Jeremiah 31:34: "[...] for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
Isaiah 43:25: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."
Psalm 103:12: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us."
Micah 7:19: "He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."

Language Study

The original Greek word for "remember" in this verse is "μνησθῶ," which comes from the root "μνήσκομαι" (mnéskomai), meaning "to remember" or "to be mindful of." The negation "no more" translates to the Greek "οὐ µὴ" (ou mē), conveying the strong negation of the possibility to remember.

The key lies in the Hebrew tradition where to "remember" has an active connotation; thus to "not remember" is not merely about memory but about not bringing up past sins for condemnation.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various other ancient religions and cultures, the concept of sins being remembered or forgotten after death is common.

For instance, in Ancient Egyptian beliefs, the dead were judged by their actions before they could pass into the afterlife.

Contrastingly, in the Judaic tradition and fulfilled in Christianity, God himself provides a way for sins to be forgiven and "forgotten," emphasizing God's mercy and grace over human merit.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the process of forgetting is an interesting phenomenon that typically involves the weakening or loss of neural connections in the brain.

However, the 'forgetting' implied in this verse is metaphorical and relates more to relational and ethical considerations than to cognitive science or the physiology of memory.

Commentaries

Varied commentaries offer different nuances on this verse.

Matthew Henry's commentary highlights how Christ's sacrifice perfects the conscience of the worshipper from dead works to serve the living God.

The Pulpit Commentary notes that the essence of the New Covenant lies not only in forgiveness but in moral transformation leading to the cessation of offenses.

John Gill's Exposition focuses on the perpetual effectiveness of Christ's sacrifice, unlike the repeated offerings under the Old Covenant.

These commentaries agree that this verse speaks powerfully about the transformative impact of the New Covenant established through Jesus.

Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10

What does Hebrews 10:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Hebrews Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Hebrews 10:17 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Hebrews Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?