Paul himself explains the words of David. You will ask: what then? Were not the sacrifices according to the law in accordance with God's will? Indeed, they were in accordance with God's will, but the designation of will is twofold. One desires something preferentially above all else, as Paul says: "I wish that all men were as I am" (1 Cor. 7:7), that is, unmarried. One also desires something by way of condescension, as the same Paul says: "I desire that the younger widows marry" (1 Tim. 5:14) — this is a condescending will. Lest they grow fierce against Christ, he condescended. So too God previously did not want fat and blood, but when He saw that the Jews, offering sacrifices to idols, were strongly attached to these very sacrifices, He permitted them to offer sacrifice in His honor. Why then did Paul bring forward this testimony, having countless others? Because of the shamelessness of the Jews. Since they were saying that the Old arrangement was abolished not because of its own imperfection, but because of the sins of those offering sacrifices, and they pointed out that Isaiah too reproaches their sins, saying: "your hands are full of blood" (Isa. 1:15), and likewise David himself, having said: "I will not accept a calf from your house" (Ps. 50:9), further adds: "but to the sinner God says" (Ps. 50:16). Therefore, since the most ambitious among the Jews were saying this, Paul brings forward a testimony in which the Old Testament institution is in itself considered rejected by God because of its own imperfection, and not because of the sins of the people. For in the 39th Psalm, from which this testimony is taken, the prophet makes no mention of the sins of the people. And that it was for this very reason that he made use of the indicated testimony, listen to him himself.
Heb. 10:9. He abolishes the first in order to establish the second.
What is the "first"? Sacrifices. What is the "second"? The will of the Father, that is, the offering of the body of Christ as a sacrifice on the cross. Thus, those are abolished so that the offering which the Father desired might be established and confirmed through the slaying of Christ. In this way, the sacrifices are rejected not because of the sins of those who offer them, but because of their own imperfection.
Heb. 10:10. By this will we have been sanctified through the once-for-all offering of the body of Jesus Christ.
By this will of the Father, he says, we were sanctified, having been sanctified by the offering of the body of Christ, which took place "once for all"; for this must be understood. For we who have believed that we are sanctified by the offering of the Only-begotten, are sanctified by the will of the Father. Hence, it is not the legal ordinances that constitute the will of God, but the offering according to Christ and the sanctification through this offering.
Heb. 10:11. And every priest stands daily ministering, and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
Thus, to stand is the distinction of one who serves; but to sit, as Christ does, is the distinction of the one who is served.
Heb. 10:12. But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins, forever
But Christ Himself offered "one" sacrifice, He says — His own body — for our sins, sufficient for us forever, so that there would be no need for a second.
Heb. 10:12. sat down at the right hand of God,¹²
Heb. 10:13. From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. (Cf. Ps. 110:1)
Consequently, Christ is not only a High Priest, but also God. After the fulfillment of the work for which He received the title of High Priest according to the divine economy, He at last sat down, as God, waiting until His enemies are made "a footstool for His feet." His enemies are the unbelievers and the demons, who themselves will also be subjected: that is, their malice will remain powerless, since they will be consigned to unquenchable fire. But for now, Paul calls enemies primarily the unbelieving Jews, comforting the believers from among the Jews who had suffered countless torments from them. Do not despair, he says, for those who now rise up against you will be subjected, or rather, will be trampled underfoot. And this is evidently because Christ sits at the right hand of the Father. Since this has come to pass, then what was spoken in the Psalms will also be fulfilled. But why were they not immediately "made a footstool for His feet," that is, why were they not removed from the world? For the sake of the believers who would be born from among them.
Heb. 10:14. By one offering He has forever made perfect those who are being sanctified.
Completely, he says, He freed from sins those who are sanctified and anointed by His Blood, through baptism into death. Since all who are baptized are united by the likeness of His death, it is clear that they are sanctified by His Blood.
Heb. 10:15. The Holy Spirit also bears witness to us of this,
What does He witness? That He has completely delivered us from sins "by one offering," so that we have no need for a second.
Heb. 10:15. for it is said:
Heb. 10:16. "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,"
Heb. 10:17. "And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Cf. Jer. 31:33–34)
Do you see: God Himself testifies that He granted the cleansing of sins. And He granted it at the time when He was giving the New Testament. And He granted and established the New Testament by the death of His Son, as was shown earlier (Heb. 8).
Heb. 10:18. Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is no longer any offering for them.
If forgiveness of sins was granted through a single sacrifice, then what need is there after this for a second sacrifice? Therefore it is indicated that we, having received the forgiveness of sins, were brought to perfection by the single offering of Christ, and no longer have need of another sacrifice. Thus, the Jewish sacrifices are unnecessary and, being performed out of stubbornness, have long been recognized as useless by those who now perform them.
Heb. 10:19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness
After having shown the superiority of our High Priest over those of the Old Testament, and of the offering of Christ over the sacrifices according to the law, and that through this offering we have been freed from sins, he interrupts the dogmatic teaching, giving rest to the listener, and quite opportunely transitions to moral teaching. And having just mentioned the remission of sins, he finally urges them not to fall into them anymore: "having," he says, "boldness," by reason of the remission of sins. Just as sin causes shame and uncertainty, so the remission of sins gives confidence.
Heb. 10:19. to enter the sanctuary