- Home
- Bible
- Hebrews
- Chapter 10
- Verse 10
Hebrews 10:5
Verse
Context
Sermons
Major Ian ThomasMajor Ian Thomas
Zac Poonen
George Warnock
Willie Mullan
Don McClureSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
When he (the Messiah) cometh into the world - Was about to be incarnated, He saith to God the Father, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not - it was never thy will and design that the sacrifices under thy own law should be considered as making atonement for sin, they were only designed to point out my incarnation and consequent sacrificial death, and therefore a body hast thou prepared me, by a miraculous conception in the womb of a virgin, according to thy word, The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent. A body hast thou prepared me - The quotation in this and the two following verses is taken from Psalm 40, 6th, 7th, and 8th verses, as they stand now in the Septuagint, with scarcely any variety of reading; but, although the general meaning is the same, they are widely different in verbal expression in the Hebrew. David's words are, אזנים כרית לי oznayim caritha li, which we translate, My ears hast thou opened; but they might be more properly rendered, My ears hast thou bored, that is, thou hast made me thy servant for ever, to dwell in thine own house; for the allusion is evidently to the custom mentioned, Exo 21:2, etc.: "If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve, and in the seventh he shall go out free; but if the servant shall positively say, I love my master, etc., I will not go out free, then his master shall bring him to the door post, and shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him for ever." But how is it possible that the Septuagint and the apostle should take a meaning so totally different from the sense of the Hebrew? Dr. Kennicott has a very ingenious conjecture here: he supposes that the Septuagint and apostle express the meaning of the words as they stood in the copy from which the Greek translation was made; and that the present Hebrew text is corrupted in the word אזנים oznayim, ears, which has been written through carelessness for אז גוה az gevah, Then a Body. The first syllable אז, Then, is the same in both; and the latter נים, which joined to אז, makes אזנים oznayim, might have been easily mistaken for גוה gevah, Body; נ nun, being very like ג gimel; י yod, like ו vau; and ה he, like final ם mem; especially if the line on which the letters were written in the MS. happened to be blacker than ordinary, which has often been a cause of mistake, it might have been easily taken for the under stroke of the mem, and thus give rise to a corrupt reading: add to this the root כרה carah, signifies as well to prepare as to open, bore, etc. On this supposition the ancient copy, translated by the Septuagint, and followed by the apostle, must have read the text thus: אז גוה כרית לי az gevah caritha li, σωμα δε κατηρτισω μοι, then a body thou hast prepared me: thus the Hebrew text, the version of the Septuagint, and the apostle, will agree in what is known to be an indisputable fact in Christianity, namely, that Christ was incarnated for the sin of the world. The Ethiopic has nearly the same reading; the Arabic has both, A body hast thou prepared me, and mine ears thou hast opened. But the Syriac, the Chaldee, and the Vulgate, agree with the present Hebrew text; and none of the MSS. collated by Kennicott and De Rossi have any various reading on the disputed words. It is remarkable that all the offerings and sacrifices which were considered to be of an atoning or cleansing nature, offered under the law, are here enumerated by the psalmist and the apostle, to show that none of them nor all of them could take away sin, and that the grand sacrifice of Christ was that alone which could do it. Four kinds are here specified, both by the psalmist and the apostle, viz.: Sacrifice, זבח zebach, θυσια· Offering, מנחה minchah, προσφορα· Burnt-Offering, עולה olah, ὁλοκαυτωμα· Sin-Offering, חטאה chataah, περι ἁμαρτιας. Of all these we may say, with the apostle, it was impossible that the blood of bulls and goats, etc., should take away sin.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Christ's voluntary self offering, in contrast to those inefficient sacrifices, is shown to fulfill perfectly "the will of God" as to our redemption, by completely atoning "for (our) sins." Wherefore--seeing that a nobler than animal sacrifices was needed to "take away sins." when he cometh--Greek, "coming." The time referred to is the period before His entrance into the world, when the inefficiency of animal sacrifices for expiation had been proved [THOLUCK]. Or, the time is that between Jesus' first dawning of reason as a child, and the beginning of His public ministry, during which, being ripened in human resolution, He was intently devoting Himself to the doing of His Father's will [ALFORD]. But the time of "coming" is present; not "when He had come," but "when coming into the world"; so, in order to accord with ALFORD'S view, "the world" must mean His PUBLIC ministry: when coming, or about to come, into public. The Greek verbs are in the past: "sacrifice . . . Thou didst not wish, but a body Thou didst prepare for Me"; and, "Lo, I am come." Therefore, in order to harmonize these times, the present coming, or about to come, with the past, "A body Thou didst prepare for Me," we must either explain as ALFORD, or else, if we take the period to be before His actual arrival in the world (the earth) or incarnation, we must explain the past tenses to refer to God's purpose, which speaks of what He designed from eternity as though it were already fulfilled. "A body Thou didst prepare in Thy eternal counsel." This seems to me more likely than explaining "coming into the world," "coming into public," or entering on His public ministry. David, in the fortieth Psalm (here quoted), reviews his past troubles and God's having delivered him from them, and his consequent desire to render willing obedience to God as more acceptable than sacrifices; but the Spirit puts into his mouth language finding its partial application to David, and its full realization only in the divine Son of David. "The more any son of man approaches the incarnate Son of God in position, or office, or individual spiritual experience, the more directly may his holy breathings in the power of Christ's Spirit be taken as utterances of Christ Himself. Of all men, the prophet-king of Israel resembled and foreshadowed Him the most" [ALFORD]. a body hast thou prepared me--Greek, "Thou didst fit for Me a body." "In Thy counsels Thou didst determine to make for Me a body, to be given up to death as a sacrificial victim" [WAHL]. In the Hebrew, Psa 40:6, it is "mine ears hast thou opened," or "dug." Perhaps this alludes to the custom of boring the ear of a slave who volunteers to remain under his master when he might be free. Christ's assuming a human body, in obedience to the Father's will, in order to die the death of a slave (Heb 2:14), was virtually the same act of voluntary submission to service as that of a slave suffering his ear to be bored by his master. His willing obedience to the Father's will is what is dwelt on as giving especial virtue to His sacrifice (Heb 10:7, Heb 10:9-10). The preparing, or fitting of a body for Him, is not with a view to His mere incarnation, but to His expiatory sacrifice (Heb 10:10), as the contrast to "sacrifice and offering" requires; compare also Rom 7:4; Eph 2:16; Col 1:22. More probably "opened mine ears" means opened mine inward ear, so as to be attentively obedient to what God wills me to do, namely, to assume the body He has prepared for me for my sacrifice, so Job 33:16, Margin; Job 36:10 (doubtless the boring of a slave's "ear" was the symbol of such willing obedience); Isa 50:5, "The Lord God hath opened mine ear," that is, made me obediently attentive as a slave to his master. Others somewhat similarly explain, "Mine ears hast thou digged," or "fashioned," not with allusion to Exo 21:6, but to the true office of the ear--a willing, submissive attention to the voice of God (Isa 50:4-5). The forming of the ear implies the preparation of the body, that is, the incarnation; this secondary idea, really in the Hebrew, though less prominent, is the one which Paul uses for his argument. In either explanation the idea of Christ taking on Him the form, and becoming obedient as a servant, is implied. As He assumed a body in which to make His self-sacrifice, so ought we present our bodies a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith,.... In Psa 40:7. This was said by David, not of himself, and his own times, for sacrifice and offering were desired and required in his times; nor was he able to do the will of God; so as to fulfil the law, and make void legal sacrifices; nor did he engage as a surety to do this; nor was it written of him in the volume of the book that he should: besides, he speaks of one that was not yet come, though ready to come, when the fulness of time should be up; and who is here spoken of as coming into the world, and who is no other than Jesus Christ; and this is to be understood, not of his coming into Judea, or the temple at Jerusalem; or out of a private, into a public life; nor of his entrance into the world to come, into heaven, into life eternal, as the Targum on Psa 40:7 paraphrases it, after he had done his work on earth, for the other world is never expressed by the world only; nor did Christ go into that to do the will of God, but to sit down there, after he had done it; besides, Christ's entrance into heaven was a going out of the world, and not into it. To which may be added, that this phrase always signifies coming into this terrene world, and intends men's coming into it at their birth; See Gill on Joh 1:9 and must be understood of Christ's incarnation, which was an instance of great love, condescension, and grace; and the, reason of it was to do what the law, and the blood of bulls and goats, could not do. For it follows, sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; or didst not desire and delight in, as the word used in Psa 40:6 signifies; meaning not the sacrifices of wicked men, or such as were offered up without faith in Christ; but the ceremonial sacrifices God himself had instituted, and which were offered in the best manner; and that not merely in a comparative sense, as in Hos 6:6 but the meaning is, that God would not have these continue any longer, they being only imposed for a time, and this time being come; nor would he accept of them, as terms, conditions, and causes of righteousness, pardon, peace, and reconciliation; but he willed that his Son should offer himself an offering, and a sacrifice for a sweet smelting savour to him. But a body hast thou prepared me; or "fitted for me"; a real natural body, which stands for the whole human nature; and is carefully expressed, to show that the human nature is not a person. This was prepared, in the book of God's purposes and decrees, and in the council and covenant of grace; and was curiously formed by the Holy Ghost in time, for the second Person, the Son of God, to clothe himself with, as the Syriac version renders it, "thou hast clothed me with a body"; and that he might dwell in, and in it do the will of God, and perform the work of man's redemption: in Psa 40:6 it is, "mine ears thou hast opened"; digged or bored, the ear being put for the whole body; for if he had not had a body prepared, he could not have had ears opened: besides; the phrase is expressive of Christ's assuming the form of a servant, which was done by his being found in fashion as a man, Phi 2:7 and of his being a voluntary servant, and of his cheerful obedience as such, the opening, or boring of the ear, was a sign, Exo 21:5. And thus by having a true body prepared for him, and a willing mind to offer it up, he became fit for sacrifice.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
10:5-7 These verses quote Ps 40:6-8. Psalm 40 is a hymn of praise to God in which the psalmist confesses his desire to do God’s will. The author of Hebrews understands Christ to be the speaker. 10:5 But you have given me a body to offer: God had prepared the psalmist to be obedient, ready to do God’s will; Hebrews now applies this idea to Christ. For Hebrews, the preparation of a human body, specifically Christ’s body, shows that God would use it as a superior sacrifice.
Hebrews 10:5
Christ’s Perfect Sacrifice
4because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
A Man Approved by God
By Major Ian Thomas7.5K45:23ApprovedMAT 6:33LUK 1:38JHN 1:1JHN 1:14PHP 2:5HEB 10:5HEB 10:7In this sermon from the 1966 Southland-Kazakh Convention, Major Thomas emphasizes the importance of Jesus as the fulfillment of all that was written and foreshadowed in the Bible. He explains that Jesus came to earth as a man, clothed in humanity, to demonstrate how man should live. Major Thomas references John 3:16 to explain that becoming a Christian means accepting Jesus as the Son of God and believing in him. He also refers to Philippians 2:5 to encourage listeners to have the same mindset as Christ, who humbled himself and became a servant. Overall, the sermon emphasizes the truth about God and man that Jesus reveals through his life and teachings.
Salvation by Christ's Life
By Major Ian Thomas4.7K38:22SalvationMAT 6:33JHN 13:3JHN 14:10ROM 12:1HEB 9:14HEB 10:5In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the nature of Jesus' victory and how it relates to Christian believers. He emphasizes that Jesus' victory was not based on simply avoiding sin, but rather on his complete submission to the purpose for which he was born. Jesus presented himself to the Father through the eternal Spirit, and every action he took was an expression of the Father in him. Through his death on the cross, Jesus became the author of eternal salvation for those who obey him. The speaker also mentions his gratitude for the arrangements made for his visit and expresses his willingness to meet with parents and friends of students at the college.
(Hebrews - Part 28): The Shadow of Christ
By A.W. Tozer4.4K22:06ExpositionalHEB 10:5In this sermon, the preacher addresses the issue of boredom and dissatisfaction in life, particularly in the context of religion. He emphasizes that our time on earth is limited and that we should seek assurance that everything is right with us before we pass away. The preacher contrasts the Old Testament sacrifices, which had to be repeated year after year, with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which was offered once for all sins. He argues that through Jesus, we can find forgiveness and assurance of salvation, and that there comes a point where we can confidently say, "It is done." The preacher also criticizes ritualistic churches that repetitively seek forgiveness and mercy without acknowledging the completeness of Christ's sacrifice.
Balance of Truth - 2
By Zac Poonen2.0K1:00:19BalanceHEB 10:5In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of balance in the Christian life, specifically in relation to faith and works. He emphasizes that both faith and works have their place and that salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit are received through faith. The speaker uses the analogy of the functions of the body to illustrate the importance of both love and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He warns that disobeying Scripture, especially when one knows it to be true, can result in missing out on the glory of God. The speaker concludes by urging believers to pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, as both are essential for a balanced Christian life.
New Beginnings - Gideon's Army I
By George Warnock1.7K1:19:45BeginningsGEN 1:3PSA 78:2ISA 55:10JHN 5:461CO 2:102CO 4:6HEB 10:5In this sermon, the preacher discusses the book of Judges and how God allowed areas of resistance to remain in the land so that the younger generation could learn war. The preacher emphasizes that God's principles of truth must be established within us so that we are ready for any challenges that come our way. The sermon also mentions the story of the Israelites receiving manna from heaven and how they gorged themselves on quail sent by God in anger. The preacher highlights the importance of relying on God for our daily bread and not accumulating wealth for selfish purposes. Additionally, the sermon touches on the topic of discipline and the consequences of not correcting children, leading to rebellion and societal issues.
(Following the Footsteps of Christ) Introduction
By Willie Mullan1.5K1:13:05Footsteps Of ChristMAT 2:2LUK 2:14ACT 21:6ACT 21:9GAL 4:4PHP 2:5HEB 10:5In this sermon, the preacher begins by emphasizing the importance of recognizing God's role in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem humanity. The preacher references Galatians 4:4, which states that God sent His Son at the appointed time to redeem those under the law. The sermon then shifts to discussing the messenger, Gabriel, who was sent by God to announce the coming of Jesus. The preacher highlights the significance of Jesus taking on the form of a servant, as mentioned in Philippians 2:5-7, to fulfill God's plan of salvation.
Jesus & the Holy Spirit
By Don McClure1.3K49:47Holy SpiritPSA 40:6ISA 61:1LUK 4:16HEB 10:5In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit. He references the scripture from Luke 4:18-19, where Jesus declares that the Spirit of the Lord is upon him to preach the gospel, heal the brokenhearted, deliver the captives, restore sight to the blind, and set the oppressed free. The preacher emphasizes that Jesus fulfilled this scripture and had a dynamic and undeniable fullness in his life. He then encourages the congregation to surrender themselves as clay in the hands of God, allowing the Holy Spirit to have full control and not treating him as a mere servant. The preacher also highlights the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, where Jesus asserts that he doesn't need to act as God to overcome the devil, but rather as a man filled with God.
The Perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ
By Major Ian Thomas1.2K32:51PerfectionMAT 6:33JHN 8:29JHN 13:4ROM 11:36HEB 10:5HEB 10:7In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the divine objective of preaching the word of God. He explains that just as Jesus was sent by the Father, Christians are also sent by Jesus to fulfill the purposes agreed upon with the Father before the world was created. The speaker highlights the importance of presenting one's body as a living sacrifice to God, following the example of Jesus offering his body to the Father. He emphasizes that Christianity is about living in and through Jesus Christ, leaving no room for self-pleasing. The sermon references passages from the book of Hebrews and the book of Romans to support these teachings.
The Kingdom of God (1 of 2)
By Paul Ravenhill1.1K38:10MAT 5:3MAT 5:10MAT 5:20MAT 5:48JHN 14:261CO 12:4HEB 10:5In this sermon, the preacher discusses the importance of understanding the word of God and its relevance to our lives. He emphasizes that God repeats the history of the world in every generation, just as Jesus spoke of those who rejected the kingdom of God. The preacher highlights the process that God follows in blessing, delivering, and revealing Himself to His people. He also acknowledges the presence of both good and bad influences in the world and encourages believers to seek a deep understanding of God's work and to rely on Him for guidance and strength.
Introduction to Romans
By Don McClure99556:40GEN 1:1PSA 40:6MAT 6:33JHN 3:16ROM 1:1EPH 2:8HEB 10:5In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the first verse of chapter one in the book of Romans. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the Christian life and how to live it. They highlight the concept of being a servant of Jesus Christ and being called and separated for the gospel of God. The speaker also discusses the idea of surrendering one's life to God and becoming a slave to His love and power.
Since God Is for Us, We Will Always Overcome (Tamil)
By Zac Poonen5891:01:57ISA 30:18MAT 8:16ROM 7:4ROM 8:28PHP 2:12HEB 8:10HEB 10:51JN 4:4
This sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding the full scope of salvation, beyond just being saved from judgment, to include deliverance from the sinful nature inherited from Adam and ultimately from the presence of sin itself. It highlights the three tenses of salvation - past, present, and future - and the need to continuously work out one's salvation with fear and trembling. The sermon also stresses the role of the Holy Spirit in sanctification, giving believers the desire and strength to do God's will, leading to a transformed life marked by victory over sin and a deep relationship with Jesus.
He Is
By Michael Koulianos3320:48Identity of ChristJesusRelationship with JesusMAT 3:17JHN 10:9JHN 11:25JHN 14:6JHN 15:1ACT 5:302CO 9:15COL 3:4HEB 10:5REV 1:8Michael Koulianos passionately proclaims the multifaceted identity of Jesus Christ, emphasizing His roles as the suffering Savior, the great evangelist, and the living Word. He reflects on the profound significance of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, urging the church to return to its first love and recognize Jesus as the ultimate source of life and truth. Koulianos highlights that Jesus is not only our mediator and offering but also the embodiment of God's love and the fulfillment of Scripture. He calls believers to embrace the reality of Christ's presence within them, encouraging a deeper relationship with the Lord who is both the way and the truth. Ultimately, he reminds the congregation that Jesus is the answer to every need and the foundation of their faith.
As God Intended Man to Behave
By Major Ian Thomas1456:31Human SpiritFaith and ObediencePRO 20:27LUK 22:25JHN 14:30JHN 16:7ROM 14:23EPH 4:17HEB 9:14HEB 10:5HEB 11:6JAS 2:17Major Ian Thomas emphasizes that the unique human spirit allows man to receive the Holy Spirit, enabling divine behavior as intended by God. He explains that true faith is an attitude of total dependence on God, which is essential for pleasing Him and behaving as He intended. Thomas argues that without the Holy Spirit, man cannot fulfill his purpose and is left to function merely as an animal, devoid of divine influence. He stresses that faith must be active and expressed through obedience, as anything less is considered sin. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a deeper understanding of faith and the necessity of the Holy Spirit in restoring humanity to its intended state.
The Indestructible Christ
By G.W. North0Eternal Nature of ChristVictory over DeathISA 53:5LUK 24:46JHN 1:14JHN 10:18ACT 2:24ROM 6:91CO 15:55PHP 2:8HEB 10:5REV 1:18G.W. North emphasizes the indestructible nature of Christ, explaining that while Jesus' physical body died, the eternal essence of Christ remained alive and indestructible. He clarifies that the Christ, who is God manifest in the flesh, cannot die, and that Jesus' death was a necessary part of fulfilling scripture, allowing Him to conquer death and rise again. North highlights the mystery that confounded the Jews, who understood that the Christ abides forever, yet struggled with the concept of His death. He illustrates that Christ's incarnation was a divine plan, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice that fulfilled the requirements of the Mosaic Covenant. Ultimately, North reassures believers that while Jesus' body was destroyed, the Christ within remained eternal and victorious over death.
Obedient Unto Death
By G.W. North0ObedienceSacrifice of ChristMAT 26:39JHN 1:29HEB 10:5G.W. North emphasizes the profound sacrifice of Jesus, who, even in His moment of greatest suffering on the cross, was primarily focused on establishing communion between God and humanity. He reflects on the weight of this mission, which was known to Christ from the beginning of time, culminating in His forsakenness. North draws parallels between Christ's sacrifice and the Old Testament laws of atonement, illustrating the continuity of God's redemptive plan. Despite the immense burden of His impending death, Jesus remained committed to fulfilling the divine purpose. The sermon highlights the depth of Christ's obedience and the significance of His sacrifice for the salvation of mankind.
The Cross and the Person of Christ
By T. Austin-Sparks0The CrossUnion with GodJER 17:9MAT 27:46JHN 3:14JHN 8:27JHN 11:25ACT 2:24ROM 8:11CO 1:182CO 5:14HEB 10:5T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes that the true understanding of Christ's Person is inseparable from the Cross, and vice versa. He explains that the disciples initially struggled to accept a Christ that included the Cross, as it contradicted their expectations. The Cross reveals the essence of Christ, which is union with God, and it is through this union that the lie, enmity, and death resulting from the Fall are annulled. Sparks highlights that true knowledge of Christ comes through experiencing His death and resurrection, leading to a restored relationship with God. Ultimately, the Cross is essential for understanding both the Person of Christ and the nature of our union with God.
Of the Priestly Office of Christ.
By John Gill0Atonement and SacrificeThe Priesthood of ChristPSA 110:4ISA 53:10ACT 2:23ROM 3:25EPH 1:71TI 2:5HEB 2:17HEB 9:14HEB 10:51PE 1:18John Gill expounds on the priestly office of Christ, emphasizing that His role as a priest was predetermined by God to serve as a propitiatory sacrifice for sin, fulfilling the requirements of divine justice. He highlights that Christ's priesthood is eternal and superior, established not through the law of Moses but through the order of Melchizedek, and that His sacrifice was unique, sufficient, and voluntary, offering redemption for His people. Gill also discusses the dual nature of Christ as both God and man, which qualifies Him to mediate and intercede for humanity, ultimately securing eternal salvation for those who believe.
Hebrews 10:19-25
By St. John Chrysostom0PRO 17:17MAT 5:44MAT 18:20ROM 13:111CO 13:5PHP 4:5HEB 5:6HEB 7:16HEB 7:19HEB 8:13HEB 9:11HEB 10:5John Chrysostom preaches about the significance of entering the holiest through the blood of Jesus, emphasizing the new and living way He has consecrated for believers. He encourages drawing near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, and holding fast to hope without wavering. Chrysostom highlights the importance of assembling together to provoke love and good works, urging believers to consider one another and strive for virtuous living. He stresses the power of love in fulfilling the law, urging believers to love even their enemies as a pathway to virtue and becoming more like God.
Present Your Bodies
By Raymond Golsworthy0GEN 1:26ROM 3:21ROM 6:6ROM 8:11ROM 12:1EPH 2:6PHP 1:21HEB 10:5Raymond Golsworthy preaches on the profound call in Romans 12:1-2 for believers to present their bodies as living sacrifices to God, emphasizing the basis of this plea in the mercies of God revealed throughout the earlier chapters of Romans. The sermon delves into the spiritual mercies of justification by faith, crucifixion with Christ, union with the risen Lord, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, highlighting the need for a deep understanding of these truths to motivate a complete surrender to God. The nature of the plea is explored, focusing on the significance of offering our entire being to the Lord as a living sacrifice, and the wonderful result of responding to this plea is discussed as experiencing the fullness of God's eternal purpose and design for His children.
Shadow Boxing
By Selwyn Hughes0JHN 1:14JHN 3:16PHP 2:6HEB 10:1HEB 10:5Selwyn Hughes emphasizes the inadequacy of trying to find God through the law, highlighting that the law is merely a shadow and not the true image of God. He points out that the sacrifice and offering God desired was a body prepared for Christ, who willingly came to do the Father's will. Hughes marvels at the miracle of the Incarnation, where the Son of God took on human form to redeem humanity, surpassing all previous revelations of God. He reflects on the profound love displayed through God becoming man, a concept beyond human philosophy but affirmed every time the date is written.
The Servant
By Thomas Bradbury0EXO 21:5ISA 42:1JHN 5:46EPH 5:25HEB 10:5Thomas Bradbury preaches about the presence of Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures, emphasizing how every part of the Bible is full of Christ and His glory. He highlights the radiant glory of Christ in Genesis as the Creator and in Exodus as the Redeemer. Bradbury delves into the Gospel according to Moses in Deuteronomy, showcasing the sovereign grace and discriminating truth found in the Scriptures. He explores the love of Christ for His church and people, drawing parallels between Christ's love and the devotion seen in the servant's declaration of love for his master, wife, and children.
The Nature of the Redeemer's Humanity
By J.C. Philpot0JHN 10:17JHN 17:17ACT 13:37ROM 8:3PHP 2:71TI 3:16HEB 2:14HEB 10:5J.C. Philpot preaches on the sacred humanity of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the eternal purpose of the Father to glorify His Son through the incarnation. The sermon delves into the depths of God's wisdom, power, and love displayed in the union of the divine Son with human flesh to manifest grace, love, and glory. It highlights the importance of understanding the truth of God manifest in the flesh for godliness, salvation, and sanctification, as revealed in the mystery of the incarnate God. The sermon explores the real and substantial human nature of Jesus, impeccability, incorruptibility, and immortality of His sacred humanity, emphasizing the voluntary sacrifice and the unity of His two natures in one Person.
Conformed to the Image of His Son
By T. Austin-Sparks0ROM 5:12ROM 8:291CO 15:44PHP 2:7HEB 1:3HEB 2:8HEB 4:6HEB 10:5T. Austin-Sparks delves into the eternal purpose of God, emphasizing the contrast between the first Adam and the last Adam, Jesus Christ, as the ultimate image to which God intended to conform humanity. He explores the significance of Christ emptying Himself and becoming obedient unto death to bring back God's original intention for humanity. The sermon highlights the importance of obedience in God's plan, showcasing the consequences of disobedience through various biblical examples. It concludes with the call for believers to live by the life of Christ within them, leading to conformity to His image.
The Entry Into the Land
By T. Austin-Sparks0DEU 1:2ISA 9:6ROM 8:172CO 5:19HEB 3:19HEB 7:25HEB 10:5HEB 10:22T. Austin-Sparks delves into the concept of entering into God's rest, emphasizing the vast difference between ourselves and Christ, and the importance of faith in bridging that gap. The end goal of the journey is reaching 'God's rest', which is immediately present to faith and dependent on our understanding of Christ's significance. The sermon explores the foundation of faith in Christ as God given to us in Sonship, our Kinsman, His own Priest, and His own Sacrifice, highlighting the power of faith's appropriation in shortening the journey to rest.
The Choice of a Career
By G.R. Cowell0PRO 3:5MAT 6:33LUK 2:49PHP 3:14HEB 10:5G.R. Cowell preaches about the believer's ultimate purpose being to do the will of God, emphasizing that they are bought with a price and belong to God. The believer's career is to follow God's will, with Christ as their focus and motivation, ensuring divine support, care, and eternal riches. Just as Jesus modeled complete surrender to God's will, believers are called to function as part of Christ's body, serving in God's house and pursuing heavenly goals with dedication.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
When he (the Messiah) cometh into the world - Was about to be incarnated, He saith to God the Father, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not - it was never thy will and design that the sacrifices under thy own law should be considered as making atonement for sin, they were only designed to point out my incarnation and consequent sacrificial death, and therefore a body hast thou prepared me, by a miraculous conception in the womb of a virgin, according to thy word, The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent. A body hast thou prepared me - The quotation in this and the two following verses is taken from Psalm 40, 6th, 7th, and 8th verses, as they stand now in the Septuagint, with scarcely any variety of reading; but, although the general meaning is the same, they are widely different in verbal expression in the Hebrew. David's words are, אזנים כרית לי oznayim caritha li, which we translate, My ears hast thou opened; but they might be more properly rendered, My ears hast thou bored, that is, thou hast made me thy servant for ever, to dwell in thine own house; for the allusion is evidently to the custom mentioned, Exo 21:2, etc.: "If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve, and in the seventh he shall go out free; but if the servant shall positively say, I love my master, etc., I will not go out free, then his master shall bring him to the door post, and shall bore his ear through with an awl, and he shall serve him for ever." But how is it possible that the Septuagint and the apostle should take a meaning so totally different from the sense of the Hebrew? Dr. Kennicott has a very ingenious conjecture here: he supposes that the Septuagint and apostle express the meaning of the words as they stood in the copy from which the Greek translation was made; and that the present Hebrew text is corrupted in the word אזנים oznayim, ears, which has been written through carelessness for אז גוה az gevah, Then a Body. The first syllable אז, Then, is the same in both; and the latter נים, which joined to אז, makes אזנים oznayim, might have been easily mistaken for גוה gevah, Body; נ nun, being very like ג gimel; י yod, like ו vau; and ה he, like final ם mem; especially if the line on which the letters were written in the MS. happened to be blacker than ordinary, which has often been a cause of mistake, it might have been easily taken for the under stroke of the mem, and thus give rise to a corrupt reading: add to this the root כרה carah, signifies as well to prepare as to open, bore, etc. On this supposition the ancient copy, translated by the Septuagint, and followed by the apostle, must have read the text thus: אז גוה כרית לי az gevah caritha li, σωμα δε κατηρτισω μοι, then a body thou hast prepared me: thus the Hebrew text, the version of the Septuagint, and the apostle, will agree in what is known to be an indisputable fact in Christianity, namely, that Christ was incarnated for the sin of the world. The Ethiopic has nearly the same reading; the Arabic has both, A body hast thou prepared me, and mine ears thou hast opened. But the Syriac, the Chaldee, and the Vulgate, agree with the present Hebrew text; and none of the MSS. collated by Kennicott and De Rossi have any various reading on the disputed words. It is remarkable that all the offerings and sacrifices which were considered to be of an atoning or cleansing nature, offered under the law, are here enumerated by the psalmist and the apostle, to show that none of them nor all of them could take away sin, and that the grand sacrifice of Christ was that alone which could do it. Four kinds are here specified, both by the psalmist and the apostle, viz.: Sacrifice, זבח zebach, θυσια· Offering, מנחה minchah, προσφορα· Burnt-Offering, עולה olah, ὁλοκαυτωμα· Sin-Offering, חטאה chataah, περι ἁμαρτιας. Of all these we may say, with the apostle, it was impossible that the blood of bulls and goats, etc., should take away sin.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
Christ's voluntary self offering, in contrast to those inefficient sacrifices, is shown to fulfill perfectly "the will of God" as to our redemption, by completely atoning "for (our) sins." Wherefore--seeing that a nobler than animal sacrifices was needed to "take away sins." when he cometh--Greek, "coming." The time referred to is the period before His entrance into the world, when the inefficiency of animal sacrifices for expiation had been proved [THOLUCK]. Or, the time is that between Jesus' first dawning of reason as a child, and the beginning of His public ministry, during which, being ripened in human resolution, He was intently devoting Himself to the doing of His Father's will [ALFORD]. But the time of "coming" is present; not "when He had come," but "when coming into the world"; so, in order to accord with ALFORD'S view, "the world" must mean His PUBLIC ministry: when coming, or about to come, into public. The Greek verbs are in the past: "sacrifice . . . Thou didst not wish, but a body Thou didst prepare for Me"; and, "Lo, I am come." Therefore, in order to harmonize these times, the present coming, or about to come, with the past, "A body Thou didst prepare for Me," we must either explain as ALFORD, or else, if we take the period to be before His actual arrival in the world (the earth) or incarnation, we must explain the past tenses to refer to God's purpose, which speaks of what He designed from eternity as though it were already fulfilled. "A body Thou didst prepare in Thy eternal counsel." This seems to me more likely than explaining "coming into the world," "coming into public," or entering on His public ministry. David, in the fortieth Psalm (here quoted), reviews his past troubles and God's having delivered him from them, and his consequent desire to render willing obedience to God as more acceptable than sacrifices; but the Spirit puts into his mouth language finding its partial application to David, and its full realization only in the divine Son of David. "The more any son of man approaches the incarnate Son of God in position, or office, or individual spiritual experience, the more directly may his holy breathings in the power of Christ's Spirit be taken as utterances of Christ Himself. Of all men, the prophet-king of Israel resembled and foreshadowed Him the most" [ALFORD]. a body hast thou prepared me--Greek, "Thou didst fit for Me a body." "In Thy counsels Thou didst determine to make for Me a body, to be given up to death as a sacrificial victim" [WAHL]. In the Hebrew, Psa 40:6, it is "mine ears hast thou opened," or "dug." Perhaps this alludes to the custom of boring the ear of a slave who volunteers to remain under his master when he might be free. Christ's assuming a human body, in obedience to the Father's will, in order to die the death of a slave (Heb 2:14), was virtually the same act of voluntary submission to service as that of a slave suffering his ear to be bored by his master. His willing obedience to the Father's will is what is dwelt on as giving especial virtue to His sacrifice (Heb 10:7, Heb 10:9-10). The preparing, or fitting of a body for Him, is not with a view to His mere incarnation, but to His expiatory sacrifice (Heb 10:10), as the contrast to "sacrifice and offering" requires; compare also Rom 7:4; Eph 2:16; Col 1:22. More probably "opened mine ears" means opened mine inward ear, so as to be attentively obedient to what God wills me to do, namely, to assume the body He has prepared for me for my sacrifice, so Job 33:16, Margin; Job 36:10 (doubtless the boring of a slave's "ear" was the symbol of such willing obedience); Isa 50:5, "The Lord God hath opened mine ear," that is, made me obediently attentive as a slave to his master. Others somewhat similarly explain, "Mine ears hast thou digged," or "fashioned," not with allusion to Exo 21:6, but to the true office of the ear--a willing, submissive attention to the voice of God (Isa 50:4-5). The forming of the ear implies the preparation of the body, that is, the incarnation; this secondary idea, really in the Hebrew, though less prominent, is the one which Paul uses for his argument. In either explanation the idea of Christ taking on Him the form, and becoming obedient as a servant, is implied. As He assumed a body in which to make His self-sacrifice, so ought we present our bodies a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1).
John Gill Bible Commentary
Wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he saith,.... In Psa 40:7. This was said by David, not of himself, and his own times, for sacrifice and offering were desired and required in his times; nor was he able to do the will of God; so as to fulfil the law, and make void legal sacrifices; nor did he engage as a surety to do this; nor was it written of him in the volume of the book that he should: besides, he speaks of one that was not yet come, though ready to come, when the fulness of time should be up; and who is here spoken of as coming into the world, and who is no other than Jesus Christ; and this is to be understood, not of his coming into Judea, or the temple at Jerusalem; or out of a private, into a public life; nor of his entrance into the world to come, into heaven, into life eternal, as the Targum on Psa 40:7 paraphrases it, after he had done his work on earth, for the other world is never expressed by the world only; nor did Christ go into that to do the will of God, but to sit down there, after he had done it; besides, Christ's entrance into heaven was a going out of the world, and not into it. To which may be added, that this phrase always signifies coming into this terrene world, and intends men's coming into it at their birth; See Gill on Joh 1:9 and must be understood of Christ's incarnation, which was an instance of great love, condescension, and grace; and the, reason of it was to do what the law, and the blood of bulls and goats, could not do. For it follows, sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; or didst not desire and delight in, as the word used in Psa 40:6 signifies; meaning not the sacrifices of wicked men, or such as were offered up without faith in Christ; but the ceremonial sacrifices God himself had instituted, and which were offered in the best manner; and that not merely in a comparative sense, as in Hos 6:6 but the meaning is, that God would not have these continue any longer, they being only imposed for a time, and this time being come; nor would he accept of them, as terms, conditions, and causes of righteousness, pardon, peace, and reconciliation; but he willed that his Son should offer himself an offering, and a sacrifice for a sweet smelting savour to him. But a body hast thou prepared me; or "fitted for me"; a real natural body, which stands for the whole human nature; and is carefully expressed, to show that the human nature is not a person. This was prepared, in the book of God's purposes and decrees, and in the council and covenant of grace; and was curiously formed by the Holy Ghost in time, for the second Person, the Son of God, to clothe himself with, as the Syriac version renders it, "thou hast clothed me with a body"; and that he might dwell in, and in it do the will of God, and perform the work of man's redemption: in Psa 40:6 it is, "mine ears thou hast opened"; digged or bored, the ear being put for the whole body; for if he had not had a body prepared, he could not have had ears opened: besides; the phrase is expressive of Christ's assuming the form of a servant, which was done by his being found in fashion as a man, Phi 2:7 and of his being a voluntary servant, and of his cheerful obedience as such, the opening, or boring of the ear, was a sign, Exo 21:5. And thus by having a true body prepared for him, and a willing mind to offer it up, he became fit for sacrifice.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
10:5-7 These verses quote Ps 40:6-8. Psalm 40 is a hymn of praise to God in which the psalmist confesses his desire to do God’s will. The author of Hebrews understands Christ to be the speaker. 10:5 But you have given me a body to offer: God had prepared the psalmist to be obedient, ready to do God’s will; Hebrews now applies this idea to Christ. For Hebrews, the preparation of a human body, specifically Christ’s body, shows that God would use it as a superior sacrifice.