Blood of Bulls and Goats Ineffective against Sin Hebrews 10:4

The writer of Hebrews declared that with the “sacrifices” of the priests “there is a remembrance again made of sins every year”, and in chapter ten and verse four of Hebrews the writer shares how the “blood of bulls and goats” could not “take away sins” where we read:

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

The verse begins, “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats...”. The writer began with the word, “For” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore “it is not possible” or “it is without strength, impotent, powerless, weakly and disabled” “that the blood” which refers to “the bloodshed” “of bulls” which refers to “steers or oxen” “and of goats” or “male goats”. The writer referred to the “bulls and goats” which were used in the “sacrificial offerings” presented by the priests.

The verse continues, “...should take away sins.”. The writer added the words, “should take away” or “remove, carry away or cut off” “sins” which means “offenses, missing of the mark, errors or mistakes”. The “sacrificial offerings” of “bulls and goats” offered by the priests every year had no way to “remove and carry away” the “errors and mistakes” of the people.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we see the limited value that offering animals as a sacrifice had upon the people for whom they were offered. Though these sacrifices were instituted by God, they only “covered” “sins”. They did not “remove” them. When Jesus became the “sacrificial offering” for “sins” by His death on the cross, He was able to forgive, cleanse and remove the “sins” of people, and the only necessary element left is for people to believe He did so. This employs commitment on our behalf, but when we turn from our “sins” and believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, we shall not only be “saved” from the judgment to come, but also receive “everlasting life” as a promise from Him.

Next time the writer declares, “sacrifice and offering you would not, but a body have you prepared me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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