Hebrews 10:11

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) The last was a verse of transition. Naturally following from and completing the previous argument, it leads in the words “once for all” to a new thought, or rather prepares the way for the resumption of a subject to which in an earlier chapter marked prominence was given. If the sanctifying work of the true High Priest has been accomplished “once for all,” such ministry remains for Him no longer (Hebrews 10:12-14). Here, then, the writer brings us back to Hebrews 8:1-2—to that which he there declared to be the crowning point of all his words.

And every priest.—Some ancient MSS. and versions read “high priest,” but the ordinary text is in all probability correct. (With the other reading the work of the priests in their daily ministrations is ascribed to the high priest, whose representatives they were.) Hitherto the thought has rested almost entirely on the ceremonial of the Day of Atonement; there is therefore new significance in the contrast between Jesus and “every priest” in all His ministrations. On “standeth” see the Note on Hebrews 8:1. The accumulation of words which point to the ceaseless repetition of the offerings of the law (Hebrews 10:1) is very noteworthy. The last words point to Hebrews 10:4.

Benson Commentary

Hebrews 10:11-18. And every priest standeth, &c. — In token of humble service and subjection; daily — Morning and evening; ministering and offering often the same sacrifices, which shows that these sacrifices can never take away sins — Can never fully expiate them, so as to make it consistent with the justice of God to forgive them to the penitent and believing. But this man — Αυτος δε, but He, the virtue of whose one sacrifice remains for ever, so that it need not be any more repeated; sat down on the right hand of God — As a Son in majesty and honour, and in token of the continuance of his priesthood, and of his dignity there as Lord; from henceforth, (το λοιπον, what remains,) expecting — Waiting; till his enemies be made his footstool — Till his ministry as High-Priest, and government as King, shall issue according to God’s promise, (Psalm 110:1,) in the utter destruction of his enemies. For by one offering — Of himself; (and it appears that he did not need to offer himself more than once;) he hath perfected for ever — Hath fully reconciled to God; them that are sanctified — Those who in true repentance, living faith, and new obedience, give themselves up to the love and service of God. Whereof — Of the perfection of whose sacrifice; the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us — Namely, in the form of the new covenant recorded by him Jeremiah 31:31. This is the covenant, &c. — See on chap. Hebrews 8:10. In these three verses, the apostle winds up his argument concerning the excellence and perfection of the priesthood and sacrifice of Christ. He had proved this before by a quotation from Jeremiah, which he here repeats, describing the new covenant as now completely ratified, and all the blessings of it secured to us by the one offering of Christ, which renders all other expiatory sacrifices, and any repetition of his own, utterly needless.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:11-18 Under the new covenant, or gospel dispensation, full and final pardon is to be had. This makes a vast difference between the new covenant and the old one. Under the old, sacrifices must be often repeated, and after all, only pardon as to this world was to be obtained by them. Under the new, one Sacrifice is enough to procure for all nations and ages, spiritual pardon, or being freed from punishment in the world to come. Well might this be called a new covenant. Let none suppose that human inventions can avail those who put them in the place of the sacrifice of the Son of God. What then remains, but that we seek an interest in this Sacrifice by faith; and the seal of it to our souls, by the sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience? So that by the law being written in our hearts, we may know that we are justified, and that God will no more remember our sins.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And every priest standeth daily ministering - That is, this is done every day. It does not mean literally that every priest was daily concerned in offering sacrifices, for they took turns according to their courses, (notes on Luke 1:5), but that this was done each day, and that every priest was to take his regular place in doing it; Numbers 28:3. The object of the apostle is to prove that under the Jewish economy sacrifices were repeated constantly, showing their imperfection, but that under the Christian economy the great sacrifice had been offered once, which was sufficient for all.

And offering oftentimes the same sacrifices - The same sacrifices were offered morning and evening every day.

Which can never take away sins - notes, Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 10:1.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. And—a new point of contrast; the frequent repetition of the sacrifices.

priest—The oldest manuscripts read, "high priest." Though he did not in person stand "daily" offering sacrifices, he did so by the subordinate priests of whom, as well as of all Israel, he was the representative head. So "daily" is applied to the high priests (Heb 7:27).

standeth—the attitude of one ministering; in contrast to "sat down on the right hand of God," Heb 10:12, said of Christ; the posture of one being ministered to as a king.

which—Greek, "the which," that is, of such a kind as.

take away—utterly; literally, "strip off all round." Legal sacrifices might, in part, produce the sense of forgiveness, yet scarcely even that (see on [2576]Heb 10:4); but entirely to strip off one's guilt they never could.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Having proved, that not the yearly repeated legal sacrifices could perfect a sinner, but only the sacrifice of Christ, the Spirit proceeds to prove, that the daily legal sacrifices can do as little for this work as the annual; and therefore these Hebrews ought to desert all these, and depend only upon Christ’s, Hebrews 10:11-18.

And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices: every priest in Aaron’s family in his course daily ministering, stood at the altar, and performed the service appointed him by God, offering often the same bloody sacrifices to God, of bulls, goats, sheep, fowl, many times in one day, and for many days together, Hebrews 7:27.

Which can never take away sins; these were not available either to the priests offering, or those who brought them to be offered, for the spiritual and eternal expiation of their sins, as to their guilt, stain, power, or punishment, not any, nor all of these, none could do it at any time: see Hebrews 10:4.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And every priest standeth daily ministering,.... The Alexandrian copy, one of Stephens's, the Complutensian edition, the Syriac and Ethiopic versions, read, "every high priest"; who might minister daily, if he would; but since the daily sacrifice was generally offered by the common priests, these are rather designed. The apostle passes from the anniversary sacrifices offered by the high priest on the day of atonement, having shown the insufficiency and imperfection of them, to the lambs of the daily sacrifice, which were offered morning and evening, and whatsoever else might be daily offered on other accounts; and which he also shows are equally ineffectual to take away sin; almost every word he uses shows the imperfection of the priesthood of Aaron, and serves to illustrate the priesthood of Christ. When he says "every priest", it supposes there were more than one, as indeed there were many, not only in succession to one another, but together, having different parts of service to perform; and everyone of them "standeth" at the altar, showing that his work was not done; and the present tense is used, because sacrifice in fact had not ceased at the writing of this epistle, though of right it ought to have done; and he stood "daily ministering"; every day, and sometimes often in a day, and always morning and night, Exodus 29:38 The priest always stood to minister, Deuteronomy 18:5. Hence the Jews say (t), there is no ministration or service, , "but standing"; and perhaps some reference may be had to the "stations" (u), or stationary men, who were always upon the spot at Jerusalem, to offer for such as were at a distance.

And offering oftentimes the same sacrifices; as a lamb in the morning, and another at evening; and if it was a burnt offering, or a sin offering, or an offering for the purification of a woman, or for the cleansing of the leper, they were always the same: and this frequent offering, and the offering of the same things, show that they were such

which can never take away sins; for notwithstanding these many and repeated offerings, even the sins of Old Testament saints remained to be atoned for by Christ; see Romans 3:25.

(t) Jarchi in Deuteronomy 18.5. Maimon. Biath Hamikdash, c. 5. sect. 16. (u) Misn. Taanith, c. 4. sect. 2.

Geneva Study Bible

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

(3) A conclusion, with the other part of the comparison: The Levitical high priest repeats the same sacrifices daily in his sanctuary: upon which it follows that neither those sacrifices, nor those offerings, nor those high priests could take away sins. But Christ having offered one sacrifice once for the sins of all men, and having sanctified his own for ever, sits at the right hand of the Father, having all power in his hands.

(e) At the altar.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Hebrews 10:11. Καὶ πᾶς] καί is the explanatory: and indeed. It develops the ἐφάπαξ, Hebrews 10:10, and belongs equally to Hebrews 10:12 as to Hebrews 10:11.

ἀρχιερεύς] comp. the critical remark.

καθʼ ἡμέραν] see at Hebrews 7:27.

περιελεῖν] stronger than ἀφαιρεῖν, Hebrews 10:4. Literally: take away round about.

Hebrews 10:11-14. Renewed emphasizing of the main distinction between the Jewish high priest and Christ. The former repeats day by day the same sacrifices without being able to effect thereby the cancelling of sin; Christ has by His single sacrifice procured everlasting sanctification. This the main thought of Hebrews 10:11-14. Into the same, however, there is at the same time introduced a subordinate feature, by virtue of the opposition of the ἕστηκεν and ἐκάθισεν, by which likewise is manifest the pre-eminence of Christ over the Levitical high priests. The Jewish high priests were required to accomplish their ministration standing (comp. Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 18:7; Jdg 20:28, al.), were thus characterized as servants or inferiors (comp. also Jam 2:3); whereas in Christ’s sitting down at the right hand of God, His participation in the divine majesty and glory is proclaimed.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Hebrews 10:11-14. That Christ’s one sacrifice has accomplished its end of bringing men to God is illustrated by His sitting down at God’s right hand.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

11. And every priest] The better reading seems to be “High Priest.”

standeth] None were permitted to sit in the Holy Place. Christ sat in the Holiest, far above all Heavens.

oftentimes] “Day by day for a continual burnt-offering” (Numbers 28:3; comp. Hebrews 7:27).

take away sins] The word is not the same verb (aphairein) as in Hebrews 10:4, but a much stronger one (perielein) which means “at once to strip away,” as though sin were some close-fitting robe (see Hebrews 12:1).

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 11-13. - And every priest indeed standeth daffy ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but he, having offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet. Thus with the one perfectly accomplished and for ever availing sacrifice is brought into connection, as its result, the fulfillment in Christ for man of the ideal of Psalm 8:6 (which was set forth in Hebrews 2:5-10; see the remarks there made), and also of the Son's exaltation to the right hand of God, declared in Psalm 110. (referred to in Hebrews 1:13, and brought fully into view in Hebrews 8:1, after the chapter about Melchizedek). Be it observed that the priesthood "after the order of Melchizedek" in itself implied this exaltation, which was in fact inferred from it. For the priesthood after this order, having been shown to be eternal and unchangeable, was further seen, from Psalm 110, to be conjoined to the eternal royalty at God's right hand. Hebrews 10:11

Vincent's Word Studies

Every priest (πᾶς)

Suggesting many priests. Comp. Hebrews 7:23.

Standeth (ἕστηκεν)

Servile attitude, contrasted with that of the exalted Savior, Hebrews 1:3.

Daily - often - the same

The wearisome round of daily offerings, always the same, contrasted with the one offering, once for all.

Take away (περιελεῖν)

Only here in connection with sin. See on 2 Corinthians 3:16. The verb literally means to strip off all round. See Genesis 41:42 (of a ring): Genesis 38:14; Deuteronomy 21:13 (of clothes). Comp. εὐπερίστατος, Hebrews 12:1, see note, and περίκειται ἀσθένειαν is compassed about with weakness, Hebrews 5:2. See also clothed with shame, and with cursing, Psalm 35:26; Psalm 109:18.