What does Hebrews 10:7 reveal about Jesus' mission and purpose on Earth? Canonical Text “Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’” — Hebrews 10:7 Immediate Literary Context Hebrews 10:1-18 contrasts repetitive Levitical sacrifices with the once-for-all offering of Christ. Verses 5-7 cite Psalm 40:6-8 LXX to explain why animal blood could never ultimately satisfy divine justice. The Son enters history declaring His incarnational purpose: perfect obedience culminating in His self-sacrifice, thereby inaugurating the New Covenant (cf. Hebrews 8:8-13; 10:9-10). Old Testament Foundation Psalm 40 presents a messianic figure who delights in God’s will above ritual (“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but You have opened My ears,” Psalm 40:6). The “scroll” (Hebrew: megillāh) in ancient Israel frequently referred to the Torah as well as prophetic writings kept in the Temple (cf. 2 Kings 22:8). Dead Sea Scroll fragment 11QPsᵃ, dated c. 50 BC, preserves this Psalm almost verbatim, demonstrating its pre-Christian authenticity. Hebrews shows that Jesus embodies the Psalm’s ideal worshiper, replacing shadow with substance. Incarnation and Mission: “I Have Come” 1. Pre-existence and Sending (John 8:58; 17:5). 2. Voluntary Entrance into space-time (“born of a woman,” Galatians 4:4). 3. Singular Objective: “to do Your will,” defined explicitly by the context as offering His body once for all (Hebrews 10:10). Obedience as the Core of Redemptive Purpose Jesus’ earthly life is described consistently in terms of unwavering submission (John 4:34; 6:38; Philippians 2:8). Such obedience is more than moral example; it is the legal righteousness imputed to believers (Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21). Supersession of the Levitical System • Repetition vs. Finality: Annual Yom Kippur sacrifices (Leviticus 16) symbolized covering; Christ’s offering achieves removal (Hebrews 10:14). • Priest and Victim United: As Melchizedekian High Priest (Hebrews 7:11-28), Jesus offers Himself, eliminating the need for mediatorial animal blood. • Covenant Transition: Jeremiah 31:31-34 is fulfilled; the law is internalized, sin remembered no more (Hebrews 10:16-17). Prophetic Convergence Hebrews 10:7 ties together dozens of messianic prophecies: • Birthplace (Micah 5:2; Luke 2:4-7) • Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53; Acts 8:32-35) • Pierced Messiah (Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34-37) • Resurrection (Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:25-32). Multiple independent manuscript traditions (MT, LXX, DSS) predate Jesus, nullifying retrofitting charges. Archaeological & Historical Corroboration • Ossuary of Joseph Caiaphas (discovered 1990) attests to the high priest who orchestrated Jesus’ trial (Matthew 26:3), situating the Passion in verifiable history. • The Nazareth Inscription (1st century imperial edict against tomb violation) reflects early acknowledgement of claims that a body had disappeared—consistent with resurrection reports (Matthew 28:11-15). Teleology and Intelligent Design Implications Nature itself foreshadows redemptive purpose: the lamb motif woven through Genesis 22, Exodus 12, and Isaiah 53 surfaces genetically in the uniqueness of hemoglobin’s oxygen-binding—indispensable to sacrificial imagery of lifeblood (Leviticus 17:11). Observable irreducible complexities (e.g., bacterial flagellum, human DNA information density) align with a purposeful Creator whose culminating intention is revealed in Christ’s mission (Colossians 1:16-20). Practical Application for Believers 1. Assurance: Because the Son perfectly did the Father’s will, no further sacrifice is required (Hebrews 10:18). 2. Obedience: Believers emulate His submission (1 John 2:6), empowered by the indwelling Spirit (Romans 8:4). 3. Mission: “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Outreach flows from confidence in a completed atonement. Evangelistic Invitation The resurrection—certified by multiple independent eyewitness lines (1 Corinthians 15:3-8), early creedal formulation (c. AD 30), and transformation of skeptics such as James and Paul—validates Hebrews 10:7. The same risen Christ now calls every hearer: “Repent … that your sins may be wiped away” (Acts 3:19). Whoever trusts Him joins in the everlasting purpose “to the praise of His glorious grace” (Ephesians 1:6). |
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