How does Hebrews 10:9 connect to the Old Testament sacrificial system?

The Heart of Hebrews 10:9

“Then He adds, ‘Here I am, I have come to do Your will.’ He takes away the first to establish the second.”

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Old Covenant Sacrifices—Shadows and Limitations

• Daily and yearly offerings (Exodus 29:38-42; Leviticus 16) covered, but never finally removed, sin

• Animal blood gave temporary ceremonial cleansing (Hebrews 9:9-10)

• Priests stood continually because the work was never finished (Hebrews 10:11)

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He Takes Away the First—What Is Removed?

• The entire Levitical system with its repetitive rituals (Hebrews 7:18-19)

• The priesthood dependent on lineage (Hebrews 7:23-24)

• The covenant that could not perfect the conscience (Hebrews 9:13-14)

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He Establishes the Second—What Replaces It?

• A once-for-all sacrifice: “But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:12)

• A new covenant written on hearts, not stone (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:15-17)

• A perfect, eternal High Priest who intercedes forever (Hebrews 7:25)

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Key Old Testament Passages Foreshadowing Hebrews 10:9

• Psalm 40:6-8—quoted in Hebrews 10:5-7, showing Messiah delights to do God’s will rather than offer endless sacrifices

• Isaiah 53:10—“The LORD was pleased to crush Him… as a guilt offering,” pointing to a single, sufficient sacrifice

• Genesis 22:8—“God Himself will provide the lamb,” anticipating substitutionary provision

• Passover lamb (Exodus 12) and Day of Atonement goat (Leviticus 16) as prophetic types

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From Shadow to Substance—How Jesus Fulfills Each Offering

• Burnt offering (Leviticus 1): Total surrender—Jesus gave His whole self (Philippians 2:8)

• Grain offering (Leviticus 2): Sinless service—His perfect life (1 Peter 2:22)

• Peace offering (Leviticus 3): Reconciliation—“We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1)

• Sin offering (Leviticus 4): Substitution—“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

• Guilt offering (Leviticus 5-6): Restitution—Christ satisfies God’s justice and restores us (Colossians 2:14)

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Why the Change Matters Today

• No more striving for acceptance—“By one sacrifice He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14)

• Bold access—“We have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19)

• A call to obedience—since Christ came “to do Your will,” we now present our bodies “as living sacrifices” (Romans 12:1)

Christ removed an insufficient system and inaugurated a perfect covenant, turning every shadow of the Old Testament sacrificial system into glorious reality accomplished at the cross.