Commentary-Hebrews 10:5-31-Thomas Nelson refuted

Here are some highlights from Heb. 10:5-22:

(Italics are mine)

V5: Therefore when He came into the world He said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me.’

V7: Behold I have come in the volume of this book, it is written of Me, to do your will oh God.’

V9: ‘Behold I have come to do your will oh God.’

V10: By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ, once for all.

V12: But this man after He offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.

V14: For by one offering, He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

V17: Sins and lawless deeds remembered no more.

V18: Where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

By now it should be pretty clear that Christ came to do the will of God; that we have been sanctified by the very will of God, once for all; perfected forever; sins and lawless deeds remembered no more; that after Christ’s sacrifice, there is no longer an offering for sin. Here are Thomas Nelson’s commentaries up to this point. Mind you I’m just giving you highlights on the main points.

V10: Sanctified means set apart- Believers have been separated from their sins, and set apart to God by the once and for all sacrifice of Christ. This is good.

V14: The finished work of Christ in dying for sin once and for all has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. This is good.

V16-18: If full and final forgiveness has been achieved, so that God does not remember sin any longer, then no further sacrifice for sin is necessary. This is good.

V22: Draw near, full assurance, our hearts sprinkled, our bodies washed. Our conscience can be cleansed through the blood of Christ, so believers are cleansed before they come before the Holy One. This is good, there is no other way.

Ok, up to this point, Nelson’s commentaries are accurate. However, from here on out it begins to change course and to contradict, ending in outright absurdity. Pay close attention for contradictions. Nelson’s commentaries continued:

V26: To sin willfully: The reference here is not to occasional sin, (which can be confessed and forgiven), of course they list 1 John 1:9, but to a conscious rejection of God. The Old Testament speaks in Numb. 15:30-31 of committing willful sin. To sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of truth is apostasy, now listen to this one, if a Christian rejects God’s provision for his or her salvation, there is no other remedy for sin. My question is: how can you be Christian if you’ve rejected God’s provision for salvation? Either you have received Christ or you have not! You are either lost or you are saved!

V27: Now here is where it gets really good. The specific sin in the Old Testament that required two or three witnesses was idolatry. The judgment for idolatry was stoning. If idolatry was punished with physical death, how much worse punishment should someone receive who treats the word of Christ with disrespect or disdain. Counting the blood a common thing- means the blood of Christ is treated as no different from the blood of an ordinary man or the blood of an animal sacrifice. Insulted the spirit of grace- Is a reference to the Holy Spirit, the agent of God’s gift of salvation. Now watch this one, here we go again. A believer who commits these offenses will be judged with a punishment worse then physical death. Wrong, wrong, wrong!

To start with, these commentaries are very confusing, and are based at least in part, on the assumption that to sin willfully means to sin after receiving Christ. However, to throw the Christian into the fray at this point is neither healthy nor wise; for to be sure, to sin willfully in this context is a direct reference to the sin of unbelief. For the Jews this meant rejecting the truth of Christ for the law in returning to the sacrificial system. For the Gentile it meant you’ve received all the truth you’re going to get, and still you’ve rejected Christ. In short, to sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth is to remain in unbelief.

Nelson’s commentary continued:

V30-31: The author quotes 2 passages from Duet. 32 to support his claim that judgment belongs to the Lord, and that God’s people are not excused from God’s judgment; ‘It’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.’

Now while this is true, there is a terrible slight of hand going on here based on the last few erroneous comments. Number one: Nelson stating: ‘A believer who commits these offenses will be judged with a punishment worse then physical death.’ Remember, though judgment does belong to the Lord, we as believers have already been judged. Go back now and read what Nelson said in his commentaries from 10:5-22. Read the highlighted passages as well. Seems contradictory doesn’t it? Well that’s because it is. The reference to the Lord will judge His people in this context means this: All people are the Lord’s people, His creation, which includes the lost and the saved. If you are in Christ, you have already been judged and have been declared righteous. If you are not in Christ, you will be condemned.

In conclusion, these commentators are double-tongued, and do not understand this book, nor the gospel of Christ. Their work in 10:26-31 actually refute everything they commented on in 10:5-22. Not to mention refuting the finished work of Christ! Take a good long look at both scripture and commentary from 10:5-22, then consider how they are using 1 John 1:9. How in the world can you spin that one?

Here are some verses concerning what Christ has accomplished in us; I’ll start with a few verses from 1 John to refute its outright abuse:

1 John 2:12-Our sins have been forgiven for His Name sake.

2 John v.2- ‘Because of the truth which abides in us, and will be with us forever.’

Heb. 10:9-We have been sanctified by the very will of God.

Heb. 10:10- We have been sanctified once for all.

Heb. 10:14- We have been perfected forever.

Heb. 10:17-18- Sins and lawless deeds remembered no more; No longer an offering for sin.

Heb. 10:22-23- That we may draw near to God, free of a guilty conscience, washed with pure water, holding fast the confession of our hope, for He who promised is faithful.

Notice it doesn’t say because Bob has kept up with his confessions, and has sinned less than others, he is faithful; it says but He, God is faithful.

Footnote: 1 Tim. 3:8a- Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double tongued.

Titus 2:7-8- In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned; that one who is an opponent may be ashamed having nothing evil to say of you.

Commentary by:

G.L. Miller