Hebrews 10:4

4 For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.

Hebrews 10:4 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 10:4

For it is not possible
There is a necessity of sin being taken away, otherwise it will be remembered; and there will be a conscience of it, and it must be answered for, or it will remain marked, and the curse and penalty of the law must take place: but it is impossible

that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins;
which was shed on the day of atonement: sin is a breach of the moral law, but these sacrifices belong to, the ceremonial law, which are less acceptable to God than moral duties; sin is committed against God, and has an objective infiniteness in it, and therefore can never be atoned for by the blood of such creatures; it leaves a stain on the mind and conscience, which this blood cannot reach; besides, this is not the same blood, nor of the same kind with the person that has sinned; yea, if this could take away sin, it would do more than the blood of the man himself could do; such blood shed can never answer the penalty of the law, satisfy divine justice, or secure the honour of divine holiness: but what the blood of these creatures could not do, the blood of Christ has done, and does: that takes away sin from the sight of justice, and from the consciences of the saints. Compare with this the Septuagint version of ( Jeremiah 11:15 ) .

``what, has the beloved committed abomination in my house? shall prayers, and the holy flesh take away thy wickednesses from thee, or by these shall thou escape?''

Hebrews 10:4 In-Context

2 If the people worshiping God had really been purified from their sins, they would not feel guilty of sin any more, and all sacrifices would stop.
3 As it is, however, the sacrifices serve year after year to remind people of their sins.
4 For the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.
5 For this reason, when Christ was about to come into the world, he said to God: "You do not want sacrifices and offerings, but you have prepared a body for me.
6 You are not pleased with animals burned whole on the altar or with sacrifices to take away sins.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.