Hebrews 10:3

3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year.

Hebrews 10:3 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 10:3

But in those sacrifices
The Arabic version reads, "but in it"; that is, in the law; but the Syriac version reads, and supplies, as we do, (Nwhb axbdb) , "in those sacrifices", which were offered every year on the day of atonement:

there is a remembrance of sins made again every year;
of all the sins that were committed the year past, and even of those that were expiated typically by the daily sacrifice, and others that had been offered; which proves the imperfection and insufficiency of such sacrifices: there was a remembrance of sins by God, before whom the goats were presented, their blood was sprinkled, and the people cleansed, ( Leviticus 16:7 Leviticus 16:14 Leviticus 16:15 Leviticus 16:30 ) and there was a remembrance of them by the people, who, on that day, afflicted their souls for them, ( Leviticus 16:29 Leviticus 16:31 ) and there was a remembrance of them by the high priest, who confessed them over, and put them upon the head of the goat, ( Leviticus 16:21 ) by which it was owned, that these sins were committed; that they deserved death, the curse of the law; that the expiation of them was undertook by another, typified by the goat; that this was not yet done, and therefore there was no remission, but a typical one, by these sacrifices; but that sins remained, and required a more perfect sacrifice, which was yet to be offered up. Legal sacrifices were so far from inducing an oblivion of sins, that they themselves brought them to remembrance, and were so many acknowledgments of them. Though Philo the Jew thinks the contrary, and gives this as a reason why the heart and brain were not offered in sacrifice, because

``it would be foolish, that the sacrifices should cause, not a forgetfulness of sins, but a remembrance of them F17.''


FOOTNOTES:

F17 De Victimis, p. 841.

Hebrews 10:3 In-Context

1 Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach.
2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased being offered, since the worshipers, cleansed once for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sin?
3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year.
4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me;
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.