Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; 13 now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. 15 The holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying: 16 “This is the covenant I will establish with them after those days, says the Lord: ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them upon their minds,’” 17 he also says: “Their sins and their evildoing I will remember no more.” 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.
The OT priestly sacrificial services were continually offered but those ritual sacrifices could not permanently remove sins. Jesus, who replaced the many priests, offered himself as one, eternal, unrepeatable sacrifice on the cross for all sins once and for all and is now enthroned in heaven at God’s right hand. Jesus completed his work of redemption, and he awaits the fullness of his sovereignty when all his enemies will be made subject to him (Ps. 110:1). Jesus’ sacrifice is unique and effective because “by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated (v. 14).”
Paul referred to a passage from Jeremiah about the new covenant prophecy where God promised to write his laws on the hearts and minds of his people replacing the two stone tablets with the commandments (Jer. 31:31-34). The Holy Spirit testified that through the new covenant established by Christ’s sacrifice, God will remember their sins and evildoing no more. Through his one sacrificial offering, Jesus has made those who are being sanctified perfect forever and has given them access to the Father. The prophecy of a new covenant has been fulfilled. Christ’s sacrifice was so complete that the OT sacrifices were no longer necessary.
Almighty God, we offer you a sacrifice of praise in thanksgiving for all you have done for us, and we desire only to be steadfast in our faith and effective in our stewardship of the Gospel. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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