For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Parallel translations
- WEB For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,
- BSB If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains,
- NKJV For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
- NASB For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
- NLT Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If we deliberately keep sinning after knowing the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains. Rejecting Christ leaves no other remedy.
Overview
This sobering warning addresses willful, persistent rejection of the truth after professing to know it. For such deliberate apostasy, 'there remains no more a sacrifice', since Christ's is the only and final one. Faithful Christians have differed on whether this describes genuine believers falling away or those who only professed faith; either way, it solemnly warns against rejecting the gospel one has known.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- 2 Pet 2:20–22For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
- Heb 6:4–6For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
- John 9:41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
- Luke 12:47And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
- Matt 12:43–45When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
- Num 15:28–31And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
- Matt 12:31–32Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
- 1 Jn 5:16If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
- Jas 4:17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- John 15:22–24If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
- 2 Th 2:10And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
- John 13:17If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
- Ps 19:12–13Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
- 1 Tim 1:13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
- Deut 17:12And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.
- Dan 5:22–23And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;
- Lev 4:2Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:
- Lev 4:13And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
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Christ at the center
Hebrews is sustained worship of Christ: better than angels, Moses, and the priests; the great High Priest after Melchizedek who by one sacrifice perfects forever those he saves.
How Hebrews 10:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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