Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,
Parallel translations
- WEB But in those sacrifices there is a yearly reminder of sins.
- KJV But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
- NKJV But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
- NASB But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.
- NLT But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year.
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
Instead of removing sin, the yearly sacrifices actually reminded the people of their sins. The system kept guilt in view rather than abolishing it.
Overview
Far from cleansing the conscience, the annual Day of Atonement was a yearly 'reminder of sins'. The repeated ritual underscored that sin remained unresolved. This heightens the contrast with Christ, whose sacrifice God remembers sins 'no more' (10:17).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Heb 9:7But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
- Exod 30:10Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on the horns of the altar. Throughout your generations he shall make atonement on it annually with the blood of the sin offering of atonement. The altar is most holy to the LORD.”
- Lev 16:34This is to be a permanent statute for you, to make atonement once a year for the Israelites because of all their sins.” And all this was done as the LORD had commanded Moses.
- Lev 23:27–28“The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You shall hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves, and present an offering made by fire to the LORD.
- Lev 16:6–11Aaron is to present the bull for his sin offering and make atonement for himself and his household.
- Num 29:7–11On the tenth day of this seventh month, you are to hold a sacred assembly, and you shall humble yourselves; you must not do any work.
- 1 Kgs 17:18“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
- Lev 16:29–30This is to be a permanent statute for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month, you shall humble yourselves and not do any work—whether the native or the foreigner who resides among you—
- Matt 26:28This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
- Lev 16:21–22Then he is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the iniquities and rebellious acts of the Israelites in regard to all their sins. He is to put them on the goat’s head and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man appointed for the task.
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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 10:3 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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