As we walk through Hebrews in our reading plan, below are a few additional thoughts, questions, commentary, and quotes. These aren’t designed to substitute your personal study and reflection on God’s Word, but they’re small supplements to your study. It’s always helpful to begin your study by reading the passage and making some basic observations. See the post “Making Observations” for basic questions to help you understand and apply what you’re reading.
Study, Reflection, and Discussion Questions
- How has Jesus “sanctified” us by his blood? See Heb. 2:11; 10:10, 14; 13:12; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11. Why do we need to remember how Jesus has sanctified us (positionally) as we seek to live out our sanctification (progressively)?
- Read 10:18. How does understanding the sufficiency and perfection of Christ’s one sacrifice free us from trying to earn God’s approval or thinking we must add our works to his? How does it make us confident to draw near (10:19, 22)?
- Why do you think the author emphasizes in 9:25-28 and 10:12-13 that Jesus only needed to die once?
- How might Hebrews 9-10 and the focus of Christ’s death to fully and forever forgive us and make us clean speak to guilt or shame, being hesitant to approach God, legalism or a works-based approach to God, assurance of salvation, and joy in Christ?
For Further Study
- Cleansed: 1 John 1:9-2:2; Titus 2:14; John 15:3; Eph. 5:26; 1 Cor. 6:11; Ps. 51:2, 7; Heb. 1:3; 9:14; 10:22.
- Sanctified: Heb. 2:11; 10:10-14; 13:12; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Rom. 6:2-4.
- “Why Good Friday is Good News” by Dustin Crowe at indycrowe.com; The Bible Project video on sacrifice and atonement.
- God’s Suffering Servant: Is. 41:8; 42:1; 43:10; 52:13; 53:11; Ezek. 34:23-24; Acts 3:26; Phi. 2:7.
Ideas for Response
- Give thanks. Take all these blessings we have in Christ and how his work answers so many of our needs and longings, and give him thanks and praise. Take a couple of minutes to write out things you’re thankful to God for from this passage. Cultivate gratitude in your heart by praying these things back to him.
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