Hebrews 10:17 - Christ's Perfect Sacrifice (2025)

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Context

Christ's Perfect Sacrifice
…16“This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.” 17Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.…

Cross References

Jeremiah 31:34
No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more.”Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.Psalm 103:12
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.Micah 7:18-19
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion? / He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast out all our sins into the depths of the sea.Romans 11:27
And this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.”1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,Colossians 2:13-14
When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses, / having canceled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross!Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His graceMatthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.2 Corinthians 5:19
that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.Isaiah 44:22
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.Psalm 32:1-2
Of David. A Maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. / Blessed is the man whose iniquity the LORD does not count against him, in whose spirit there is no deceit.Romans 4:7-8
“Blessed are they whose lawless acts are forgiven, whose sins are covered. / Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Acts Adds Deeds Evil-Doings Iniquities Lawlessness Longer Memory Misdeeds Offences Remember Sins

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Acts Adds Deeds Evil-Doings Iniquities Lawlessness Longer Memory Misdeeds Offences Remember Sins

Hebrews 10

1. The weakness of the law sacrifices.
10. The sacrifice of Christ's body once offered,
14. for ever has taken away sins.
19. An exhortation to hold fast the faith with patience and thanksgiving.

Then He adds:
This phrase indicates a continuation of a previous statement, suggesting a further elaboration or emphasis. In the context of Hebrews, it refers to God's promise of a new covenant, as previously mentioned in the book. The author of Hebrews often quotes from the Old Testament to show the fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ. This particular addition underscores the completeness and finality of God's declaration.

“Their sins and lawless acts
"Sins" and "lawless acts" refer to the transgressions and violations of God's law by humanity. In the Jewish context, sin was understood as missing the mark of God's holiness, while lawless acts were specific violations of the Mosaic Law. The repetition of these terms emphasizes the totality of human disobedience. Theologically, this highlights the need for a savior who can address both the inherent sinfulness and the specific acts of disobedience.

I will remember no more.”
This phrase signifies God's promise of complete forgiveness and the removal of sins from His memory. In the ancient Near Eastern context, remembering often implied acting upon or holding something against someone. Therefore, God's choice to "remember no more" indicates a deliberate decision to not hold sins against the believer. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy found in Jeremiah 31:34, which speaks of a new covenant where God will forgive iniquity. It also connects to the sacrificial system, where repeated sacrifices were a reminder of sin, contrasting with the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ that truly removes sin.

Persons / Places / Events

1. God
The speaker in this verse, emphasizing His role as the one who forgives and forgets sins.

2. The New Covenant
The context of this promise, highlighting the new relationship between God and humanity through Jesus Christ.

3. The Israelites
The original recipients of the Old Covenant, which is being contrasted with the New Covenant in this passage.

4. Jesus Christ
The mediator of the New Covenant, whose sacrifice makes the forgiveness of sins possible.

5. The Author of Hebrews
Traditionally believed to be Paul or another early Christian leader, writing to Jewish Christians to encourage them in their faith.

Teaching Points

The Assurance of Forgiveness
Believers can have confidence that their sins are forgiven and forgotten by God, providing peace and freedom from guilt.

The Power of the New Covenant
Understanding the superiority of the New Covenant through Christ's sacrifice encourages believers to live in the fullness of God's grace.

God's Faithfulness
Trust in God's promise to remember sins no more is a testament to His unchanging nature and faithfulness.

Living in Freedom
Knowing that God does not hold past sins against us should inspire believers to live righteously and pursue holiness.

Encouragement in Faith
This promise serves as a source of encouragement for believers to remain steadfast in their faith, even amidst trials and temptations.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Hebrews 10Can God forget our sins?How do temptation and sin differ?What does 'Blot Out Our Transgressions' mean?What does "Blot Out Our Transgressions" mean?

(17) Every reader must feel that as these verses stand in the Authorised version the sense is imperfect. The words "after He hath said before" (Hebrews 10:15) imply "then He saith," or similar words, at some point in the verses which follow. Our translators did not attempt to complete the sense; for the marginal note ("some copies have, Then he saith, And their") found in ordinary editions was added at a later date.[12] By many commentators it is believed that the words "saith the Lord" (Hebrews 10:16) are intended as the completion of the sentence, so that no supplement is needed. This is, we think, very improbable. As it is the last part of the quotation that is taken up here, it is at the beginning of this verse that the explanatory words must come in: "Then He saith, And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." This we have seen to be the crowning promise of the new covenant of which Jesus is the Mediator. When these words were first quoted (Hebrews 8:12), some important points in the argument were still untouched. Now the firm basis of the promise has been shown, for the covenant has been ratified by the death of Christ, and the blessings He has won for men are eternal (Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 9:12).

[12] From Dr. Scrivener's "Cambridge Paragraph Bible" (p. xxxii.) we learn that the note was added by Dr. Paris in the Cambridge Bible of 1762. Dr. Scrivener adds: "probably from the Philoxenian Syriac version, then just becoming know." . . . Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

“Their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

sins
ἁμαρτιῶν (hamartiōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 266: From hamartano; a sin.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

lawless acts
ἀνομιῶν (anomiōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 458: Lawlessness, iniquity, disobedience, sin. From anomos; illegality, i.e. Violation of law or wickedness.

I will remember
μνησθήσομαι (mnēsthēsomai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3403: To remember, call to mind, recall, mention. A prolonged form of mnaomai; to remind, i.e. to recall to mind.

no
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

more.”
ἔτι (eti)
Adverb
Strong's 2089: (a) of time: still, yet, even now, (b) of degree: even, further, more, in addition. Perhaps akin to etos; 'yet, ' still.

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