Hebrews 10:26 Meaning of No Sacrifice for Sins Is Left

Hebrews 10:26
“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,”

Explanation and Commentary of Hebrews 10:26

The author of Hebrews says that the Israelites perished in the desert when after receiving the law of Moses, they disobeyed it. The Israelites made perpetual sacrifices, and the Day of Atonement came every year. But we Christians have had one ultimate sacrifice, Jesus Christ, and have received the Holy Spirit. To go on sinning is to “trample the Son of God under foot” (Heb 10:29).

There is no one who does not sin, but there should be a marked difference in the deliberateness of sin when one has received the free gift of life in Christ. Sin will be less frequent, and there will be genuine sorrow and repentance when it happens. There is a new nature in an old flesh. They will be at war, but the true believer will see more and more that his or her new nature is winning the battle. If not, there may be reason to believe that the salvation professed is not genuine.

Part of the means of the grace of God for our perseverance is these stern warnings in Scripture, which are meant to remind our new natures to fight the flesh and mortify sin in the flesh. When Jesus returns, or when we die, this battle will be finished.

Breaking Down the Key Parts of Hebrews 10:26

#1 “If we deliberately keep on sinning…”
The Christian will learn to hate their sin, but in a fallen world ruled by the prince of darkness, while walking in this mortal tent of a body, we will sometimes fail to live perfectly. But deliberate sin should not be possible for the one who loves God and has his Spirit living in him or her.

#2 “…after we have received the knowledge of the truth,”
Hearing about the truth in this context means after we have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ along with its moral code. In one sense, to hear alone is to be responsible for knowing it, but it seems from the severity of the language that the author intends to especially warn those who claim at some point to believe it and turn away from it by deliberate sinning.

#3 “no sacrifice for sins is left,”
Jesus is the lamb who was slain for the sins of the world. He is the high priest who offered the lamb, and his very own blood for our sins. He is the just and the justifier. His sacrifice is perfect. He is spotless and without sin so that he can bear our sins in his body. There will not be another sacrifice. If we reject this one, there is left only our own accountability for our whole record of sin.

Bible Study on Hebrews 10:26

Expert Overview of Hebrews

Biblical Translations of Hebrews 10:26

NIV
If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.

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.

ESV
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.

KJV
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

NKJV
For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.