Hebrews 10:15
“Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,”
This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Hebrews where the author emphasizes the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice over the Old Testament sacrifices. In the preceding verses, the author quotes from Jeremiah 31:33-34, which speaks of the New Covenant that God will make with His people:
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34, KJV)
In Hebrews 10:15, the author affirms that the Holy Spirit is a witness to the truth and reality of this New Covenant. The phrase “he had said before” refers to the passage quoted from Jeremiah. The Holy Spirit testifies to the fulfilment of this promise and the establishment of the New Covenant through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The author of Hebrews emphasises that the Old Testament sacrifices of animals, performed under the Mosaic Law, were unable to permanently remove sins. However, Jesus Christ, through His perfect sacrifice on the cross, made a way for believers to be cleansed of sin once and for all. This New Covenant, brought about by Christ’s sacrifice, allows for forgiveness of sins and a direct relationship with God.
Overall, Hebrews 10:15 reminds believers of the witness of the Holy Spirit to the truth and reality of the New Covenant established through Christ’s sacrifice. It underscores the superiority of Christ’s sacrifice over the temporary sacrifices of the Old Testament and the assurance of forgiveness and a restored relationship with God for those who place their faith in Jesus.
