Hebrews 10:18

KJV

Now where remission of these [is, there is] no more offering for sin.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now {G1161} where {G3699} remission {G859} of these {G5130} is, there is no more {G3765} offering {G4376} for {G4012} sin {G266}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now where there is forgiveness for these, an offering for sins is no longer needed.

Berean Standard Bible

And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.

American Standard Version

Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Hebrews 10:18 presents a profound theological declaration, serving as the climactic conclusion to the author's argument for the superiority and finality of Christ's sacrifice. It asserts that because God has definitively forgiven and forgotten the sins of His people under the New Covenant, there is no longer any need or provision for further offerings for sin. This verse underscores the complete efficacy of Christ's once-for-all atonement, rendering the Old Covenant sacrificial system obsolete and establishing a permanent state of reconciliation for believers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Hebrews 10:18 functions as the powerful culmination of a sustained theological argument spanning from chapter 7 through the present verse. The author has meticulously contrasted the temporary, repetitive, and ultimately insufficient sacrifices of the Old Covenant with the perfect, singular, and eternally effective sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Chapters 9 and 10, in particular, highlight the limitations of the Mosaic Law's provisions, explaining that the blood of animals could never truly take away sins but merely served as a shadow pointing to the reality to come ([Hebrews 10:1](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1 - The Shadow of Good Things")). The author emphasizes that Christ's offering was made "once for all" ([Hebrews 9:26](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's Single Sacrifice")), perfecting those who are sanctified ([Hebrews 10:14](/hebrews/10-14 "Hebrews 10:14 - Perfected Forever")). This verse directly follows the quotation of the New Covenant promise from Jeremiah 31, where God declares, "Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more" ([Hebrews 10:17](/hebrews/10-17 "Hebrews 10:17 - God Remembers Sins No More")). Therefore, if God no longer remembers sins, the logical and theological conclusion is that no further sacrifice is necessary.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The original audience of the book of Hebrews consisted primarily of Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and, consequently, were tempted to revert to Judaism and its familiar sacrificial system. For centuries, the Temple in Jerusalem had been the focal point of Jewish worship, where daily and annual sacrifices were performed by priests according to the Mosaic Law. These rituals were deeply ingrained in their cultural and religious identity, providing a tangible means of dealing with sin. The concept of "offering for sin" was central to their understanding of atonement and reconciliation with God. Against this backdrop, the author's declaration that "there is no more offering for sin" was revolutionary and potentially unsettling. It directly challenged the ongoing relevance of the Temple rituals and called for a radical shift in their understanding of how forgiveness is obtained, asserting that Christ's work had rendered their ancestral practices obsolete.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes of the book of Hebrews. Firstly, it underscores **the finality and perfection of Christ's sacrifice**, asserting that His one offering definitively accomplished what the myriad Old Covenant sacrifices could not. Secondly, it highlights the **complete and permanent remission of sins** under the New Covenant, a forgiveness so absolute that God remembers sins no more, contrasting sharply with the annual remembrance of sins under the old system ([Hebrews 10:3](/hebrews/10-3 "Hebrews 10:3 - Remembrance of Sins")). Thirdly, it decisively declares the **obsolescence and cessation of the Old Covenant sacrificial system**, proclaiming that the elaborate rituals and priestly duties, which served as a "shadow of good things to come" ([Hebrews 10:1](/hebrews/10-1 "Hebrews 10:1 - The Shadow of Good Things")), have now been fulfilled and superseded by the perfect reality found in Christ. This theme is crucial for encouraging the Jewish believers to persevere in their faith in Jesus and not return to the now-ineffective shadows.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **remission (Greek, _áphesis'_):** From G859, meaning "freedom," "pardon," or "deliverance." In this context, it signifies the complete cancellation, release, or sending away of sins. It's not merely a covering or postponement but a definitive removal of the guilt and penalty of sin, making it as though the sin never occurred in God's reckoning.
* **no more (Greek, _oukéti'_):** From G3765, meaning "not yet," "no longer," or "henceforth not." This adverb emphatically conveys the cessation and finality of the action. Its presence here underscores the absolute and permanent nature of the change brought about by Christ's work; the need for further offerings has definitively ceased.
* **offering (Greek, _prosphorá'_):** From G4376, meaning "presentation," "oblation," or "sacrifice." This term refers specifically to the various sacrifices and presentations made under the Old Covenant Law, which were designed to atone for sin. The declaration that there is "no more offering" directly targets these Old Testament rituals, indicating their fulfillment and termination in Christ.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now where remission of these is":** This clause establishes the foundational premise. The "these" refers back to the "sins and iniquities" mentioned in the preceding verses (Hebrews 10:16-17), which God has promised to remember no more. The word "remission" (áphesis) signifies a complete and decisive pardon, a full release from the debt and penalty of these sins. It implies that a state of absolute forgiveness has been achieved.
* **"there is no more offering for sin":** This is the direct and powerful conclusion drawn from the preceding premise. If sins have been completely and permanently remitted—that is, fully pardoned and forgotten by God—then the very purpose for which "offering for sin" (prosphorá) existed has been entirely fulfilled. There is no outstanding debt, no remaining guilt, and no further need for propitiation or atonement through sacrifice. The work is finished, and the system of repeated offerings is rendered obsolete.

#### Literary Devices
The author of Hebrews employs several literary devices to convey the profound truth of Hebrews 10:18. Most prominent is **Culmination**, as this verse serves as the logical and theological apex of the detailed argument presented throughout chapters 9 and 10 regarding the superiority of Christ's sacrifice. It is the decisive conclusion that flows inevitably from the premises of Christ's perfect offering and God's New Covenant promise of complete forgiveness. There is also a strong element of **Contrast** implied, as the verse implicitly contrasts the "no more offering" of the New Covenant with the continuous, repetitive offerings of the Old Covenant, highlighting the definitive and permanent nature of Christ's work versus the temporary and incomplete nature of the former system. Furthermore, the declaration carries a tone of **Authoritative Statement**, presenting this truth not as a suggestion but as an unassailable fact, reinforcing the finality and absolute efficacy of Christ's atonement.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hebrews 10:18 is a cornerstone of Christian theology, profoundly shaping our understanding of atonement, forgiveness, and the New Covenant. It underscores the absolute sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, affirming that His death on the cross was a complete and perfect payment for sin, requiring no supplement or repetition. This truth reveals God's character as one who not only forgives but also forgets, removing our transgressions as far as the east is from the west. It signifies a radical shift from a system of temporary coverings and annual remembrance of sins to a state of permanent reconciliation and access to God through Christ. The "no more offering" means believers can live in full assurance of their forgiveness, free from the burden of guilt and the need for self-atonement.

* [Romans 6:10](/romans/6-10 "Romans 6:10 - Christ Died Once for All"): "For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."
* [Colossians 2:13-14](/colossians/2-13-14 "Colossians 2:13-14 - Forgiveness and Cancellation of Debt"): "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."
* [1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing from All Sin"): "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Hebrews 10:18 offers immense comfort and profound implications for the life of a believer. The declaration that "where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin" means that our standing before God is not based on our ongoing efforts or repeated rituals, but entirely on the finished work of Christ. This truth should lead to an unshakable assurance of salvation and a deep sense of peace. We are truly forgiven, not just partially or temporarily, but completely and eternally. This freedom from the burden of guilt and the fear of insufficient atonement empowers us to live lives of grateful obedience, not out of a desperate need to earn God's favor, but out of a joyful response to the grace we have already received. It calls us to abandon any lingering reliance on self-righteousness or human performance and to rest fully in the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the finality of Christ's sacrifice, as declared in this verse, impact your sense of assurance and peace with God?**
* **In what ways might you still be subtly relying on your own efforts or "offerings" for sin, rather than fully resting in Christ's finished work?**
* **If God remembers your sins no more, how should this truth transform your self-perception and your freedom from past guilt or shame?**
* **How does this verse motivate you to live a life of worship and service, knowing that the ultimate sacrifice has already been made on your behalf?**

### FAQ
**Does "no more offering for sin" mean Christians never need to confess their sins?**

Answer: No, it does not. Hebrews 10:18 speaks to the *atoning sacrifice* for sin, declaring that no further *payment* is needed because Christ's sacrifice was complete and final. It does not negate the ongoing need for believers to confess their sins to God. Confession for believers is not about earning forgiveness or providing atonement, but about maintaining fellowship with God, acknowledging our failures, and receiving cleansing from the defilement of sin. As [1 John 1:9](/1_john/1-9 "1 John 1:9 - Confession and Forgiveness") states, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This confession is a response of humility and trust in the already-provided forgiveness through Christ's blood, not a means of initiating it.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hebrews 10:18 finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the Lamb of God, whose single, perfect sacrifice definitively accomplished what the countless animal offerings of the Old Covenant could only foreshadow. In His body, offered "once for all" on the cross, Jesus became the ultimate and sufficient "offering for sin," permanently dealing with the problem of humanity's rebellion against God ([Hebrews 10:10](/hebrews/10-10 "Hebrews 10:10 - Sanctified Through Christ's Offering")). His shedding of blood inaugurated the New Covenant, under which God's promise to remember sins no more is fully realized ([Jeremiah 31:34](/jeremiah/31-34 "Jeremiah 31:34 - God Forgets Sins")). Because Christ, our great High Priest, "entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us" ([Hebrews 9:12](/hebrews/9-12 "Hebrews 9:12 - Eternal Redemption Through Christ")), there is no longer any need for a continuous cycle of sacrifices. He is the "way, the truth, and the life" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way, Truth, Life")), the one mediator between God and humanity ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator")), and the final propitiation for our sins ([1 John 2:2](/1_john/2-2 "1 John 2:2 - Jesus, the Propitiation for Our Sins")). Thus, Hebrews 10:18 stands as a resounding declaration of Christ's absolute supremacy and the complete efficacy of His finished work, inviting all to rest in His perfect atonement.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 10:2

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

Hebrews 10:14

For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.