Hebrews 10:12 - but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God;

Generated Verse: Hebrews 10:12

What does "Hebrews 10:12" mean?


Hebrews 10:12, "but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God," is a powerful statement about the completeness and permanence of Jesus Christ's atoning work. Let's break down each key phrase:

"but he...": This refers to Jesus Christ. The verse contrasts Jesus with the Old Testament priests (discussed earlier in Hebrews 10) who had to offer sacrifices repeatedly.

"...when he had offered one sacrifice for sins...": This highlights that Jesus offered only one sacrifice. This is in stark contrast to the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament. The "one sacrifice" is, of course, his own life on the cross.

"...for sins forever...": This clarifies the effect of Jesus's sacrifice. It wasn't temporary or needing to be renewed. It was forever. It deals with the problem of sin once and for all. This signifies a complete and perfect atonement that doesn't require repetition.

"...sat down on the right hand of God...": This is a symbolic expression signifying several crucial things:
Completion of Work: Sitting down implies that the work is finished. A worker rests after completing a task. Since Jesus sat down, it means his sacrificial work is complete and requires no further action.
Exaltation and Authority: "Right hand of God" is a place of honor, power, and authority. It's a position of supreme status and partnership with God. This indicates Jesus's supreme authority, his equality with God, and his active role in God's governance.
Intercession: While Hebrews doesn't directly state intercession here, the position at the right hand of God also implicitly suggests Jesus continues to act on our behalf, interceding for us as our high priest.

In summary, Hebrews 10:12 means:

Jesus Christ offered a single, perfect sacrifice (his own life) that fully and permanently atoned for the sins of humanity.
Because his work was complete and effective, he was exalted to the highest position of honor and authority, sitting at the right hand of God.
This contrasts with the imperfect and repetitive sacrifices of the Old Testament system and shows the superiority of Christ's sacrifice and his role as the ultimate High Priest.
His work doesn't need to be repeated; it is eternal and sufficient.

This verse is a key passage in understanding Christian theology, specifically related to the atonement, the role of Christ, and the nature of salvation.