Hebrews 10:17 - “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.” Jeremiah 31:34

Generated Verse: Hebrews 10:17

What does "Hebrews 10:17" mean?


Hebrews 10:17 quotes Jeremiah 31:34 to emphasize the radical nature of God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ. To understand its meaning, let's break it down:

Jeremiah 31:34 (in context):

The context of Jeremiah 31 is the New Covenant: This chapter describes a future covenant that God will make with Israel and Judah, distinct from the Mosaic covenant. It's characterized by:
God writing his law on their hearts (inner transformation)
Direct knowledge of God ("they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest")
Complete and total forgiveness of sins.

"I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more": This is the heart of the verse. It means God will not hold their past sins against them. The phrase "remember their sins no more" doesn't mean God has amnesia, but rather that He chooses not to impute those sins to them. He doesn't hold them accountable. He won't punish them based on those forgiven sins.

Hebrews 10:17 (in context):

Hebrews' Argument: The book of Hebrews argues for the superiority of Jesus Christ as the ultimate High Priest and sacrifice. The author is comparing the Old Covenant (with its repeated sacrifices that could never truly take away sin) with the New Covenant established through Jesus' single, perfect sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:17 as a Fulfillment: Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:34 to show that the New Covenant, promised in Jeremiah, has been inaugurated through Jesus. The author uses this verse to emphasize the complete and final forgiveness available through Christ's sacrifice. Since God has promised to remember sins no more in the New Covenant, and Jesus has established that New Covenant through his blood, the sacrifice of Jesus has achieved perfect and lasting atonement for sin.

Hebrews 10:18 builds on this: "Now where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin." Since sins are truly and completely forgiven under the New Covenant (because of Jesus' sacrifice), there is no need for any further sacrifices. The work is done.

Therefore, the combined meaning of Jeremiah 31:34 in Hebrews 10:17 is this:

The verse points to the radical and complete forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ. It's not just a temporary covering of sin (as with the Old Covenant sacrifices), but a full and final removal of guilt and condemnation.
It highlights the nature of God's forgiveness: It emphasizes God's choice not to hold forgiven sins against believers.
It provides assurance and security for believers: Those who have placed their faith in Jesus can have confidence that their sins are forgiven and forgotten by God.
It demonstrates the superiority of the New Covenant: The verse contrasts the ineffectiveness of the Old Covenant system of sacrifices with the definitive and efficacious sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The old system required repeated sacrifices to atone for sins, but Jesus' sacrifice atones for sins once and for all.

In simpler terms:

God, through Jesus, has promised to completely forgive our sins. He won't bring them up again or hold them against us. He has wiped the slate clean. This is a foundational truth of the Christian faith and a source of great comfort and hope.

It is important to note that this forgiveness is only available to those who trust in Jesus Christ. It is not a universal forgiveness for all people regardless of their faith. It is a gift offered to those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior.