Hebrews 10:7 - Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’” Psalm 40:6-8

Generated Verse: Hebrews 10:7

What does "Hebrews 10:7" mean?


Hebrews 10:7 quotes Psalm 40:6-8 and applies it specifically to Jesus Christ. To understand its meaning, we need to consider both the original context in Psalm 40 and its interpretation in Hebrews.

Psalm 40:6-8 (Context):

In Psalm 40, David (traditionally attributed as the author) expresses gratitude to God for deliverance and contrasts true worship with mere sacrifices and offerings. He says:

"Sacrifice and offering you have not desired, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required." (Psalm 40:6) This indicates God isn't primarily concerned with outward rituals if the heart isn't right.

"Then I said, 'Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.'" (Psalm 40:7-8) Here, the speaker expresses a willingness to obey God's will. The phrase "in the scroll of the book it is written of me" is generally understood to mean that the speaker's purpose, destiny, or role is predetermined or aligned with God's plan as revealed in the scriptures. He is expressing a deep, internal commitment to God's law and will.

Hebrews 10:5-10 (Interpretation):

The author of Hebrews argues that the Old Testament sacrifices were insufficient to truly cleanse people from sin. They were merely a shadow pointing to a better sacrifice:

Hebrews 10:5-6: "Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not delight in.'" This directly quotes Psalm 40:6, applying it to Jesus. The author replaces "open ear" with "a body you prepared for me," emphasizing the incarnation - that God prepared a physical body for Christ to dwell in and offer as a sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:7: "Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,’ as it is written about me in the scroll of the book." This quotes Psalm 40:7, applying it to Jesus as well. In the context of Hebrews, it signifies Jesus' willing obedience to God's plan of salvation, which involved his sacrifice on the cross. "The scroll of the book" refers to the scriptures (likely including the Old Testament prophecies) that foretold the coming Messiah and his mission.

Hebrews 10:8-10: "[... ]'Behold, I have come to do your will.' He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." This highlights that Jesus' obedience (his "will" to do God's will) replaced the old system of sacrifices and offerings with a single, perfect sacrifice that atones for sins and sanctifies believers.

Key Meanings in Hebrews 10:7:

Jesus' Willingness: The verse emphasizes Jesus' deliberate and willing decision to come into the world and fulfill God's plan, even if it meant suffering and death. He wasn't forced, but embraced the purpose.
Fulfillment of Prophecy: "As it is written about me in the scroll of the book" points to the fact that Jesus' life and mission were foretold in the scriptures. He fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah.
Obedience as the Ultimate Sacrifice: Jesus' obedience to the Father's will was the ultimate sacrifice, surpassing the ineffectiveness of animal sacrifices. His obedience led to the salvation of humanity.
Incarnation and Purpose: By replacing "open ears" with "a body you prepared for me", Hebrews links Psalm 40 to the incarnation. God prepared a body for Jesus to fulfill the will of God.

In summary, Hebrews 10:7 uses Psalm 40:7 to demonstrate that Jesus Christ willingly embraced his preordained role as the Messiah, fulfilling prophecies and offering himself as the ultimate sacrifice to accomplish God's will for salvation. It highlights the superiority of Jesus' sacrifice over the Old Testament sacrifices and his unwavering obedience to the Father. This obedience is the foundation of our salvation.