“Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me…’”

This verse is a paraphrase of Psalm 40:6. This verse and the next two come from Psalm 40. With the exception of the comment about the body, they are close to the original text. The verse we are looking at reads as follows in the ESV: “In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.” Obviously, the body prepared reference is to the open ear. In other words, to have an open ear, one needs a body.

The emphasis of this verse in Hebrews is not the body but the rejection of sacrifices and offerings. Jesus came not as a burnt offering for sin and sins but to give His body as a living sacrifice to put away the cost of sin forever. There would no longer be offerings every day and every year but the one offering of the cross. This one offering of the blood of Jesus, the perfect lamb, satisfied the redemptive requirement of God for all time.

Task for Today: Just more evidence that the old covenant is no longer in effect. The new covenant purchased and provided by the blood of the Lamb of God is now the viable one. Jesus saves! Those who want their sins forgiven must go to Him. What about you today. Is He your Savior? Give Him your sins, and He will take them away. Give Him your heart, and He will give you eternal life. Do it today, don’t wait. No one knows if they have a next breath.