Hebrews 10:6-10 Meaning: Why God Took No Pleasure in Sacrifices
6You had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin.
7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’”
8Previously saying, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you didn’t desire, neither had pleasure in them” (those which are offered according to the law),
9then he has said, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He takes away the first, that he may establish the second,
10by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
6In whole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sin thou hadst no pleasure:
7Then said I, Lo, I am come (In the roll of the book it is written of me) To do thy will, O God.
8Saying above, Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings andsacrificesfor sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein (the which are offered according to the law),
9then hath he said, Lo, I am come to do thy will. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
6in burnt-offerings, and concerning sin-offerings, Thou didst not delight,
7then I said, Lo, I come, (in a volume of the book it hath been written concerning me,) to do, O God, Thy will;'
8saying above--`Sacrifice, and offering, and burnt-offerings, and concerning sin-offering Thou didst not will, nor delight in,' --which according to the law are offered--
9then he said, `Lo, I come to do, O God, Thy will;' he doth take away the first that the second he may establish;
10in the which will we are having been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once,
6Thou tookest no pleasure in burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin.
7Then I said, Lo, I come (in [the] roll of the book it is written of me) to do, OGod, thy will.
8Above, saying Sacrifices and offerings and burnt-offerings and sacrifices for sin thou willedst not, neither tookest pleasure in (which are offered according to the law);
9then he said, Lo, I come to do thy will. He takes away the first that he may establish the second;
10by which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Meaning in one sentence
God commanded sacrifices yet said He had no pleasure in them. How Christ's coming to do His will resolves this tension.
Context
The letter to the Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were considering leaving the faith and going back to the old covenant system. In chapter 10, the author is building a careful argument: the law was only a shadow, not the real thing. Animal sacrifices were offered year after year, but they could never take away sins. Then the writer quotes Psalm 40, putting the words on Christ’s lips. Christ says that God did not delight in sacrifices and offerings, and then He offers Himself instead. This sets up the great exchange: the first system is taken away so that the second, Christ’s willing obedience, can be established. The whole passage turns on this contrast between endless repetition and one complete act.
Key Words
Three Greek words help us feel the force of this passage. The first is eudokeō, the verb behind “had no pleasure.” It means to be well pleased, to delight in something as right and good. God did not find that kind of delight in the animal sacrifices He Himself had commanded. Not because they were wrong, but because they could never be the real remedy for sin. His delight was always in the obedience of His Son.
The second word is thelēma, “will.” This is not a vague wish; it is a settled purpose. God’s will was for Christ to offer His body, and Christ came specifically to do that will. The author says “by that will we have been sanctified.” The will of God is not a distant plan; it is the specific act that cleanses us.
The third word is hagiazō, “sanctified.” It means to be set apart, made holy, consecrated to God. The tense here hints at a completed state: we have been sanctified by Christ’s offering once for all. This is not something we achieve step by step; it is a gift already given through His body.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this passage with deep appreciation. Reformed commentators like Calvin emphasize that God’s will is the perfect rule, established when the old sacrifices are removed. Wesleyan scholars such as Adam Clarke stress the personal side: we are sanctified as we trust in Christ’s finished work, entering into a holy relationship with God. The Catholic tradition, reflected in the Douay-Rheims translation, speaks of the oblation of Christ’s body as the one sacrifice that fulfills all others. Eastern Orthodox readings have similarly focused on Christ’s voluntary self-offering as the eternal will of the Father. All agree that this passage marks a decisive shift from the old covenant to the new, though they may describe the ongoing life of sanctification in different ways.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers think this passage means that God was displeased with the Old Testament itself, as if the law was a mistake. In fact, God commanded those sacrifices, and they served a real purpose: they pointed forward to Christ. The phrase “had no pleasure” does not mean God rejected His own commands. It means He never took delight in the rituals as if they could atone for sin. The author quotes
God’s pleasure was always in the obedience of His Son, not in the repetition of animal offerings.“For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.”
— Hebrews 10:4 (WEB)
Living This Out
You might feel pressure to measure up, to attend more services, give more, pray longer, as if your religious efforts earn God’s favor. This passage invites you to stop. Christ came to do God’s will, and that will has already sanctified you. You do not need to add to His work. This week, when you catch yourself trying to earn God’s approval, pause. Thank Jesus that He offered His body once for all. Let that truth settle your heart so you can serve God out of gratitude, not guilt.
Main takeaway: Christ’s obedience to God’s will has fully and finally sanctified us, once for all.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God gave people rules about offering animals. But He really wanted someone to obey Him perfectly. Jesus came and did that. His obedience is the only sacrifice that makes us clean.
For ages 9, 12
In the Old Testament, people brought animals to show they were sorry for sin. But those animals couldn’t actually take sin away. So Jesus came and said, “I am here to do what You really want, God.” He gave His body as the one sacrifice that finally and completely makes us right with God. We don’t have to try to fix ourselves anymore. We are already made holy because of Jesus.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean that God had no pleasure in burnt offerings?
God commanded the burnt offerings, but He never delighted in them as if they could actually atone for sin. They were temporary symbols pointing to Christ. His true pleasure was always in the perfect obedience of His Son.
Why does the author of Hebrews quote Psalm 40 in this passage?
The author quotes Psalm 40 to show that even in the Old Testament, God did not desire sacrifices for their own sake. He put the words of the psalm on Christ's lips, revealing that Christ came specifically to do God's will, which would replace the entire sacrificial system.
What does 'once for all' mean in verse 10?
It means Christ's sacrifice is complete and never needs to be repeated. Unlike the Levitical priests who offered sacrifices daily, Christ offered Himself one time, and that single offering is sufficient to sanctify all who trust in Him for all time.
How are we sanctified by Christ's will?
We are sanctified, set apart as holy, through Christ's willing obedience to God's plan. His offering of His body is the means by which we are cleansed and consecrated to God. This is not our own work but a gift received through faith.
Does this passage mean Christians should not offer anything to God?
No. The passage does not cancel all offerings; it cancels the sacrificial system that could never take away sins. Christians are still called to offer spiritual sacrifices like praise, good works, and sharing with others. But these offerings flow from our already being sanctified in Christ, not as attempts to earn His favor.
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