Hebrews 10:6 Commentary and Bible Study

God had no pleasure in whole burnt offerings and sacrifices, but he ordained it to teach those people. He planned and established and designed the Old Testament sacrifices for them, as symbols. But why did God have no pleasure in them? Well because they did not actually appease his wrath and satisfy his holiness. The sacrifices of olden times did not please God and produce salvation for the Jewish people. When Christ came his personal sacrifice, his death on Calvary's cross, his taking the punishment of his people on their behalf: that satisfied the righteousness of God; that gave all the pleasure to God. The sin had actually been atoned for, the righteousness of Christ had been offered on behalf of his people. It rose, as it were, as a smell of sweet savour and it pleased the heart of God, the Father. God desired those Old Testament offerings as a prophecy of what Christ would do; he did not desire them as the effective means of doing away with sin. On two occasions Christ was divinely authenticated direct from heaven. At his baptism and at his transfiguration, God the Father spoke audibly into the world in the hearing of those present to confirm his good pleasure in his Son. The Son never once did anything other than what pleased his Father, and as the Messiah he submitted himself to his Father’s will. That gives pleasure to the Father because the obedience of his Son was so costly. It was obedience unto death. When the Son laid down his life, he did it because he loved the Father (John 10:17). This is what gives pleasure to the Father and not the death of vast numbers of animals, however important the lesson contained in that..