The Ineffectiveness of the Law

The argument of the preceding two chapters is restated in this section (10:1–18), bringing the central argument of the epistle, namely, the imperfection of the old order and the perfection of the new, to a conclusion. The only new material in this section is found in verses 5–10, where the author’s thesis finds further support in his exegesis of Psalm 40:6–8. All the other material is a restatement of earlier points. The entire central section is then effectively rounded out by the requotation of Jeremiah 31:33–34. First, however, the author focuses on the repetitious character of the levitical sacrifices, using this to further his argument by pointing to the intrinsic inadequacy implied by the necessity of repetition.

10:1 Since the law was only anticipato…