Jesus' One Perfect Offering

February 18th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 10:11-14 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but [Jesus], having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.

That “every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices” attests to the fact that the Levitical priests of the OT never finished their work; they never sat down, for their work was never finished. One can almost hear the sarcasm in the author’s voice when he speaks of the Jewish priests constantly working in the tabernacle and temple, offering blood sacrifices over and over—“time after time the same sacrifices.” But at the end of the day, no matter how many sacrifices they made on man’s behalf, these sacrifices “can never take away sins.” This is the inferiority, not only of Judaism, but of all religions whereby one’s works are counted on to make one holy. Man being forever sinful, an atoning sacrifice must be ongoing.

The superiority of Jesus Christ, however, is that His sacrifice was offered once. Then He sat down, having finished His work (cf. John 19:30). Which sacrifice is superior—the completed one or the unfinished one? Jesus, the perfect High Priest, did His job then sat down at God’s right hand (1:3; 8:1; 12:2). This act of sitting had been prophesied by David in Psalm 110:1 where God the Father invited His Son to sit down at His right hand. Since sitting is a mark of completed work, Jesus, as the great High Priest of the order of Melchizedek, completed His work and sat down. There were simply no more sacrifices needed to improve on His work or to supplement it. Since the Jewish high priests could not do it with animal blood, Jesus Christ offered His own blood as both the Sacrifice and the Priest who offered the sacrifice.

Though Jesus’ work of redemption is complete, today, while sitting at God’s right hand, Jesus awaits His enemies to be made “a footstool for His feet” (v. 13)—a yet future event. Christ’s death both conquered the devil—“him who had the power of death” (Heb. 2:14) and triumphed over the demonic realm (Col. 2:14-15). In contrast, Jewish sacrifices never defeated anyone! But now Christ sits, awaiting the future day when all scoffers will bow their knees to Him (Phil. 2:10)—when they become a footstool for His feet (v. 13). When will this occur? At His return. For Jesus “will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him” (9:28). But to those who are apathetic to Him, who only eagerly await their own wills to materialize, they will find themselves under the wrath of Jesus’ feet.

Verse 14 reveals that Christ’s superior sacrifice made believers “perfect” (Gr. teleioō). Now obviously this only refers to the salvation of believers, for none is truly perfect in the sense of being entirely sanctified. Christ’s death removed the penalty of sin for believers forever, granting us total security and assurance of salvation. Believers will still fall into sin on occasion, but Christ’s sacrifice has already made them perfect in that they have nothing else to offer by way of works. So, since “there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” (v. 18). Forgiveness has been granted; perfection given. Christ’s sacrifice is permanent, as is God’s forgiveness—a forgiveness found only through faith in Christ, the only avenue for forgiveness.

Food For Thought
Most Christians feel that if Christ returned today they’d be in a heap of trouble because they have too many sins in their lives. How sad it is to have to live like that! Jesus came to forgive the sins of those who place their trust in Him alone for salvation. You don’t need works for salvation; you need faith—a faith that works. Jesus finished His work. Have you finished yours?