For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
If Jesus had to keep offering himself over and over, he would've been suffering constantly since the world began. But that's not how it works, he showed up once at the right moment in history and dealt with sin completely by sacrificing himself.
Jesus didn't need a do-over, one sacrifice handled everything, once and for all.
📚 Historical Context
In the first century, when the Book of Hebrews was written, Jewish believers were familiar with the Old Testament system of repeated animal sacrifices in the temple, which were performed annually on the Day of Atonement to temporarily cover sins. The author contrasts this with Jesus' sacrifice, arguing that it was a once-for-all event that fulfilled and surpassed the old covenant rituals. This context highlights the transition from the temporary Jewish practices to the permanent solution offered through Christ.
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