Hebrews 10:5 — “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.'”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
This verse tells us something deeply personal and powerful—what Jesus said when He entered the world. The verse doesn’t just report what happened; it gives us a glimpse into Jesus’ heart and mission from the start. He wasn’t coming to keep the old sacrificial system going. He came to fulfill something much deeper.
“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire” points to how the old offerings weren’t what God ultimately wanted. They were part of the story but not the ending. God wanted obedience, love, and a relationship—not just rituals. Then Jesus says, “but a body you prepared for me,” showing that His own body would be the offering that pleased God. Jesus wasn’t just another sacrifice—He was the sacrifice, planned and prepared by God Himself.
Historical Context
The writer of Hebrews is quoting from Psalm 40, a passage originally written by King David. In Psalm 40, David is reflecting on how God desires obedience more than rituals. The writer of Hebrews takes that Old Testament truth and applies it directly to Jesus, showing that Jesus came to do what the sacrifices never could.
At the time Hebrews was written, Jewish believers were still surrounded by people who were holding tightly to temple worship and animal sacrifices. This verse is part of the message to help them see that Jesus’ coming marked a new chapter. The old ways were no longer needed—not because they were bad, but because Jesus had fulfilled their purpose.
Theological Implications
This verse shows us that God’s ultimate desire isn’t religious activity—it’s relationship, faith, and obedience. It also tells us that Jesus came with a clear purpose. He wasn’t caught up in a system. He came to do God’s will, and that included offering Himself.
It also teaches that Jesus is not just part of the solution—He is the solution. His coming into the world, with a body prepared by God, points to the central truth of the gospel: God became human so that He could offer Himself in our place.
Literary Analysis
Hebrews 10:5 marks a shift in the argument. The word “Therefore” connects this verse to what came before—especially verse 4, which said that animal sacrifices could not take away sin. Now, in contrast, we’re shown what can deal with sin: Jesus coming into the world.
The verse quotes Psalm 40 from the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), which says “a body you prepared for me” instead of “my ears you have opened” (as found in the Hebrew version). The author of Hebrews uses this to emphasize Jesus’ incarnation—His taking on a human body—as part of God’s plan to save us.
Biblical Cross-References
- Psalm 40:6-8 – “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire… I desire to do your will, my God.”
- John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
- Philippians 2:6-8 – “Being in very nature God… he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
- Hebrews 10:10 – “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
These verses underline the connection between Jesus‘ incarnation (becoming human) and His mission to do God’s will.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
This verse reminds us that what God wants most from us is not just good behavior or outward devotion—it’s a heart that’s surrendered to Him. Jesus came with a body prepared by God and a heart fully aligned with God’s will. That’s what true obedience looks like.
For us today, it means that following Jesus is not about keeping a checklist of religious duties. It’s about walking with Him in trust, faith, and daily surrender. Jesus came to do God’s will, and He invites us to follow Him in doing the same.
It also gives us confidence. If Jesus came with this purpose—to offer Himself in our place—then we can rest in the assurance that our salvation is complete and secure in Him.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
This verse is soaked in love. God wasn’t satisfied with sacrifices that couldn’t fully deal with sin, so He sent His own Son. And not only that—He prepared a body for Jesus. That’s personal. That’s intentional. That’s love.
God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus—not just to live among us, but to die for us. This wasn’t a backup plan or a last-minute fix. It was the plan from the beginning, and it was driven by love.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
This verse is all about Jesus. It shows His willingness to come into the world with a body, knowing exactly what He was coming to do. Jesus didn’t offer sacrifices like the priests did—He was the sacrifice. He came to do God’s will, and that will was to offer Himself so that we could be forgiven once and for all.
- Hebrews 10:7 – “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God.”
- John 6:38 – “I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”
- Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus came with a mission. He knew what it would cost. And He came anyway.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- What does it mean that God prepared a body for Jesus? Why is that significant?
- How does this verse challenge the idea that religious rituals are enough to make us right with God?
- What can we learn from Jesus’ willingness to do God’s will, no matter the cost?
- Are there ways you’re tempted to rely on outward actions instead of inward surrender?
- How does knowing Jesus came intentionally to offer Himself change the way you view His sacrifice?