Hebrews 10:9 — “Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second.”
Extended Explanation of the Verse
This verse captures the turning point of God’s plan for saving us. Jesus is speaking, and He says, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” This shows His willingness to fully obey the Father, even though it would cost Him His life. His obedience replaces the old way of doing things—the law and the sacrifices—and brings in something new: salvation through His once-for-all offering.
The second part of the verse says, “He sets aside the first to establish the second.” The “first” refers to the old covenant system—animal sacrifices, temple rituals, and laws that couldn’t take away sin. The “second” is the new covenant, built on Jesus’ obedience and sacrifice. Jesus didn’t come to add to the old way; He came to replace it with something better.
This verse tells us that God’s plan moved forward with purpose—and Jesus was the key to making that happen.
Historical Context
Hebrews was written to Jewish believers who were familiar with the old covenant system. For generations, their people had followed the law of Moses, bringing sacrifices to the temple and following ceremonial rules. It was a way of life, and it was commanded by God.
But even in the Old Testament, there were hints that this system was temporary. Prophets like Jeremiah spoke of a “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31-34), one that would go deeper than rules and rituals. Hebrews 10:9 explains that this new covenant came through Jesus.
Jesus’ obedience to the Father—especially in going to the cross—marked the end of the old system and the beginning of something completely new and far better.
Theological Implications
This verse teaches us something essential about how God deals with sin and how we are saved. The old covenant was good, but it wasn’t complete. It revealed sin, but it couldn’t remove it. Jesus came to do what the old system couldn’t.
By saying, “Here I am… to do your will,” Jesus shows that salvation is based on His obedience, not ours. It’s not about what we bring to God, but what Jesus brought on our behalf.
When the verse says He “sets aside the first,” it means that we’re no longer under the old covenant. We don’t have to rely on rituals or repeated sacrifices. Instead, we live under the new covenant of grace—because Jesus has done everything necessary for us to be forgiven and made right with God.
Literary Analysis
This verse completes a sequence of thought that started in verses 5-8. It echoes Psalm 40, where the speaker says God didn’t desire sacrifices but delighted in someone doing His will. Jesus is revealed as the one who fulfills that perfectly.
The phrase “He sets aside the first to establish the second” is short but powerful. It’s legal-sounding, like a contract being replaced. The first system is put away—not because it was bad, but because it was incomplete. And now, a better one has taken its place.
This kind of language makes it clear that the shift from the old to the new covenant isn’t just an update—it’s a total replacement.
Biblical Cross-References
- Jeremiah 31:31-34 – “I will make a new covenant… I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.”
- Luke 22:20 – “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”
- Romans 5:19 – “Through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.”
- Hebrews 8:13 – “By calling this covenant ‘new,’ he has made the first one obsolete.”
- Galatians 3:24-25 – “The law was our guardian until Christ came… Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.”
These passages all show that Jesus didn’t just improve the old covenant—He brought something entirely new and better.
What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian
This verse gives today’s believer deep confidence and peace. We don’t live under a system where we try to earn God’s favor by keeping rules or offering sacrifices. Instead, we live under grace, because Jesus did the will of God perfectly on our behalf.
When you trust in Jesus, you’re not bound by trying to fix yourself through good works or rituals. You’re living in the reality of the new covenant, where forgiveness is full, final, and free.
This also challenges us to follow Jesus’ example of obedience—not to earn salvation, but because we’ve already received it.
How This Verse Relates to a Loving God
God’s love is all over this verse. He didn’t leave us stuck in an incomplete system. He made a way that works—a way that brings real closeness with Him. That way was Jesus.
God loved us enough to send His Son to do what we never could. Jesus said, “Here I am,” and went to the cross out of love—not just for the Father, but for us. That kind of love is personal, powerful, and life-changing.
God’s will was to save, and Jesus came to carry that will out completely.
How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ
This verse is centered on Jesus. He is the one speaking. He is the one obeying. He is the one replacing the old covenant with the new. His obedience and sacrifice are what allow us to live under a covenant of grace.
- Hebrews 10:10 – “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
- Philippians 2:8 – “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
- John 6:38 – “I have come… to do the will of him who sent me.”
Jesus‘ obedience was perfect, and it brought about a complete and lasting solution to sin.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
- What does it mean that Jesus came to do God’s will? How does that shape your view of Him?
- How do you see the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant in your own life?
- Are there ways you still try to “earn” God’s approval instead of resting in what Jesus has done?
- What does it look like to live under grace rather than under law?
- How can you respond to God’s love by walking in obedience like Jesus did?