NOTES for Heb 10:4-10
In the Epistle to the Hebrews, Paul addresses a subject important to us all. He exposes the boundary between following particular rituals and living faith, the fulfillment of the Father's will. One might object to this understanding by saying that behind a ritual there almost always stand the faith of earlier generations, the Church, and therefore the Lord Himself. In many cases this is true, though not always. The point, however, is that a ritual can obscure God from our sight. As a result, unfortunately, we may cease to perceive Him as a Person and see only a series of prescriptions, restrictions, and actions required of us. But Paul, quoting Christ's words, emphasizes doing the will of the Heavenly Father. This requires living communion with Him in prayer and in reading His Word. Through this, the Lord, by the Holy Spirit, gives us a proper understanding of and full participation in the Church's ritual.