For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't talking about occasional slip-ups or moments of weakness. The Greek word for "deliberately" suggests a continuous, chosen path of rebellion against the truth. It describes someone who, fully understanding God's provision in Christ, turns away from it with a hardened heart.
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
English Standard Version (ESV)
The author is warning against deliberately turning away from Christ after fully understanding the truth of the Gospel. This isn't about occasional stumbles but a persistent, conscious rejection of the sacrifice Jesus made. Such an apostasy, the text argues, leaves no other sacrifice available for forgiveness, leading to a terrifying judgment.
Have you ever worried you've committed 'the unforgivable sin'? This verse sounds incredibly harsh, but its definition of 'sinning willfully' is more specific than you might think.
The Hebrew word translated as 'wilfully' (hekousios) points to a deliberate, conscious choice, often described as 'sins with a high hand.' It’s not about stumbling in weakness or making an ignorant error. Instead, it refers to a state of voluntary, persistent defiance against God's known truth.
Think of it like this:
The writer isn't talking about a believer who struggles with sin but remains committed to Christ. He’s addressing those who knowingly and deliberately turn away from the truth they once embraced.
If Christ's sacrifice is all-sufficient, why does the author say there's 'no more sacrifice' for certain sins?
This verse highlights a crucial theological point: Jesus' sacrifice was a once-for-all event that fully atoned for sin. For those who deliberately reject this ultimate sacrifice after knowing its truth, there isn't another option available.
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Here's what that means:
Understand the original words
hamartanontōn · Greek Verb
An act of rebellion against God, missing the mark of His standard, and failing to conform to His holiness, which necessitates atonement.
alētheia · Greek Noun
The divine truth revealed through the gospel, specifically the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, which brings illumination to the soul.
thysia · Greek Noun
The act of offering, or the object offered, to God for the purpose of atonement or reconciliation, ultimately fulfilled in the work of Christ.
This warning from Hebrews is particularly sharp for Jewish Christians who had deeply understood the Old Testament sacrificial system. Having received the full truth of Christ's unique, once-for-all sacrifice, deliberately rejecting Him meant abandoning the *only* path to forgiveness, as the old sacrifices were now obsolete and Christ's sacrifice could not be repeated.
c. 30-33 AD
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus Christ is crucified in Jerusalem, and Christians believe He was resurrected, establishing the new covenant sacrifice.
c. 30-60 AD
Early Christian Community Growth
The early Christian church, composed of Jewish and Gentile believers, experiences significant growth, leading to some tension between traditional Jewish practices and the new faith.
c. 64 AD
Great Fire of Rome and Persecution
A devastating fire sweeps through Rome, and Emperor Nero blames Christians, initiating the first major Roman persecution. This event would have increased pressure on believers to renounce their faith.
c. 70 AD
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple, marking a definitive end to the sacrificial system and a significant turning point for Judaism and Christianity.
c. 80-90 AD— this verse
Authorship of Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews is written, likely to a community of Jewish Christians struggling with their faith under pressure, possibly from internal strife or external persecution.
This passage also addresses the severe consequences of falling away after experiencing spiritual enlightenment, highlighting that it's impossible to 'restore them again to repentance'.
1 John 1:9This verse offers a stark contrast by providing assurance of forgiveness for those who confess their sins, emphasizing God's faithfulness and righteousness, which underpins the idea that the sacrifice in Hebrews 10:26 is rejected only by those who refuse to confess.
Numbers 15:30The concept of 'sinning with a high hand' or 'presumptuously' in the Old Testament law, as seen here, directly parallels the 'willful sinning' described in Hebrews, showing a historical precedent for deliberate rebellion against God's commands.
2 Peter 2:20This passage describes people who, after escaping the corruptions of the world through the knowledge of Christ, become entangled and overcome by them again, mirroring the state of those who 'sin willfully' after receiving the truth and finding themselves in a worse condition.
Matthew 12:31-32Jesus' warning about the unforgivable sin against the Holy Spirit resonates with Hebrews 10:26, as both speak of a deliberate rejection of divine truth and power that leaves no room for further atonement or forgiveness.
ellicottHebrews 10:26: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,"
(26) For. —The connecting links are the thought of the consequences to which such sinful neglect ( Hebrews 10:25 ) may lead, and the awful revelation of judgment which the final day will bring. Even more clearly than in Hebrews 6:4-6 the state described is one of wilful and continued sin, which is the result and the expression of apostasy from Christ. It is…
cambridgeHebrews 10:26: "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,"
26–31 . A solemn Warning of the Peril of Wilful Apostasy 26 . For if we sin wilfully ) The word “wilfully” stands in contrast with sins of weakness, ignorance and error in Hebrews 5:2 . If the writer meant to say that, after the commission of wilful and heinous sins, “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” this would not only be the most terrible pass…
This verse isn't talking about occasional slip-ups or moments of weakness. The Greek word for "deliberately" suggests a continuous, chosen path of rebellion against the truth. It describes someone who, fully understanding God's provision in Christ, turns away from it with a hardened heart.
The author is warning against deliberately turning away from Christ after fully understanding the truth of the Gospel. This isn't about occasional stumbles but a persistent, conscious rejection of the sacrifice Jesus made. Such an apostasy, the text argues, leaves no other sacrifice available for forgiveness, leading to a terrifying judgment.
The author is warning against deliberately turning away from Christ after fully understanding the truth of the Gospel. This isn't about occasional stumbles but a persistent, conscious rejection of the sacrifice Jesus made. Such an apostasy, the text argues, leaves no other sacrifice available for forgiveness, leading to a terrifying judgment.
"For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins," — This verse isn't talking about occasional slip-ups or moments of weakness. The Greek word for "deliberately" suggests a continuous, chosen path of rebellion against the truth. It describes someone wh…
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Last reviewed October 2026