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Hebrews 10:22

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let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brownv. 22

(Heb 4:16; Heb 7:19.) with a true heart--without hypocrisy; "in truth, and with a perfect heart"; a heart thoroughly imbued with "the truth" (Heb 10:26). full assurance-- (Heb 6:11); with no doubt as to our acceptance when coming to God by the blood of Christ. As "faith" occurs here, so "hope," and "love," Heb 10:23-24. sprinkled from--that is, sprinkled so as to be cleansed from. evil conscience--a consciousness of guilt unatoned for, and uncleansed away (Heb 10:2; Heb 9:9). Both the hearts and the bodies are cleansed. The legal purifications were with blood of animal victims and with water, and could only cleanse the flesh (Heb 9:13, Heb 9:21). Christ's blood purifies the heart and conscience. The Aaronic priest, in entering the holy place, washed with water (Heb 9:19) in the brazen laver. Believers, as priests to God, are once for all washed in BODY (as distinguished from "hearts") at baptism. As we have an immaterial, and a material nature, the cleansing of both is expressed by "hearts" and "body," the inner and the outer man; so the whole man, material and immaterial. The baptism of the body, however, is not the mere putting away of material filth, nor an act operating by intrinsic efficacy, but the sacramental seal, applied to the outer man, of a spiritual washing (Pe1 3:21). "Body" (not merely "flesh," the carnal part, as Co2 7:1) includes the whole material man, which needs cleansing, as being redeemed, as well as the soul. The body, once polluted with sin, is washed, so as to be fitted like Christ's holy body, and by His body, to be spiritually a pure and living offering. On the "pure water," the symbol of consecration and sanctification, compare Joh 19:34; Co1 6:11; Jo1 5:6; Eze 36:25. The perfects "having . . . hearts sprinkled . . . body (the Greek is singul…

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Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 22

The apostle knew very well that the Hebrews, to whom he wrote, were strangely fond of the Levitical dispensation, and therefore he fills his mouth with arguments to wean them from it; and in order thereto proceeds in this chapter, I. To lay low the whole of that priesthood and sacrifice (Heb 10:1-6). II. He raises and exalts the priesthood of Christ very high, that he might effectually recommend him and his gospel to them (Heb 10:7-18). III. He shows to believers the honours and dignities of their state, and calls them to suitable duties (Heb 10:19 to the end).

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Tyndale Open Study Notesv. 22

10:22 sincere hearts: Under the new covenant, believers have transformed hearts (8:10; 10:16; Jer 31:31-34). • fully trusting him: Christ’s work on our behalf gives us confidence that God will welcome us into his presence. • our guilty consciences have been sprinkled . . . our bodies have been washed: Christ’s sacrificial death has provided complete cleansing from sin (see 9:13-14, 19-23).

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 22

προσέρχομαι (prosérchomai, G4334) — to approach, i.e. (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to μετά (metá, G3326) — properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according… ἀληθινός (alēthinós, G228) — truthful καρδία (kardía, G2588) — the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the… ἐν (en, G1722) — "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc. πληροφορία (plērophoría, G4136) — entire confidence πίστις (pístis, G4102) — persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of… ῥαντίζω (rhantízō, G4472) — to render besprinkled, i.e. asperse (ceremonially or figuratively) ἀπό (apó, G575) — "off," i.e. away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation;… πονηρός (ponērós, G4190) — hurtful, i.e. evil (properly, in effect or influence, and thus differing from G2556… συνείδησις (syneídēsis, G4893) — co-perception, i.e. moral consciousness καί (kaí, G2532) — and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other… σῶμα (sōma, G4983) — the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively λούω (loúō, G3068) — to bathe (the whole person; whereas G3538 (νίπτω) means to wet a part only, and G4150…

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Ezekiel 36:25rank 50

I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.

John 3:5rank 40

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:26rank 26

to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

I Peter 3:21rank 24

And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

I Corinthians 6:11rank 23

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Hebrews 4:16rank 18

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 7:19rank 18

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

II Corinthians 7:1rank 15

Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Titus 3:5rank 15

He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 73:28rank 13

But as for me, it is good to draw near to God. I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may proclaim all Your works.

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