Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Hebrews 10:3

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

Sacrifices, he says, produce nothing else except a remembrance of sins, that is, an exposure. They do not provide forgiveness of sins, but by the fact that they are always offered, they show that the sins of the people remain unforgiven. For if sins had been forgiven, what need would there be for sacrifices? By saying "there is a reminder," he gave you to understand that sacrifices were performed not only for subsequent sins, but also for preceding ones, as evidently unforgiven. …

Commentary on Hebrews ↗

Oecumenius

"But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins." In them, he says, those sacrifices are only a reminder and a proof of sins, but there is no longer any forgiveness. And the proof that there is no forgiveness is the continual existence of sacrifices.

The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews ↗

Western Saints

Thomas Aquinas

The second thing he prefaced is that in the Old Testament a commemoration was made of his own sins and those of the people every year. Therefore, they were abolished. Hence, he says, in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. This is true, for mention was made of sins in general, namely, that he was conscious of sin; but special mention is made in the New: 'Confess, therefore, your sins one to another' (Jas. 5:16).

Commentary on Hebrews ↗