"Why The Need For A Body?"

In Hebrews 10:5, the Hebrew writer points out the fact that “…. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.”The Hebrew writer is arguing that animal sacrifices can never appease God (Hebrews 10:1-4,6-14). In Hebrews 10:5-8, the inspired writer does not say that God did not require such sacrifices, but that they could "never take away sins" (Hebrews 10:11). The only sacrifice that could atone for sins was the perfect, sinless Son of God (cf. Hebrews 10:4-14; 1 Peter 1:18-20).

Let us notice the words the writer uses in Hebrews 10:5: “….when He came into the world …. But a body You have prepared for Me.“ The “He” that was coming into the world was the pre-existent “ho logos” (“the Word” – John 1:1). He comes into a body that was prepared for Him. The “He” existed before the body and the body was prepared “for Him.” Let’s ask ourselves, “Why the need for a body?”

A body was essential to the offering of a "sacrifice" (cf. Exodus 12:1-13). Without a body there could have been no sacrifice and without a sacrifice man would still be in his sins (Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 2:24). The body, offered once for all time, (Hebrews 10:5,10), stands in stark contrast to the blood of bulls and goats (Hebrews 10:1-4,11). The body also identified “ho logos” with mankind: “For in that He Himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18).

Jesus’ common identity with man had just been established (Hebrews 2:14-17). Being “made like His brethren” made it possible for Him to be “a merciful and faithful High Priest” (Hebrews 2:17). The Hebrew writer later tells us that our Lord can “sympathize with our weaknesses” because He was “in all points tempted as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). Unlike other men, He did not sin (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:21-22).

A body, because it is physical, subjected “ho logos” to the suffering common to all men. Suffering was especially true of the Son, because He came as the light of the world and was hated by the darkness. He was "despised, rejected, and beaten" (cf. Isaiah 53:4-10) — without a body, that would not have been possible. And in His suffering, we have a perfect example to follow (cf. 1 Peter 1:19-21; 1 John 2:1-6).

A body was essential — the ultimate goal being a perfect sacrifice for sin (1 Peter 1:18-19; cf. Exodus 12:5). Thus, the “ho logos” came into the world to die for the sins of mankind. A body made Him one of us – and by experiencing what we experience, He became our compassionate high priest (Hebrews 4:14-15). And, because He suffered for righteousness in that body, He became our perfect example for dealing with our own sins and suffering (1 John 1:7-9; cf. 1 Kings 8:44-61).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets