Hebrews 10:1-3 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
‘Shadow of good things to come.’ The law gave only a faint outline of good things to come (8:5; Col. 2:14-17).
‘Image’ [Greek: eikon] form, a figure; image; likeness. Here it means outward and bodily image (Matt. 22:20; Mark 12:16; Luke 20:24; Rom. 1:23; 1Cor. 11:7; 15:49; 2Cor. 4:4; Col. 1:15; Rev. 13:14-15; 9-11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4). It is used only three times of moral and spiritual likeness (Rom. 8:29; 2Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10).
‘Can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.’ There are fifteen things noted in Scripture that the Law could not do: Justify (Acts 13:38-39; Gal. 2:16). Free from sin and death (Rom. 8:2). Free from condemnation (Rom. 8:1-4). Redeem (Rom. 3:24-31; Gal. 3:13-14). Give inheritance (Rom. 4:13-14). Bring righteousness (Rom. 8:4). Impart the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:2). Perform miracles (Gal. 3:5). Free from the curse (Gal. 3:10-14). Impart faith (Gal. 3:12). Impart grace (Gal. 5:4). Make perfect (Heb. 7:19). Control sin in man (Rom. 7:7-23; 8:2). Keep man from sin (Rom. 7:7-23; 8:7). Enable a man to obey (Heb. 7:18).

