What is the context?
The writer continues the contrast between repeated animal offerings and Christ’s one sacrifice. Repetition showed the earlier offerings could not finally remove sin. Each year brought another reminder of the need they could not bring to an end.
He then presents Christ speaking the words of Psalm 40:6–8. The central movement is from sacrifices to a willing person who comes to do God’s will. Christ fulfills that obedience by offering His own body.
There is a difference in wording worth noticing. The BSB of Psalm 40:6 speaks of ears God has opened; Hebrews speaks of a body prepared. Hebrews follows the ancient Greek form of the psalm here. The writer applies that wording to Christ’s obedient offering; we should read each passage as it stands rather than silently making their wording identical.
God had commanded the earlier offerings, as verse 8 recognizes. The contrast does not make those commands a mistake. It shows that Christ accomplishes the purpose they could not complete. Through His willing offering, people are set apart for God once for all.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Calvin, Wesley and the USCCB notes understand Christ’s obedience and bodily offering as the fulfillment toward which the earlier sacrifices pointed. Animal blood could not itself accomplish what His offering does.
Calvin stresses that this does not leave faithful people before Christ without grace: their hope also depended on Him. Wesley emphasizes the greater holiness and reconciliation made possible through Christ. Their comments share the passage’s movement toward His sufficient offering without making the earlier ceremonies worthless in their own appointed time.
Where does this fit in God's plan?
Philippians 2:5–11 describes Christ’s willing obedience even to death, followed by His exaltation. Romans 5:18–19 connects the obedience of the one man, Christ, with righteousness for others.
God’s purpose is carried forward through the Son who willingly does His will. Hebrews’ use of the psalm belongs within that larger account of Christ’s coming and obedience, rather than a story of an unwilling Son forced to act against His purpose.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.