The writer of Hebrews reminds his readers of the new
covenant God promised to make with all people. In quoting an Old Testament prophecy
from the book of Jeremiah, he writes, “For I will be merciful towards their
wrongdoings, and their sins I will no longer remember” (Hebrews 8:12 NASB 2020).
To further drive home this point, the author again quotes this promise, repeating
it in Hebrews 10:17. In the Greek language, there are two words that are both translated
as “no” or “not.” Each is used with a different form of speech. One is used for
what is called the indicative mood, which is used when stating a fact. For
example, “the student does not teach the teacher.” The other word for “no” is
used for all other forms of speech, including the subjunctive mode. For example,
“the student should not teach the teacher.” However, when these two words are
used together in the same sentence, they form the most emphatic use of the word
“no” in the Greek language. This is the case in this promise from God. God did
not say that he might not remember our sins, nor that he would not remember our
sins, but that he would in no way, by no means, never ever ever remember our
sins. There is no equivocation in God’s promise to those who would receive his forgiveness,
nor can we misunderstand his intentions or his promise. To those who receive
his forgiveness, he will never ever remember their sins. What a blessing and
what confidence before God have those who have thus been forgiven by God. As
David once said, “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin
is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and
in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Psalms 32:1-2)!
David Robison
