“then he says, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no longer'” (Hebrews 10:17 NET).
A person who prayerfully applies this passage from Hebrews 10:17 is someone who can find refuge from the nagging sense of regret that often accompanies the inappropriate behaviors of the past. One commentary on this passage offers an encouraging perspective in respect to this passage..
“The statement that God ‘will remember … sins … no more’ (v. 17) means that He will no longer call them back to memory, with a view to condemning the sinner (cf. Rom. 8:1). Since God is omniscient, He remembers everything, but He does not hold the forgiven sinner’s sins against him or her. Hebrews 10:17 has been a great help to many sinners who have found it hard to believe that God really has forgiven them (cf. 1 John 2:2).” (1)
Philippians 3:13-14 also provides us with some helpful counsel in this regard: “…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (NLT).
This does not mean that we should deny, excuse, or ignore the mistakes of the past. Nor does it mean that we will automatically evade the negative consequences associated with our choices and decisions. However, it does mean that God has provided a way to permanently eradicate our past failures through Jesus’ sacrificial death. As we’re reminded in the Biblical book of Romans, “We know that the person we used to be was crucified with him to put an end to sin in our bodies. Because of this we are no longer slaves to sin. The person who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:6-7 GW).
1 John 1:9 adds the following exhortation: “For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” Thus, Hebrews 10:17 provides us with an encouraging reminder: we need not allow the mistakes, poor decisions, or shameful things from the past to prevent us from enjoying God’s best in the present.
Finally, one source makes use of this passage in preparing for our eventual entry into the next chapter of Hebrews: “There is a remarkable illustration of this divine ‘loss of memory’ in the next chapter, Hebrews 11. This chapter recounts the great works of faith of Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, Samson, and many others, but never mentions any of their sins.” (2)
(1) Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Hebrews 2022 Edition [10:15-18] https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/hebrews/hebrews.htm
(2) Institute for Creation Research, New Defender’s Study Bible Notes Hebrews 10:17 https://www.icr.org/bible/Hebrews/10/17/