HEBREWS CHAPTER 10 HEBREWS 10:1 The sacrifices of the law, being often
repeated, could not take away sins. HEBREWS 10:5 The abolition of
them, and substitution of Christ's body in their stead, foretold by
the psalmist, HEBREWS 10:10 by the offering of which body once for all
we obtain perfect remiss... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEN WOULD THEY NOT HAVE CEASED TO BE OFFERED? _for_ proves the
weakness of that shadowy service under the law, because it never
ceased, which it would if it had perfected its users; and having
reached its end, and done that work, have ceased; for these sacrifices
would not of right have been re... [ Continue Reading ]
If the legal sacrifices could have perfected their offerers, there
would have been no remembrance of sins; but there is a remembrance of
sins yearly, therefore they are weak and cannot perfect. These
shadowy-sacrifices yearly reiterated, still left sins in their guilt
and killing power, loading and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR gives a reason of the precedent proof, that the legal sacrifices
did keep sins in remembrance; for they were of such matter as could
not have any causal power to take them away. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE: this
is equivalent to a universal negative, the impossibility being
absolute as to the things them... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
WHEREFORE, Dio, introduceth the proof of the invalidity of legal
sacrifices, and the efficacy of the one sacrifice of Christ, from
Divine testimony about both of them. HE SAITH; God the Son, who
existed before his incarnation, bespeaketh God the Father, when he was
coming into this world, to... [ Continue Reading ]
Two other sorts of sacrifices are added to the former, as whole
_burnt-offerings, _ which were all devoured by fire on God's altar,
and no part of them came to the priests, LEVITICUS 1:3,9,10,13,14,17;
and peace-offerings, which were not totally consumed, but part of them
was the priests portion, EX... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;OLBHeb;
THEN SAID I, LO, I COME: when the Father declared the sacrifices of
beasts and birds would not please him, nor be accepted for expiating
sins, then I said, I appeared in person, and declared, Lo, I come with
a fit and proper sacrifice; I approach myself with my human nature,
fully res... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse the apostle repeats the whole testimony, produced out of
the Psalm, only with a specification in a parenthesis, WHICH ARE
OFFERED BY THE LAW, viz. such sacrifices, against which the apostle
argueth, which could not purge away sin, nor procure righteousness,
nor make no more conscience... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse the apostle collects the psalmist's assertion of God the
Father's accepting his sacrifice, the offering whereof was so exactly
agreeable to his will, when he was displeased with the legal ones; and
this revealed to David when he was punctually using them according to
the law. HE TAKETH... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE WHICH WILL; that spoken of PSALMS 40:8, that will and command
of God given to Christ, God-man, that he should once offer up his body
a sacrifice for sin, which he willingly and heartily obeyed,
PHILIPPIANS 2:8. WE ARE SANCTIFIED: _sanctified_ is to be taken
largely, for a communication to us... [ Continue Reading ]
Having proved, that not the yearly repeated legal sacrifices could
perfect a sinner, but only the sacrifice of Christ, the Spirit
proceeds to prove, that the daily legal sacrifices can do as little
for this work as the annual; and therefore these Hebrews ought to
desert all these, and depend only up... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THIS MAN, AFTER HE HAD OFFERED ONE SACRIFICE FOR SINS: opposed to
the legal priests is this Priest, God-man, an almighty Minister,
having once offered, and no more, one sacrifice of his body for the
sins of others, (he had none of his own, as every other priest had),
that they might be pardoned... [ Continue Reading ]
That which remaineth he expecteth, even the fulfilling of his Father's
promise to him, PSALMS 110:1, patiently waiting, earnestly looking,
for what is most certain, and wherein he cannot be disappointed; for
in respect of himself. His enemies cannot infest him more, being
entirely vanquished already... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BY ONE OFFERING: _for_ here gives the reason of the precedent
effect, and it is opposed to the reason of the legal offerings defect;
their sacrifices multiplied could not perfect sinners, but this _one_
doth it fully. HE HATH PERFECTED FOR EVER: Christ, God-man, the gospel
High Priest, by the _o... [ Continue Reading ]
The assumption cleared before, the apostle now proceedeth to prove out
of the Old Testament, viz. that God's purpose was, by Christ's one
sacrifice to take away all sins for ever; therefore there was no need
of the repetition of the legal sacrifices. WHEREOF THE HOLY GHOST ALSO
IS A WITNESS TO US: t... [ Continue Reading ]
God promiseth his true Israel his entering with them into a new
testamental covenant; after the days that the covenant administration
at Sinai was expired, then the Lord saith, JEREMIAH 31:33, that he
will renew minds and hearts by his Spirit, and contorm them to his
will, that they shall be living,... [ Continue Reading ]
God covenanteth to give not only sanctification, but justification to
his believing Israel, so as their sins shall be remitted, and God will
solemnly absolve them from the punishment they merit; see HEBREWS
8:12; promised, JEREMIAH 31:34. In which proof, though there be no
express mention of the sac... [ Continue Reading ]
The Spirit having cleared his assumption before, now concludes;
Whereas perfect forgiveness of sins is from God's grace, by the one
sacrifice of his Son once offered, acquired and effected for penitent
believers for ever, as the promise voucheth, JEREMIAH 31:34: For he
will in no wise remember their... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
At this verse the Spirit applieth and maketh use of the doctrine of
the great gospel High Priest, and his one all-sufficient sacrifice,
and continueth it through part of HEBREWS 13:1. The transition to it
is made by the particle oun, _therefore, _ which refers to the whole
of his doctrinal d... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY; which _way_ is figuratively setting out the
means of entering into the holiest in heaven by the blood of Christ.
By _way_ is understood that by which approach to God in heaven is
made, and wherein we must have our access to him, even Christ himself,
1 THESSALONIANS 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Christians have not only a liberty of coming, but a way wherein, and a
help whereby, to reach home to God; which help is a surpassing Priest
to all others, the great and eminent one for real worth and dignity,
Christ himself, God-man, exalted to the right hand of the Majesty on
high, after he had fu... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US DRAW NEAR; this contains the duty grounded on, and enconraged
to, by the former privileges, viz. the spiritual motion of his church,
using Christ for their coming home to God, in prayer, and all parts of
worship and conversation: see HEBREWS 4:16, HEBREWS 7:25. WITH A TRUE
HEART; with sinceri... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
LET US HOLD FAST; this duty is inferred from the doctrine of the
gospel High Priest, and the perfect work he wrought in taking away
sin, and bringing in everlasting righteousness: let us herefore
persevere in the faith and hope of him, really, actually, stedfastly,
retaining it with all our... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
Having urged from the gospel doctrine of our High Priest our duty to
God, the Spirit proceeds to show what influence it should have on
Christians for performing their duty one to another, in their
inspection and observation of the whole body of Christ, consisting of
Jew and Gentile, who have... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
Helps to the performance of both the former duties, to God and fellow
Christians, with their respective motives, are laid down in the
following part of the chapter. The first is couched in this verse;
neither slighting in thought, nor vilifying in word, nor separating,
nor leaving by dissoci... [ Continue Reading ]
IF WE SIN WILFULLY: the severe exaction which God will take upon such
as apostatize from him, is further enforcing the former duty, and is
introduced by the particle _for, _ to that end; if we by a free and
spontaneous desertion of Christ, and his ordinances, without a
coercion by threats and persec... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
BUT A CERTAIN FEARFUL LOOKING FOR OF JUDGMENT: _But, _ is introducing
the terrible evil asserted to be expected when sacrifice cannot hetp
such sinners, especial and certain, terrible and dreadful (such as
fills the soul with fears and horrors) expectation of judgment by
their awakened consc... [ Continue Reading ]
The punishment threatened on such sinners is illustrated by an
instance proper to the Hebrews; For if the lesser sin against Moses's
law was punished by death, the greater sin against the gospel of
Christ shall be more punished. HE THAT DESPISED MOSES'S LAW; any
person, whoever he were, none excepte... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT: the expostulation aggravates both the
sin and the punishment in the consequent on the former assertion; a
punishment heavier, bitterer, sorer, more grievous, and unexpressibly
greater, than death. SUPPOSE YE; you yourselves being judges, to whom
I appeal about i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE KNOW HIM THAT HATH SAID: _For_ brings in the proof of the
soreness of God's punishment to be inflicted on apostates, from God's
own testimony about it; which we, who are conversant with the
Scriptures, are well acquainted with; we know what God hath spoken,
and by whom he hath spoken it, 1 TH... [ Continue Reading ]
The punishment of these apostates is further aggravated from the
inflicter of it, the knowledge of which should make them tremble; the
thoughts of it might affect them, as the hand-writing on the wall did
Belshazzar, DANIEL 5:6. It should strike horror into their heart,
trembling into their persons,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE FORMER DAYS: _But_ is not so much
adversative as copulative, adding another direction for their
persevering in Christianity, even the revolving in their minds, and
bringing again to thought, what was past, carrying in it both the act
and the end of it. It is a practical r... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
PARTLY, WHILST YE WERE MADE A GAZINGSTOCK BOTH BY REPROACHES AND
AFFLICTIONS; their sufferings personal in this famous instance,
yeatrizomenoi. They were so publicly exposed as on a stage or theatre,
so as multitudes might sport themselves with them, 1 CORINTHIANS 4:9;
as many were exposed t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE HAD COMPASSION OF ME IN MY BONDS; for ye sympathized in my
bonds, &c., is a proof of both kinds of their sufferings
forementioned. As to their suffering with others, he instanceth in
himself, as a witness of it; for when he was in bonds for preaching
the gospel, both at Jerusalem, ACTS 21:33,... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk;
CAST NOT AWAY THEREFORE YOUR CONFIDENCE: this introduceth the last
direction for helping on their perseverance in Christianity. Mh
apoballhte denieth all degrees of apostacy, from secret undervaluing
to an utter renouncing, not to slight, despise, or reject; they had
endured already so much... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE HAVE NEED OF PATIENCE: _for_ shows this to be an enforcement of
the former direction: Cast not away your confidence, for you have need
of grace, which that must maintain in order to carry back your reward.
It is therefore absolutely necessary, as well as useful to you, for
the bearing of your... [ Continue Reading ]
The reason of their retaining their confidence to the end, is the
shortness of his coming, who will reward them for it, proved out of
God's promise written to and for the church, by Habakkuk, HABAKKUK
2:3. A truth sufficiently known to these Hebrews, as brought them by
their own prophet; and though... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBHeb;OLBGrk;
These are, as the former, the words of the Prophet Habakkuk, HABAKKUK
2:4, enforcing the former duty pressed from the gain of perseverance,
and the loss by withdrawing, when Christ shall come. They are used by
this apostle Paul to several purposes, as to prove, that righteousness
is o... [ Continue Reading ]
The conclusion is a hopeful assertion of their condition, or a sweet
intimation of what they ought to be, even like himself; and so the
apostle removes all jealousy of his reflecting on them, as HEBREWS
6:9. BUT WE ARE NOT OF THEM WHO DRAW BACK UNTO PERDITION; the
adversative, _but, _ is an exceptio... [ Continue Reading ]