Then verily the first _covenant_ had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. Ver. 1. _Then verily the first covenant_] Here the apostle proveth what he had propounded,Hebrews 8:5, that this assertion might be sound, such as cannot be condemned, Titus 2:8 . _ Ordinances_] Gr. δι... [ Continue Reading ]
For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein _was_ the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. Ver. 2. _The first wherein was, &c._] He speaks nothing of the outer court, as not pertinent to his present purpose. But there was both in the tabernacle and t... [ Continue Reading ]
And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all; Ver. 3. _And after the second veil_] This was not of any hard debarring matter, but easily penetrable then, and now also rent by Christ, to show our easy access to God with confidence "by the faith of him," Ephesians 3:12... [ Continue Reading ]
Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein _was_ the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; Ver. 4. _The golden censer_] Or the altar of incense, which though it belonged to the most holy place, y... [ Continue Reading ]
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak particularly. Ver. 5. _And over it the cherubims_] The ark covering the law within it, the mercy seat upon it, and over them two cherubims covering one another; all these set forth Christ covering the curses of... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service _of God_. Ver. 6. _Were thus ordained_] Gr. κατεσκευασμενα, prepared, fitted, finished by the hand of the artificer, and therefore called worldly in a good sense, Hebrews 9:1 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But into the second _went_ the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and _for_ the errors of the people: Ver. 7. _For the errors_] Gr. αγνοηματα, The not knowings of the people; those errors that they could not help, and yet must else have answered for.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Ver. 8. _The way into the holiest_] That is, into heaven, typified thereby. _ Was not yet made manifest_] In regard of performance, and that evidence of f... [ Continue Reading ]
Which _was_ a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Ver. 9. _Which was a figure_] Gr. παραβολη, a parable, that is, such a form of service as intimated some greater ma... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which stood_ only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed _on them_ until the time of reformation. Ver. 10. _And carnal ordinances_] Such as carnal men might easily perform, and as were very suitable to the disposition of a carnal heart. Hence, Ezekiel 20:25, they... [ Continue Reading ]
But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Ver. 11. _Of good things to come_] i.e. Of spirituals that were expected as things to come, when Christ came with a cornucopia, a horn of... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption _for us_. Ver. 12. _Neither by the blood of calves_] As the Levitical high priest did, Hebrews 9:7 . _ Having obtained_] Gr. ευρομενος, having found. See Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: Ver. 13. _The ashes of a heifer_] Gr. Ashes and cinders mixt together, as a monument of Christ's most base and utmost afflictions, and of our justification and sanct... [ Continue Reading ]
How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Ver. 14. _By the eternal Spirit_] That is, by his Deity, called the Spirit of holiness,Romans 1:4, and the Spirit, 1 Timothy 3:... [ Continue Reading ]
And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions _that were_ under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. Ver. 15. _For the redemption_] Here he showeth the reasons why... [ Continue Reading ]
For where a testament _is_, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. Ver. 16. _For where a testament is_] _See Trapp "_ Heb 8:6 _"_ Here the testator is Christ, heirs the saints, legacies the gifts of the Spirit, executor the Holy Ghost, witnesses apostles, martyrs, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
For a testament _is_ of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Ver. 17. _While the testator liveth_] For it is in his power to alter it at his pleasure, as reason requireth. Our Henry II first crowned, and then cast off his eldest son Henry, not s... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereupon neither the first _testament_ was dedicated without blood. Ver. 18. _Was dedicated_] Or initiated to holy use, Leviticus 16:15,16, εγκεκαινισται .... [ Continue Reading ]
For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Ver. 19. _He took the blood_] SeeExodus 24:8 . _ And sprinkled both the book_] Which,... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, This _is_ the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Ver. 20. _Saying, This is the blood, &c._] A tropical and sacramental expression, whereunto our Saviour seemeth to allude in those words of his, "This cup is the new testament in my blood," &c. The sacraments of the Old... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. Ver. 21. _He sprinkled with blood_] This sprinkling had a foreshadowing of the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:2; Isaiah 52:15; by his finger, that is, by his Spirit, Luke 11:20; Matthew 12... [ Continue Reading ]
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. Ver. 22. _Purged with blood_] Which yet of itself impureth and fouleth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_It was_ therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. Ver. 23. _But the heavenly things_] Those spiritual good things set forth by the types of the law; or the Church under the gos... [ Continue Reading ]
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, _which are_ the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Ver. 24. _To appear in the presence_] As a lawyer appears for his client, opens the cause, pleads the cause, and it is carried, ε... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; Ver. 25. _Not that he would offer_] As Popish mass-mongers will have it. _Eamus ad communem errorem_ (said Domitius Calderinus to his friends, when they persuaded him to go t... [ Continue Reading ]
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Ver. 26. _To put away sin_] To abrogate it, Hebrews 1:3, to bind it in a bundle, seal it up in a bag, Daniel 9:24, cast it behin... [ Continue Reading ]
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Ver. 27. _It is appointed_] Gr. αποκειται, it lieth as a man's lot. _Stat sua cuique dies._ Our last day stands, the rest run. The Jews at this day pray (such is their blindness) for the dead, that that bodily death may serve... [ Continue Reading ]
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Ver. 28. _The second time without sin_] Imputed to him, as Isaiah 53:6; 2 Corinthians 5:21. _See Trapp on "_ Isa 53:6 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ 2Co 5:21 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]