Hebrews 10:1-18. We now reach the conclusion of the argument, which is also in part a repetition. Christ's offering of Himself, as contrasted with the yearly offerings of the Law, is the completion of the will and purpose of God (Hebrews 10:1-10). Christ's priestly service, as contrasted with the da... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:1. For a particle that connects the argument with the last verses of chap. 9. The sacrifice of Christ will not be repeated, we are told in Hebrews 9:28. Nor need it, is the statement here THE LAW HAVING, as we know it has, A SHADOW only a mere outline of THE GOOD THINGS which belong to t... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:2. ELSE WOULD THEY these same sacrifices NOT HAVE CEASED TO BE OFFERED, because the WORSHIPPERS both priests and people WOULD HAVE HAD NO LONGER ANY CONSCIENCE any consciousness of the guilt OF SIN BEING ONCE FOR ALL COMPLETELY PURIFIED? The whole clause is best treated as a question, as... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:3. BUT, on the contrary, THERE IS IN THOSE SACRIFICES A REMEMBRANCE MADE a recalling to mind, on the part of the worshippers and on God's part OF SINS YEAR BY YEAR.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:4. Nor could it be otherwise, for the sacrifices themselves are inherently defective. This teaching may seem to contradict the statement that ‘the blood upon the altar' makes an atonement for the soul (Leviticus 17:11), and is appointed (‘given') for that purpose. The fact is, that the bl... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:5. WHEREFORE, let me describe, says the writer, in O. T. language, the voluntary offering of Christ and His setting aside of the offerings of the law WHEN COMING INTO THE WORLD the incarnate Messiah, to do the will of His Father HE SAITH, SACRIFICE (victim) AND OFFERING (gift) THOU DESIRE... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:7. THEN SAID I, LO, I AM COME (IN THE VOLUME OR ROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME) the book of the ancient Law from Moses downwards (see Acts 3:18; 1 Peter 1:11) TO DO THY WILL, O GOD. To do the will of God is to obey His commands, and especially in this context the command to lay down... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:8. The writer now comments on the quotation: SAYING ABOVE AS HE (_i.e_ Christ, see Hebrews 10:5) DOES SAY, etc. _Which_ is more than the relative it describes quality, and makes this remark apply to all offered under the Law then and now (present tense).... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:9. THEN SAITH HE (literally, hath He said), HE (that is, Christ) TAKETH AWAY THE FIRST, THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH (set up) THE SECOND. Legal sacrifices are abolished that there may be substituted for them, the will the good pleasure of God, which Christ came to do by the one sacrifice of Hims... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:10. IN WHICH WILL, and in the accomplishment of it, we have been and are sanctified freed from the guilt of sin (and so we are said to be sanctified in Christ Jesus, 1 Corinthians 1:2) and made morally fit for God's service BY THE OFFERING OF THE BODY OF CHRIST, ‘which Thou hast prepared... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:11-14. With this appropriate result that He is exalted as Priest and King to the right hand of his Father. AND EVERY PRIEST (‘high priest' has less MS. authority and is less appropriate) STANDETH (not permitted to sit in God's presence as if he were at home and his work were done), MINI... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:12. BUT HE (this Priest) HAVING OFFERED ONE s ACRIFICE FOR SINS FOR EVER, TOOK HIS SEAT ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, an evidence of the completeness of His work, which left no room for another sacrifice or for the repetition of His own. His priesthood indeed continues, and the presentation o... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:13. Not a second time can He suffer: Only WAITING AS HE NOW IS TILL, in fulfilment of the Divine promise (Psalms 110:1), HIS ENEMIES BE MADE THE FOOTSTOOL OF HIS FEET. The Jewish priest stood fearful and uneasy in the holy place hastening to depart when the service was done as from a plac... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:14. FOR BY ONE OFFERING HE HATH PERFECTED FOR EVER, in unbroken continuance, THEM THAT ARE BEING SANCTIFIED. Here the word used is the present participle not as in Hebrews 10:10, the perfect and calls attention to the progressive purification that belongs to the redeemed. The word ‘sancti... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:15-17. And with this teaching agrees the old prophetic word which makes inward holiness and absolute forgiveness the most characteristic marks of the new covenant whereof THE HOLY GHOST ALSO BEARS AS WITNESS then follow passages that have been quoted before (Hebrews 8:12). The verbal diff... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:18. And plainly WHERE THERE IS FORGIVENESS OF THESE, there is no need of further atonement; and the sacrifices of the Law which were instituted to meet and deepen man's sense of a need they could not satisfy, and which secured at best outward forgiveness only, are for ever done away. Here... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:19-21. HAVING THEREFORE (on the grounds already named), BRETHREN (again he puts himself in communion with those he addresses as in chapter 3), CONFIDENCE BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS (see on chap. Hebrews 3:6) IN RESPECT TO [going] the WAY INTO THE HOLIEST, A NEW AND LIVING WAY WHICH HE FIRST OP... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:19-39. For nearly four Chapter s the argument has remained unbroken by those exhortations which abound in the earlier parts of the Epistle. From chapter Hebrews 7:1 to Hebrews 10:18 the reasoning is close and continuous; but the one great purpose of the Epistle is never absent from the wr... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:21. A GREAT PRIEST not high priest chiefly, for which the word high priest is always used in this Epistle, but a priest who is enthroned at God's right hand OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD not a servant like Moses in the house (Hebrews 3:5-6), but over it, _i.e_ over the universal Church, including... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:22. LET US DRAW NEAR every hindrance created by God's holiness and our own sin is removed the way is opened let us come to God in loving trust and holy service; and so worshippers are called ‘comers' (unto God), Hebrews 7:25; Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 11:6 WITH A TRUE HEART free from hypocris... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:23. Thus forgiven and renewed and sprinkled with blood, washed as with water, heaven is ours, though only in hope (Romans 8:24), and what remains is THAT WE HOLD FAST THE PROFESSION OF OUR HOPE (the undoubted reading) without wavering. Those who refer the previous clause to baptism find h... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:24. AND LET US (who have the same right of approach, the same interest in one another's holiness, the same common relation to one Lord all still depending on Hebrews 10:19) WELL CONSIDER (the weakness, the capabilities, the dangers, the preciousness of the graces of one another) TO PROVOK... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:25. NOT FORSAKING (the original is stronger not deserting, not leaving in the lurch) the ASSEMBLING OF YOURSELVES TOGETHER a phrase found only here and in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, ‘Our gathering together unto Christ.' The reference is not chiefly to the meetings of the Church as a Church, but... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:26. FOR IF WE SIN WILFULLY; rather, are wilfully continuing in sin. It is a word which needs to be noted. First of all there is no ‘if' in the passage; it is stated as an actual case, not a supposed one. Then the emphasis is on ‘wilfully ‘and on continuance in sin. In a sense all sin impl... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:27. THE ONLY THING LEFT IS A FEARFUL AWARD, AN AWFUL RESERVATION, OF JUDGMENT AND FIERY INDIGNATION (fervour of fire flaming fire, 2 Thessalonians 1:8; the heat of the consuming fire of God Himself, chap. Hebrews 12:29), WHICH SHALL DEVOUR THOSE THAT OPPOSE. The word ‘reservation,' ‘award... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:28. This awful destiny which awaits wilful apostates, judgment without mercy, is now illustrated and enforced from the law. HE THAT HATH DESPISED (literally, any one having despised) MOSES' LAW DIETH WITHOUT MERCY UPON THE TESTIMONY OF (BEFORE) TWO OR THREE WITNESSES not in every case; i... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:29. OF HOW MUCH SORER punishment (a word used only here, and meaning punishment in vindication of the honour of a broken law; compare Acts 22:5). The phrases that follow describe the acts of the apostate Christian. HE TRAMPLES UNDER FOOT (an expression of ruthless contempt) THE SON OF GO... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:30. FOR. This punishment is certain, and is fulfilled and executed by God Himself. The first quotation in this verse follows neither the Hebrew nor the Greek text, but is the exact rendering adopted by Paul in Romans 12:19. The second is taken from Deuteronomy 32:36, and from the Psalms.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:31. IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD. His hands represent His power for work, whether in love or in wrath. To fall into His hands in faith is to have peace; but to fall into His hands in punishment is dreadful.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:32. CALL TO REMEMBRANCE (rather, call up and keep in remembrance) THOSE FORMER DAYS IN WHICH, WHEN FIRST ENLIGHTENED (as in chap. Hebrews 6:4), YE ENDURED, without losing heart or hope (so the word implies), A GREAT FIGHT (a manifest struggle) OF SUFFERING, _i.e_ consisting in suffering,... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:32-39. The argument now takes a turn, AS in chap. Hebrews 6:9. The writer hopes better things. He bids them to remember again and again their earlier struggles and their hope of a blessed reward (Hebrews 10:32-34). He exhorts them not to give up their confidence (Hebrews 10:35), which nee... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:33. PARTLY IN THAT YE BECAME A SPECTACLE OF SHAME ‘a theatrical spectacle' a term taken from those who were exposed in the theatre to shameful punishment (1 Corinthians 4:11) IN THE SCORNFUL TAUNTS (you suffered) AND IN ACTIVE PERSECUTION, AND PARTLY IN THAT YE BECAME PARTAKERS (partners)... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:34. FOR YE HAD COMPASSION UPON THOSE WHO WERE IN BONDS, AND YE ALSO TOOK JOYFULLY THE SPOILING (the plundering) OF YOUR GOODS, KNOWING THAT YE HAVE YOURSELVES or for yourselves the alternate reading (‘in yourselves') is certainly wrong, and ‘in heaven' is probably wrong, though it makes a... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:35. CAST NOT AWAY, THEREFORE, YOUR CONFIDENCE (the faith and hope and boldness with which you confessed Christ, and) WHICH HATH (hath this quality is among the things that have) A GREAT RECOMPENSE OF REWARD.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:36. FOR YE HAVE NEED OF PATIENCE an emphatic word; when used in relation to suffering, it describes the patient endurance which bears all with stedfastness and hope; when used in relation to active work, it describes the ‘patient continuance in well-doing' (Romans 2:7) which endures (a fo... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:37. FOR YET A VERY LITTLE WHILE a phrase that is taken from the Greek of Isaiah 26:20, where it is translated, in E. V., ‘for a little moment' (literally, for a little time, how little). HE THAT COMETH ‘He that is to come' ‘the coming One' the name of Christ under both economies He was... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:38. BUT (or now) MY RIGHTEOUS ONE (he who belongs to God's people) BY FAITH SHALL LIVE. As it is by faith he first gets life (as is told us in Romans 1:16-17, and Galatians 3:11), so it is by faith that life is preserved in the midst of judgments and of delays that are incident to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 10:39. BUT WE ARE NOT OF THEM THAT DRAW BACK UNTO PERDITION (destruction, Romans 9:22; Philippians 1:28; Philippians 3:19, etc.), but of them THAT BELIEVE. ‘We' the writer again includes himself with them as true believers, though subject to the same law as here is applied to his own case (‘... [ Continue Reading ]