CHAPTER X. _The insufficiency of the legal sacrifices to take away sin_, 1-4. _The purpose and will of God, as declared by the Psalmist_, _relative to the salvation of the world by the incarnation of_ _Christ; and our sanctification through that will_, 5-10. _Comparison between the priesthood... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:2. _WOULD THEY NOT HAVE CEASED TO BE OFFERED?_] Had they made an effectual reconciliation for the sins of the world, and contained in their once offering a plenitude of permanent merit, they would have ceased to be offered, at least in reference to any individual who had once offere... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:4. _FOR_ IT IS _NOT POSSIBLE_] Common sense must have taught them that shedding the blood of bulls and goats could never satisfy Divine justice, nor take away guilt from the conscience; and God intended that they should understand the matter so: and this the following quotation from... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:5. _WHEN HE_ (THE MESSIAH) _COMETH INTO THE WORLD_] Was about to be incarnated, _He saith_ to God the Father, _Sacrifice and_ _offering thou wouldest not_-it was never thy _will_ and design that the sacrifices under thy own law should be considered as making atonement for sin, they... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:6. _THOU HAST HAD NO PLEASURE._] Thou couldst never be pleased with the victims under the law; thou couldst never consider them as atonements for sin; as they could never satisfy thy justice, nor make thy law honourable.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:7. _IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK_] במגלת ספר _bimgillath_ _sepher_, "in the _roll_ of the book." Anciently, books were written on skins and rolled up. Among the Romans these were called _volumina_, from _volvo, I roll_; and the Pentateuch, in the Jewish synagogues, is still written in... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:9. _HE TAKETH AWAY THE FIRST_] The offerings, sacrifices, burnt-offerings, and sacrifices for sin, which were prescribed by the _law_. _THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH THE SECOND._] The offering of the _body of_ _Jesus_ once for all. It will make little odds in the meaning if we say, he take... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:10. _BY THE WHICH WILL WE ARE SANCTIFIED_] Closing in with this so solemnly declared WILL _of God_, that there is no name given under heaven among men, by which we can be saved, but Jesus the Christ, we believe in him, find redemption in his blood, and are sanctified unto God throug... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:11. _EVERY PRIEST STANDETH_] The office of the Jewish priest is here compared with the office of our High Priest. The Jewish priest _stands_ daily at the altar, like a servant ministering, _repeating_ the same sacrifices; our High Priest offered himself once for all, and _sat down_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:13. _TILL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE HIS FOOTSTOOL._] Till all that oppose his high priesthood and sacrificial offering shall be defeated, routed, and confounded; and acknowledge, in their punishment, the supremacy of his power as universal and eternal King, who refused to receive him as t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _FOR BY ONE OFFERING_] His death upon the cross. _HE HATH PERFECTED FOR EVER._] He has procured remission of sins and holiness; fur it is well observed here, and in several parts of this epistle, that τελειοω, _to make perfect_, is the same as αφεσιν αμαρτιων ποιεω, _to procure remission... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _THE HOLY GHOST - IS A WITNESS TO US_] The words are quoted from Jeremiah 31:33-24, and here we are assured that Jeremiah spoke by the inspiration of the Spirit of God. _HAD SAID BEFORE_] See Hebrews 8:10; Hebrews 8:12, and the notes there.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _NOW WHERE REMISSION OF THESE_ IS] In any case, where sin is once pardoned, there is no farther need of a sin-offering; but every believer on Christ has his sin blotted out, and therefore needs no other offering for that sin. "If," says Dr. Macknight, "after remission is granted to the s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _HAVING THEREFORE, BRETHREN, BOLDNESS_] The apostle, having now finished the doctrinal part of his epistle, and fully shown the superiority of Christ to all men and angels, and the superiority of his priesthood to that of Aaron and his successors, the absolute inefficacy of the Jewish sacr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY_] It is a _new_ way; no _human_ being had ever before entered into the heaven of heavens; Jesus in human nature was the first, and thus he has opened the way to heaven to mankind, his own resurrection and ascension to glory being the proof and pledge of ours. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _A HIGH PRIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD_] The _house_ or family of God is the Christian Church, or all true believers in the Lord Jesus. Over this Church, house, or family, Christ is the High Priest-in their behalf he offers his own blood, and their prayers and praises; and as the high priest... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _LET US DRAW NEAR_] Let us come with the blood of our sacrifice to the throne of God: the expression is sacrificial. _WITH A TRUE HEART_] Deeply convinced of our need of help, and truly in earnest to obtain it. _IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH_] Being fully persuaded that God will accept us f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _LET US HOLD FAST THE PROFESSION OF OUR FAITH_] The word ομολογια, from ομου, _together_, and λογος, _a word_, implies that general consent that was among Christians on all the important articles of their faith and practice; particularly their acknowledgment of the truth of the Gospel, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _AND LET US CONSIDER ONE ANOTHER_] κατανοωμεν. Let us _diligently_ and _attentively consider_ each other's trials, difficulties, and weaknesses; feel for each other, and _excite_ each other to an increase of _love_ to God and man; and, as the proof of it, to be fruitful in _good works_. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES_] επισυναγωγην εαυτων. Whether this means _public_ or _private_ worship is hard to say; but as the word is but once more used in the New Testament, (2 Thessalonians 2:1,) and there means the _gathering together_ of the redeemed of the Lord at the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 26. _FOR IF WE SIN WILFULLY_] If we deliberately, for fear of persecution or from any other motive, _renounce the profession_ _of the Gospel_ and the _Author_ of that Gospel, after having received the knowledge of the truth so as to be convinced that Jesus is the promised Messiah, and that he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 27. _A CERTAIN FEARFUL LOOKING FOR OF JUDGMENT_] From this it is evident that God will pardon no man without a sacrifice for sin; for otherwise, as Dr. Macknight argues, it would not follow, from there remaining to apostates no more sacrifice for sin, that there must remain to them a dreadful... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _HE THAT DESPISED MOSES' LAW_] αθετησας. He that rejected it, _threw it aside_, and denied its Divine authority by presumptuous sinning, _died without mercy_-without any extenuation or mitigation of punishment; Numbers 15:30. _UNDER TWO OR THREE WITNESSES_] That is, when convicted by the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _OF HOW MUCH SORER PUNISHMENT_] Such offences were trifling in comparison of this, and in justice the punishment should be proportioned to the offence. _TRODDEN UNDER FOOT THE SON OF GOD_] Treated him with the utmost contempt and blasphemy. _THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT-AN UNHOLY THING_] T... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _VENGEANCE_ BELONGETH _UNTO ME_] This is the saying of God, Deuteronomy 32:35, in reference to the idolatrous Gentiles, who were the enemies of his people; and is here with propriety applied to the above apostates, who, being enemies to God's ordinances, and Christ's ministry and merits, m... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE_ _living God._] To fall into the hands of God is to fall under his _displeasure_; and he who _lives for ever_ can _punish for ever_. How dreadful to have the displeasure of an _eternal, almighty_ Being to rest on the soul for ever! Apost... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _BUT CALL TO REMEMBRANCE_] It appears from this, and indeed from some parts of the Gospel history, that the first believers in Judea were greatly persecuted; our Lord's crucifixion, Stephen's martyrdom, the persecution that arose after the death of Stephen, Acts 8:1, Herod's persecution, A... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _YE WERE MADE A GAZING-STOCK_] Θεατριζομενοι. Ye were exhibited as wild beasts and other shows at the theatres. See the note on 1 Corinthians 4:9, where all this is illustrated. _COMPANIONS OF THEM THAT WERE SO USED._] It appears, from 1 Thessalonians 2:14, that the Churches of God in Jud... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _YE HAD COMPASSION OF ME IN MY BONDS_] συνεπαθησατε. _Ye suffered with me, ye sympathized with me_, when bound for the testimony of Jesus. This probably refers to the sympathy they showed towards him, and the help they afforded him, during his long imprisonment in Caesarea and Jerusalem. B... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _CAST NOT AWAY THEREFORE YOUR CONFIDENCE_] Την παρῥησιαν ὑμων· _Your liberty of access_ to God; your _title_ and _right_ to approach his throne; your _birthright_ as his sons and daughters; and the _clear evidence_ you have of his favour, which, if you be not steady and faithful, you mus... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _YE HAVE NEED OF PATIENCE_] Having so _great a fight of_ _sufferings_ to pass through, and they of so long continuance. God furnishes the _grace_; you must exercise it. The grace or principle of patience comes from God; the use and exercise of that grace is of yourselves. Here ye must be w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 37. _FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE_] Ετι γαρ μικρον ὁσον· _For_ _yet a very little time_. In a very short space of time the Messiah will come, and execute judgment upon your rebellious country. This is determined, because they have filled up the measure of their iniquity, and their destruction slumb... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _NOW THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH_] Ὁ δε δικαιος εκ πιστεως ζησεται· _But the just by faith_, i.e. he who is justified by faith, _shall live_-shall be preserved when this overflowing scourge shall come. See this meaning of the phrase vindicated, Romans 1:17. And it is evident, both from t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Hebrews 10:39. _BUT WE ARE NOT OF THEM WHO DRAW BACK_] Ουκ εσμεν ὑποστολης - , αλλα πιστεως· "We are not the cowards, but the courageous." I have no doubt of this being the meaning of the apostle, and the form of speech requires such a translation; it occurs more than once in the New Testame... [ Continue Reading ]