Chapter X
1 From all that has been said it appears, that the law, the Mosaic
dispensation, being a bare, unsubstantial shadow of good things to come,
of the gospel blessings, and not the substantial, solid image of them,
can never with the same kind of sacrifices, though continually repeated,
make the comers thereunto perfect, either as to justification or sanctification.
How is it possible, that any who consider this should suppose the attainments
of David, or any who were under that dispensation, to be the proper measure
of gospel holiness; and that Christian experience is to rise no higher
than Jewish?
2 They who had been once perfectly purged, would have been no
longer conscious either of the guilt or power of their sins.
3 There is a public commemoration of the sins both of the last
and of all the preceding years; a clear proof that the guilt thereof is
not perfectly purged away.
4 It is impossible the blood of goats should take away sins -
Either the guilt or the power of them.
5 When he cometh into the world - In the fortieth psalm the Messiah's
coming into the world is represented. It is said, into the world, not into
the tabernacle, Heb 9:1; because all the world is interested in his sacrifice.
A body hast thou prepared for me - That I may offer up myself. Psa 40:6,&c.
7 In the volume of the book - In this very psalm it is written
of me. Accordingly I come to do thy will - By the sacrifice of myself.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice thou hast not chosen - That is,
when the Psalmist pronounced those words in his name.
9 Then said he - in that very instant he subjoined. Lo, I come
to do Thy will - To offer a more acceptable sacrifice; and by this very
act he taketh away the legal, that he may establish the evangelical, dispensation.
10 By which will - Of God, done and suffered by Christ. We are
sanctified - Cleansed from guilt, and consecrated to God.
11 Every priest standeth - As a servant in an humble posture.
12 But he - The virtue of whose one sacrifice remains for ever.
Sat down - As a son, in majesty and honour.
13 Psa 110:1.
14 He hath perfected them for ever - That is, has done all that
was needful in order to their full reconciliation with God.
15 In this and the three following verses, the apostle winds up
his argument concerning the excellency and perfection of the priesthood
and sacrifice of Christ. He had proved this before by a quotation from
Jeremiah; which he here repeats, describing the new covenant as now completely
ratified, and all the blessings of it secured to us by the one offering
of Christ, which renders all other expiatory sacrifices, and any repetition
of his own, utterly needless.
16 Jer 31:33, &c
19 Having finished the doctrinal part of his epistle, the apostle
now proceeds to exhortation deduced from what has been treated of Heb 5:4,
which he begins by a brief recapitulation. Having therefore liberty to
enter, -
20 By a living way - The way of faith, whereby we live indeed.
Which he hath consecrated - Prepared, dedicated, and established for us.
Through the veil, that is, his flesh - As by rending the veil in the temple,
the holy of holies became visible and accessible; so by wounding the body
of Christ, the God of heaven was manifested, and the way to heaven opened.
22 Let us draw near - To God. With a true heart - In godly sincerity.
Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience - So as to condemn
us no longer And our bodies washed with pure water - All our conversation
spotless and holy, which is far more acceptable to God than all the legal
sprinklings and washings.
23 The profession of our hope - The hope which we professed at
our baptism.
25 Not forsaking the assembling ourselves - In public or private
worship. As the manner of some is - Either through fear of persecution,
or from a vain imagination that they were above external ordinances. But
exhorting one another - To faith, love, and good works. And so much the
more, as ye see the day approaching - The great day is ever in your eye.