Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now.

“They were of one piece with the mercy seat, even as the Church is one with Christ: their sole standing is on the blood-sprinkled mercy seat; they gaze down at it as the redeemed shall for ever; they are "the habitation of God through the…”

When everything had been prepared in this way, the priests entered regularly into the first room to perform their sacred duties.

“The use made of the sanctuary so furnished by the high priest on the anniversary of atonement. ordained--arranged. always--twice at the least every day, for the morning and evening care of the lamps, and offering of incense (Ex 30:7, 8). went--Greek, "enter": present tense.”

By this arrangement the Holy Spirit was showing that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still standing.

“While it (the first tabernacle, and that which represents the Levitical system) as yet "has a standing" (so the Greek, that is, "has continuance": "lasts"), the way to heaven (the antitypical "holiest place") is not yet made manifest (compare Heb 10:19, 20).”

It is an illustration for the present time, because the gifts and sacrifices being offered were unable to cleanse the conscience of the worshiper.

“Which--"The which," namely, anterior tabernacle: "as being that which was" [ALFORD]. figure--Greek, "parable": a parabolic setting forth of the character of the Old Testament. for--"in reference to the existing time."”

They consist only in food and drink and special washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reform.

“Carnal (outward, affecting only the flesh) is opposed to spiritual. Contrast "flesh" with "conscience" (Heb 9:13, 14). imposed--as a burden (Ac 15:10, 28) continually pressing heavy. until the time of reformation--Greek, "the season of rectification," when the reality should supersede the type (Heb 8:8-12).”

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and…

“Just as on the day of atonement, no work was done, no sacrifice was offered, or priest was allowed to be in the tabernacle while the high priest went into the holiest place to make atonement (Le 16:17, 29).”

He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption.

“The access of Christ to the Father was arduous (Heb 5:7). None before had trodden the path. eternal--The entrance of our Redeemer, once for all, into the heavenly holiest place, secures eternal redemption to us; whereas the Jewish high priest's entrance was repeated year by…”

how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve…

“Man's works before justification, however lifelike they look, are dead, and cannot therefore be accepted before the living God.”

Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from…

“But in order to obtain the inheritance which is a reality, there must be a real propitiation, since God could not enter into covenant relation with us so long as past sins were unexpiated; Ro 3:24, 25, "a propitiation . . .”

In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,

“But the expression is not "there must be the death of both parties making the covenant," but singular, "of Him who made (aorist, past time; not 'of Him making') the testament." Also, it is "death," not "sacrifice" or "slaying."”

For when Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and…

“The sprinkling of the roll (so the Greek for "book") of the covenant, or testament, as well as of the people, implies that neither can the law be fulfilled, nor the people be purged from their sins, save by the sprinkling of the blood of…”

saying, “This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”

“The Greek "diathece" means both "testament" and "covenant": the term "covenant" better suits the old dispensation, though the idea testament is included, for the old was one in its typical relation to the new dispensation, to which the term "testament" is better suited.”

In the same way, he sprinkled with blood the tabernacle and all the vessels used in worship.

“Greek, "And, moreover, in like manner." The sprinkling of the tabernacle with blood is added by inspiration here to the account in Ex 30:25-30; 40:9, 10, which mentions only Moses' anointing the tabernacle and its vessels.”

According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

“Paul has, perhaps, in mind here, Lu 22:20, "This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." is--Greek, "takes place": comes to pass. remission--of sins: a favorite expression of Luke, Paul's companion.”

So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

“Christ's body, the true tabernacle (see on Heb 8:2; Heb 9:11), as bearing our imputed sin (2Co 5:21), was consecrated (Joh 17:17, 19) and purified by the shedding of His blood to be the meeting place of God and man.”

For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.

“Christ alone beholds the Father without a veil, and is His perfect image. Through seeing HIM only can we see the Father. in the presence of God--Greek, "to the face of God."”

so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who…

“He, the One, was offered for many; and that once for all (compare Mt 20:28). look for him--with waiting expectation even unto the end (so the Greek). It is translated "wait for" in Ro 8:19, 23; 1Co 1:7, which see. appear--rather, as Greek, "be seen."”

For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves.

“The "image" here means the archetype (compare Heb 9:24), the original, solid image [BENGEL] realizing to us those heavenly verities, of which the law furnished but a shadowy outline before.”

If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt the guilt of their sins.

“For--if the law could, by its sacrifices, have perfected the worshippers. they--the sacrifices. once purged--IF they were once for all cleansed (Heb 7:27). conscience--"consciousness of sin" (Heb 9:9).”

Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins,

“The Gospel remission, on the contrary, is so complete, that sins are "remembered no more" (Heb 10:17) by God. It is unbelief to "forget" this once-for-all purgation, and to fear on account of "former sins" (2Pe 1:9).”

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me.

“His willing obedience to the Father's will is what is dwelt on as giving especial virtue to His sacrifice (Heb 10:7, 9, 10).”

Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’”

“Besides the covenant of God with man through Christ's blood, there was another covenant made by the Father with the Son from eternity. The condition was, "If He shall make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed," &c.”

In the passage above He says, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not desire, nor did You delight in them” (although they are offered according to…

“Sacrifice, &c.--The oldest manuscripts read, "Sacrifices and offerings" (plural). This verse combines the two clauses previously quoted distinctly, Heb 10:5, 6, in contrast to the sacrifice of Christ with which God was well pleased.”

And by that will, we have been sanctified through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

“The whole work of redemption flows from "the will" of God the Father, as the First Cause, who decreed redemption from before the foundation of the world. The "will" here (boulema) is His absolute sovereign will.”

But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.

“"The offering of Christ, once for all made, will continue the one and only oblation for ever; no other will supersede it" [BENGEL]. The mass, which professes to be the frequent repetition of one and the same sacrifice of Christ's body, is hence disproved.”