Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9:1-5

The apostle, in pursuance of his main design, proceeds to treat, 1. Of the tabernacle, the place of worship, vers. 1—6. 2. Of the worship and services performed on the tabernacle, vers. 6, 7. 3. Delivers the spiritual help and the main design of all, vers. 8. to the end.

1. THEN verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. 2. For there was a tabernacle made, the first wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. 3. And after the second vali, the tabernacle which is called the holier of all: 4. Which had the golden center, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that buckled, and the tables of the covenant; 5. And over it the cherubions of glory shadowing the mercy-seat: of which we cannot now speak particularly.

The apostle begins with an account of the tabernacle, where the chief part of the service under the Mofacial dispensation, or first covenants, was performed. It consisted of two parts:

1. The outward, where stood the candlestick of heaven gold, and the table, with the shew-bread laid thereon, and this was called the sanctuary, where the daily service of God was performed. The whole building was figurative of Christ’s body; the candlestick pointed him out as the true light who should come into the world, where, without him, spiritual darkness must have been for ever spread abroad; and the table of shew-bread pointed him out as the living bread that cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world, upon whom his people, consecrated to be spiritual priests, feed, and maintain the most endeared communion thereby with each other.

2. The inward, which a second vali separated from the outer part of the tabernacle, and was called the holier of all, the figure of heaven itself, into which none entered but the high priest alone once a year, on the great day of expiration, with the golden center full of incense, which typified Christ’s intercession in heaven for

his people; and there stood the art of the covenant one-third round about such gold, which signified him who was to be the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth, whereas were the tables of the law written with the finger of God, and, by the side of it, the golden pet that had mourn, which was miraculously preserved from putrefaction, signifying the daily living bread with which Christ feeds his Ifrad in this bowling wilderness, giving them meat to eat which the world knoweth not of. There also was daren’s red that bedded, from a dry slick producing flowers and fruit, emblematic of him who rose as the red out of the flesh of Jesus, to be by divine appurtenance our high priest for ever. And over the ark were the cherubims of beaten gold, two winged figures, that flammed the many feet, over which the glorious Brakhode dwelt, and on which the blood was tarnished in the great day of atonement, intimating to us that Christ, as our propitiatory, interpelée between the wrath of a holy God and the transgressors of his law, to save us from the eternal ruin which must otherwise necessarily enliven. But into the mystical meaning of these things the apostle waves to enter, of which we cannot now speak particularly. Let us not therefore two curiously pry into them, nor affect to be wise above that which is written.

6 Num. 3.

6. Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God: 7. But into the second term the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.

Hebrews 9:6

7. The tabernacle being prepared, we are told what service was performed in it.

8. In the outer part of the tabernacle the ordinary priests every day officiated, burning incense, trimming the lamps, and accomplishing all the service appointed them.

9. Into the second tabernacle, within the vali, went the high priest alone once a year, on one day only, and then not without blood, which he offered as an atonement for himself and for the errors of the people, intimating hereby that there was no access to God but through the blood of atonement, even the blood of him whom all the sacrifices represented, and whose intercession on the behalf of his people could only be available.

10. The holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the benefit of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9. 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, 10. Which stood only in means, and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances imposed on them until the time of reformation. 11. 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; 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in more into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the nucleus, forcibly to the purifying of the flesh; 14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without post to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Hebrews 9:8-14

The apostle here proceeds to declare the design of the Holy Ghost in these ritual services.

1. He signified hereby, that the sum into the benefit of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: in that dark dispensation, the way of access to a throne of grace, and of admission into heaven itself through the blood and righteousness of the Redeemer, was not so clearly and fully laid open, as it should afterwards be under the gospel.

2. The tabernacle was a figure for the time then present, suited to that more obscure dispensation, and the shadow of good things to come, till he who was the substance of them should appear, and then it would become useless.

3. The gifts and sacrifices there offered could not make the worshippers perfect, but though they were available to the purifying of the flesh, and exculpated them from suffering the temporal pusillaments, due to them as offenders against God considered as their political sovereign, they could not purge the conscience from moral evil, appealed the fears of guilt, or secure from eternal punishment, any farther than they led them to Christ, who was in these sacrifices prefigured, that so they might be justified by faith; for these sacrifices could little avail, standing only in meats, and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, and even which accompanied them, and may be considered as a burden imposed on them until the time of reformation, when Christ

in his gospel should fear his spiritual Ifrad from this heavy yoke.

4. Christ hath appeared and accomplished all that was here prefigured concerning him. But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, on purpose to procure all spiritual and eternal blessings for his people, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, even of his own body, wherein dwelt all the fulness of the godhead, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building, but formed by the Holy Ghost from the substance of a virgin; neither by the blood of goats and calves, which was all the Levitical priests could offer, but by a sacrifice intimately more excellent hath made the atonement, even by offering his own body on the tree, and with his own blood, of everlasting efficacy, he entered in once into the holy place, even into heaven itself, there for ever to abide, and plead the merit of that sacrifice which he had offered, having obtained eternal redemption for us by this one oblation. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the nucleus, forcibly to the purifying of the flesh, and under the Mosaical œconomy readmitted those who were unclean, and excluded from the public worship, to the congregation of the faithful; have much more shall the blood of Christ, the efficacy of which is so infinitely greater, who through the eternal Spirit, which dwelt in his perfectly pure human nature, offered himself without post unto God, a lamb meet to bleed on God’s altar, how shall not this, I say, much more purge your conscience from dead works, from all your sins, however great and aggraved, the wages of which must have been eternal death, and refuse you to serve the living God, in all holy and willing obedience, regarding him now as your reconciled God and Father, through the Son of his love Christ Jesus! Nate. (1.) The redemption which the Saviour hath obtained for his people is eternal, not merely from perfect sin and guilt, but includes the purchase of everlasting glory for them. (2.) The oblation which he never offered effectually accomplished this, and left nothing for them to do, but freely to come and receive the unfeasible riches of his grace. (3.) The excellence and availability of Christ’s sacrifice aside from the dignity of his person; he who offered his human nature upon the cross was very God, and that gave infinite value to the blood which he shed. (4.) Sin must eternally have destroyed all the human race but for this one oblation; nothing else could purge the sinner’s conscience, but this is all-sufficient to save us the uttermost, and cleanest us from all sin. (5.) All whose consciences are purged by the blood of sprinkling, repurpose also the power of changing grace upon their hearts, and are thenceforward both inclined and enabled in righteousness and true holiness to serve the living God.

5. And for this cause he is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressors that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17. For a testament of the same after men are dead; otherwise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth. 18. Whereupon, neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. 19. 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 byding, and sprinkled both the book and all the people. 20. Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. 21. Moreover, he sprinkled likewise with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. 22. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

Hebrews 9:15-22

The covenant of grace is here considered under the nature of a testamentary disposition, we receiving all spiritual blessings, as the legacies left by our dying Lord.

And for this cause he is the Mediator of the New Testament, securing for his people, and bequeathed to them every blessing, that by means of death, whereby the covenant was ratified, and the full atonement made, for the redemption of the transgressors that were under the first testament, the efficacy of his sacrifice reaching back to the beginning, as well as to the end of time, they which are called to faith in him, in whatever age they may have lived, might receive the promise of eternal inheritance, which is inseparably connected with faith in his atoning blood. For, as among men, where a testament or will is made, share must also of necessity be the death of the testator, before the legacies bequeathed can be claimed, or paid; to was it necessary that Christ should die, for a testament is of force only after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all whilst the testator liveth. Whereupon, neither the first testament was dedicated without blood of their health, which typified the death and blood-shedding of the great Redeemer. For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, which had been

sacrificed,