James 4

James 4:1

A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. This language implied that the other covenant, the one made at Sinai, is the old covenant. That which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away. This language implies that the old covenant is to pass away. That it has done so is shown in the next chapter.

James 4:3

The Old and New Testament SUMMARY OF HEBREWS 9: The Tabernacle. Its Furniture. The Significance of Its Service. The Greater Tabernacle and Its High Priest. The Two Testaments. When the New Testament Came into Force. The Dedication of the First Testament. This is a Pattern of Heavenly Things. Christ, Our High Priest, Hath Entered the Perfect Tabernacle. Then verily the first [covenant]. The two covenants, the Mosaic and the Christian, have been named in Hebrews 8:6-13. Here they are contrasted. The first, or Mosaic, had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary, or tabernacle of worship, in this world.

James 4:4

For there was a tabernacle made. The tabernacle prepared at Sinai. See Exodus 26:1-37. The first. The first room, or division, called the holy place. Wherein [was] the candlestick. See Exodus 25:31-40. It was made of gold and had seven lamps for burning olive oil. Our space will not allow a discussion of the symbolical meaning of the furniture. And the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. Also in the holy place was a table on which were kept twelve loaves of bread, called shew bread. This table was overlaid with gold. See Leviticus 24:5-9.

James 4:5

After the second veil. The first veil was over the door into the holy place. The second veil separated the holy place from the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all. The Most Holy Place, with the innermost recess, the Holiest Place in the worship of Israel.

James 4:6

Which had the golden censer. The critics are divided whether the Greek word “thumiasterion” rendered “censer” refers to the golden censer or to the altar of incense. Both the Common and Revised Versions have adopted “censer”, which is probably correct. In the golden censer was burned incense in the Most Holy Place, when the High Priest entered it once a year (Leviticus 16:12). The altar of incense stood against the veil of the Most Holy Place. The ark of the covenant. See Exodus 25:10-16. This chest, made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, was the most sacred thing in the tabernacle. Wherein [was] the gold pot that had manna. See Exodus 16:32-34. And Aaron’s rod that budded. See Numbers 17:1-11. And The tables of the covenant. See Deuteronomy 10:1-5. The two stone tables of the law. All these but the tables had been removed before the temple was built (1 Kings 8:9). Many hold that they were by the ark, not in it. See Deuteronomy 31:26 Numbers 17:10. The ark itself disappeared when the temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

James 4:7

And over it the cherubims of glory. Angels. See Genesis 3:24. These symbolic figures, made of gold, hovered over the lid of the ark, called the mercy seat. Cannot now speak particularly. Cannot discuss the significance of each of these objects.

James 4:8

The priests went alway. The present tense “go” is used in the Greek, as in the Revised Version. The temple, which was a copy of the tabernacle, was still standing when the Epistle was written. Into the first tabernacle. Into the holy place. The priests went in every day in the service.

James 4:9

But into the second [went] the high priest alone once every year. Into the second part, the Most Holy Place, none entered but the high priest alone, he only once a year at the feast of the atonement, and then carrying the blood of the atonement, which he offered for his own sins as well as those of the people. See Leviticus 16:11-15 Exodus 30:10-25. The errors of the people. Their sins of ignorance and mistakes. High handed, open defiance of God’s law was not atoned for. See Leviticus 4:2,13,22,27.

James 4:10

The Holy Spirit this signifying. The divine arrangement, which suffered only the high priest to enter into the Holiest of all, signified that the way into the Holy of Holies above was not yet made manifest, or revealed to men. It required the Gospel to open the way. The veil was yet over the mystery of redemption. While as the first tabernacle was yet standing. So long as the first tabernacle or temple worship stood as the divine service, the true and living way opened up through Christ was not made manifest. Even the high priest himself could go to the “mercy seat” only once a year (Hebrews 9:7).

James 4:11

Which [was] a figure. The Jewish rites were not the true and complete divine service, but only figures, types. Both gifts and sacrifices were symbols. Nor could they make the worshiper perfect as pertaining to the conscience. They could not cleanse him from all sin, deliver him from all fear, and make his conscience clear. They were not perfect sacrifices but pointed to the perfect sacrifice. The Jewish sacrifices only removed ceremonial impurities and sins of ignorance.

James 4:12

[Which stood] only . . . carnal ordinances. The Revised Version is much clearer: “[Being] only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances” Divers washings. “Baptisms” in the Greek. Immersions of the whole body were often required in the Jewish service. For examples see Exodus 29:4; Leviticus 16:4 17:15 Numbers 19:7. These washings were all carnal ordinances for ceremonial purification. Carnal ordinances. These rites pertained to the flesh, were outward, did not renew the spirit, and were temporal, imposed until the time of reformation. That is, until the new covenant was ushered in.

James 4:13

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come. The tabernacle service having been described, Christ’s work is now placed in contrast. Through a greater and more perfect tabernacle. The high priest below passed through the first tabernacle to the Holy of Holies; Christ, our high priest, through a greater one, not made with hands, not a material building. What is meant? Various answers have been given, none of which are entirely satisfactory. It seems impossible to limit the meaning to his body, or to the church, or to the world, as some have done. Rather the reference is to the rites of the true and great tabernacle service by which “good things”, heavenly blessings, are secured, in contrast with those of the earthly tabernacle.

The earthly high priest, by complying with its rites, which were only a figure, entered into the Holiest of all; Christ by his sacrifice, the rites of the greater tabernacle service, entered into the true Holiest of all of which the earthly most holy place was only a symbol. It is shown in Hebrews 9:12 that the reference is to the sacrifice by which he entered.

James 4:14

Neither by the blood of goats and calves. The high priest always carried into the Most Holy Place the blood of the atonement. But by his own blood. Christ carried his own blood when he entered in once into the holy place, entered the Holy of Holies above. Having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. By his offering. His ransom was complete, and for all time.

James 4:15

For if the blood of bulls and goats. This was shed for the purification of the people on the day of atonement (Numbers 29:7-11). The ashes of an heifer. See Numbers 19:9. The red heifer was burned, the ashes were put in water, and this water sprinkled on the people for their ceremonial purification.

James 4:16

How much more shall the blood of Christ. If the blood of animals had any efficacy to purify, how much more the blood of Christ? Who through the eternal Spirit. Led by the Divine Spirit. Offered himself without spot to God. He was dragged to the sacrifice like the victims, but laid down his own life to take it up again (John 10:15,17). This he did as God’s Anointed, anointed with the Spirit, acting by its power. Purge your conscience from dead works. Cleanse it from the guilt of works which deserve death. To serve the living God? If the sacrifices of the tabernacle cleansed from ceremonial pollution so that men could engage in its service, will not the blood of Christ cleanse you so that you can join in the acceptable service of the living God?

James 4:17

He is the mediator of the new testament. “Covenant” here rather than “testament”. The Greek word “diatheekee” means both “covenant” and “testament”, but here “mediator” shows that “covenant” is referred to. That by means of death. His own death. For the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament. “The first covenant” (Revised Version). None under the old covenant could have complete redemption except by the death of Christ. Those who served God under it offered sacrifices which were types of Christ’s sacrifices, but they could not be made efficacious without Christ. It is by his death that they who are called, of every dispensation, have the “promise of eternal inheritance”.