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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 8:2

Verse 2 2.Of the sanctuary, or, literally, of holy things, etc. The word is to be taken, as being in the neuter gender; and the Apostle explains himself by saying, of the true tabernacle. (128) But it may be asked, whether the tabernacle built by Moses was a false one, and presumptuously constructed, for there is an implied contrast in the words? To this I answer, that to us mentioned here is not set in opposition to what is false, but only to what is typical; as we find in John 1:17, “The law... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 8:3

Verse 3 3.For every high priest, etc. The Apostle intends to show, that Christ’s priesthood cannot coexist with the Levitical priesthood. He proves it in this way, — “The Law appointed priests to offer sacrifices to God; it hence appears that the priesthood is an empty name without a sacrifice. But Christ had no sacrifice, such as was offered under the Law; it hence follows, that his priesthood is not earthly or carnal, but one of a more excellent character.” Let us now examine every clause.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 8:4

Verse 4 4.For if he were on earth, etc. It is now beyond dispute that Christ is a high priest; but as the office of a judge does not exist without laws and statutes, so the office of sacrificing must be connected with Christ as a priest: yet he has no earthly or visible sacrifice; he cannot then be a priest on earth. We must always hold this truth that when the Apostle speaks of the death of Christ, he regards not the external action, but the spiritual benefit. He suffered death as men do, but... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 8:5

Verse 5 5.Who serve unto the example, etc. The verb λατρεύειν to serve, I take here to mean the performing of sacred rites; and so ἐν or ἐπὶ is to be understood. This is certainly more appropriate than the rendering given by some, “Who serve the shadow and example of heavenly things; and the construction in Greek will admit naturally of the meaning I have proposed. In short, he teaches us that the true worship of God consists not in the ceremonies of the Law, and that hence the Levitical... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:1-5

Heaven the place where this great High Priest ministers. Does the writer mean, "This is the summing up," or "This is the chief point"? We accept the latter, and that we have here no recapitulation, but an advance, the point to which he has been coming from the first. Christ, High Priest; Christ, High Priest greater than Aaron. So far we have come. Subject—Heaven the place where this great High Priest ministers. From this comes the truth to which he has been looking from the beginning,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:1-5

Here we have The substance of the argument, and illustrations hitherto adduced. It was the aim of the writer to show from prophecy, and the nature of the priesthood, and sacrifices of the Mosaic Law, the unrivalled and peculiar glory of Jesus Christ, and in these few verses the truths of the preceding arguments are recapitulated. It hints at the desirableness of reviewing the course of exposition, and the advantage, well known to all teachers, of the value and necessity of repeating... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:1-6

The chief point. This passage does not present a recapitulation of the topics already considered; it emphasizes, as the crowning topic in connection with our Lord's priesthood, the fact that he has been "made higher than the heavens." I. THE HEAVENLY MAJESTY OF OUR HIGH PRIEST . ( Hebrews 8:1 ) He dwells now in heaven, his native home. He occupies there the loftiest place; for he shares the sore-reign authority and the universal dominion of the absolute God. Aaron... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:2

A minister of the sanctuary ( τῶν ἁγίων , neuter, as in Hebrews 9:12 , equivalent to "the holy places;" cf. Hebrews 9:8 ; Hebrews 10:19 ), and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. The sphere of Christ's priestly ministration ( λειτουργὸς λειτουργεῖν , λειτουργία , being the recognized words in the LXX . and Josephus for denoting sacerdotal functions,—hence Liturgy ) is thus in the first place pointed to as being a heavenly one,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:3

The high priest—for what appointed. I. THE STATEMENT AS TO HIGH PRIESTLY FUNCTION IN GENERAL . All high priests, whether they be Aaronic priests or Jesus himself, are appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. Thus the classification is made of offerings for God. There are gifts, the expressions of thankfulness and devotion, which may be offered, which ought to be offered, but which can only have value as they come spontaneously and of free-will. To give them only in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 8:3-4

For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this one also have somewhat to offer. For (rather, nay ; the reading μὲν οὗν being better supported than the Textus Receptus μὲν γὰρ ) if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, seeing there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law. These verses are in proof of the assertion of Hebrews 8:2 , viz. that Christ has his ministry in the heavenly tabernacle.... read more

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