Perfection of Christ's atonement. In these verses the writer contrasts the incompleteness of the Mosaic sacrifices with the finality which attaches to the sacrificial work of the Lord Jesus. I. THREE GREAT CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES . These rest respectively upon three facts, viz. the death and the ascension of Christ, which are matters of history; and the second advent, which is still future. 1. Christ died as a Sacrifice for sin. ( Hebrews 9:28 ) His death was a stupendous... read more
Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others ( i.e. blood not his own, ἀλλοτρίῳ ) ; for then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now (probably νυνί , not νῦν , meaning "as it is ") once at the end of the ages hath he appeared (rather, been manifested , πεφανέρωται ) to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Here (as above noted) the idea of ἐφάπαξ in ... read more
And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this judgment: so the Christ also, once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, without sin, to them that look for him, unto salvation. The Divine ordinance concerning mankind in general has its analogy in the truth concerning Christ, who was made like unto us in all things, and who represents humanity. As human life, with all its works, comes to an end in death, and only judgment fellows, so Christ's death... read more
The two deaths, and the two appearings after death. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die," etc. The writer is still treating of the completeness of the sacrifice of our Savior. That sacrifice was offered once for all. Being perfect, it needed no repetition. And now he shows that its repetition was impossible. Notice— I. THE TWO DEATHS . The death of man, and the death of the Christ. They are mentioned together here to bring out the fact that Christ's offering of himself... read more
Nor yet that he should offer himself often - The Jewish high priest entered the most holy place with blood once every year. In this respect the offering made by Christ, and the work which he performed, differed from that of the Jewish high priest. It was not needful that he should enter the holy place but once. Having entered there, he permanently remains there.With the blood of others - That is, with the blood of calves, and goats. This is a second point in which the work of Christ differs... read more
For then must he often have suffered - That is, if his blood had no more efficacy than what the Jewish high priest offered, and which was so often repeated, it would have been necessary that Christ should have often died.But now once - Once for all; once in the sense that it is not to be repeated again - ἅπαξ hapax.In the end of the world - In the last dispensation or economy; that under which the affairs of the world will be wound up; see the phrase fully explained in Hebrews 1:2 note, and... read more
And as it is appointed unto men once to die - Or, “since it is appointed unto men to die once only.” The object of this is to illustrate the fact that Christ died but once for sin, and that is done by showing that the most important events pertaining to man occur but once. Thus, it is with “death.” That does not, and cannot occur many times. It is the great law of our being that people die only once, and hence, the same thing was to be expected to occur in regard to him who made the atonement.... read more
Hebrews 9:24-26. For Christ is, or, hath, not entered With the sacrifice of his crucified body; into the holy places made with hands He never went into the holy of holies of the temple at Jerusalem; the figures of the true tabernacle in heaven; Greek, αντιτυπα , the antitypes. “In the mount Moses had τυπος , the type, or model of the tabernacles, and of the services to be performed in them, showed to him. Hence the tabernacles, with their services, which he formed according to... read more
John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 9:27
Verse 27 27.And as it is appointed, etc. The meaning is this: since we patiently wait after death for the day of judgment, it being the common lot of nature which it is not right to struggle against; why should there be less patience in waiting for the second coming of Christ? For if a long interval of time does not diminish, as to men, the hope of a happy resurrection, how unreasonable would it be to render less honor to Christ? But less would it be, were we to call upon him to undergo a... read more