How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purify your (al. our ) conscience from dead works to serve the living God? As in Hebrews 9:11 , Hebrews 9:12 Christ's entrance was contrasted with that of the high priest, so here is the sacrifice itself, in virtue of which he entered, similarly contrasted. The points of contrast to which attention is drawn are these: read more
The Holy Ghost - Who appointed all this. The whole arrangement in the service of the tabernacle is represented as having been under the direction of the Holy Spirit, or this was one of his methods of teaching the great truths of religion, and of keeping them before the minds of people. Sometimes that Spirit taught by direct revelation; sometimes by the written word, and sometimes by symbols. The tabernacle, with its different apartments, utensils, and services, was a permanent means of keeping... read more
Which was a figure for the time then present - That is, as long as the tabernacle stood. The word rendered “figure” - παραβολὴ parabolē - is not the same as type - τύπος tupos - (Romans 5:14; Acts 7:13, Acts 7:44; John 20:25; 1Co 10:6, 1 Corinthians 10:11; Philippians 3:17, et al.) - but is the word commonly rendered “parable;” Matthew 13:3, Matthew 13:10, Matthew 13:13, Matthew 13:18, Matthew 13:24, Matthew 13:31, Matthew 13:33-36, Matthew 13:53; Matthew 15:15, “et soepe,” and means... read more
Which stood only in meats and drinks - The idea is, that the ordinances of the Jews, in connection with the services of religion, consisted much of laws pertaining to what was lawful to eat and drink, etc. A considerable part of those laws related to the distinction between clean and unclean beasts, and to such arrangements as were designed to keep them externally distinct from other nations. It is possible also that there may be a reference here to meat and drink offerings. On the grammatical... read more
But Christ being come - Now that the Messiah has come, a more perfect system is introduced by which the conscience may be made free from guilt.An high priest of good things to come - see Hebrews 10:1. The apostle having described the tabernacle, and shown wherein it was defective in regard to the real wants of sinners, proceeds now to describe the Christian system, and to show how that met the real condition of man, and especially how it was adapted to remove sin from the soul. The phrase “high... read more
Neither by the blood of goats and calves - The Jewish sacrifice consisted of the shedding of the blood of animals. On the great day of the atonement the high priest took with him into the most holy place:(1)The blood of a young bullock Leviticus 16:3, Leviticus 16:11, which is here called the blood of a “calf,” which he offered for his own sin; and,(2)The blood of a goat, as a sin-offering for others; Leviticus 16:9, Leviticus 16:15. It was “by,” or “by means of” - διὰ dia - blood thus... read more
For if the blood of bulls and of goats - Referring still to the great day of atonement, when the offering made was the sacrifice of a bullock and a goat.And the ashes of an heifer - For an account of this, see Numbers 19:2-10. In ver. 9, it is said that the ashes of the heifer, after it was burnt, should be kept “for a water of separation; it is a purification for sin.” That is, the ashes were to be carefully preserved, and being mixed with water were sprinkled on those who were from any cause... read more
How much more shall the blood of Christ - As being infinitely more precious than the blood of an animal could possibly be. If the blood of an animal had any efficacy at all, even in removing ceremonial pollutions, how much more is it reasonable to suppose may be effected by the blood of the Son of God!Who through the eternal Spirit - This expression is very difficult, and has given rise to a great variety of interpretation. - Some mss. instead of “eternal” here, read “holy,” making it refer... read more
Hebrews 9:8-10. The Holy Ghost By whom the Mosaic ritual was prescribed; signifying By this difficulty of entrance, and the necessity of the incense-cloud and the atoning blood; that the way into the holiest of all Namely, into heaven, the place of God’s immediate presence, represented by the inward tabernacle; was not yet made manifest Not so clearly and fully revealed; while the first tabernacle, and its service, was yet standing Retained its station and use: or, in other words,... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 9:13-14
Christ a self-presented offering to purify the consciences of men. I. AN ARGUMENT FROM THE LESS TO THE GREATER . The writer reminds his readers of a kind of cleansing already practiced by them, and believed to be efficacious for its purpose. From their point of view, they had no difficulty in believing that something was really done when defiled people were sprinkled with the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer. Whatever had communicated the defilement was... read more