Three things there were which were the glory of those administra- tions, and which the Hebrews so rested in as that they refused the gospel out of an adherence unto them: 1. The priestly office. 2. The
tabernacle with all its furniture, wherein that office was exercised.
3. The duties and worship of the priests in that tabernacle by sacri- fices; especially those wherein there was a solemn expiation of the sins of the whole congregation. :
In reference unto these, the apostle proves three things: 1. That neither any nor all of them could consummate or make perfect the state of the church, nor yet really effect assured peace and con-
fidence between God and the worshippers. 2. That they were all
typical and figurative, ordained to represent things that were far
-more sublime, glorious, and excellent than themselves, 3. That
indeed the Lord Christ, in his person and mediation, was all those things really and substantially which they did but obumbrate and prefigure ; that he was and did what they could only direct unto an expectation of.
1. These things he declareth and evinceth fully with respect unto the priestly office, in the seventh chapter; in our exposition whereof we have endeavoured to declare the sense and force of his arguings unto that purpose. 2. He doth the same as unto the tabernacle in general, in the eighth chapter, confirming his discourse with that great collateral argument taken from the nature and excellency of
180 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. Ix.
that covenant whereof the Lord Christ was the surety and mediator. Wherefore, 3. There remains only the consideration of the services and sacrifices which belonged unto the priestly office in that taber- nacle. Herein the Hebrews placed their greatest confidence for reconciliation with God; and with respect unto them, boasted of the excellency of their church-state and worship. This the apostle knew to be the great point in difference between him and them, and that whereon the whole doctrine of the justification of sinners before God did depend. This, therefore, was exactly to be discussed, from the nature of the things themselves, and the testimonies of the/Holy Ghost in the Scripture; on which principles alone he deals with these Hebrews. This is that which he now in particular engageth into, handling it at large in this and the next chapter, unto verse 19, where he returns unto his first exhortation, in a use of the truth which he had evinced.
Two things unto this purpose he designs in general: 1. To de- clare the nature, use, and efficacy, of the rites, services, and sacrifices of the law. 2. To manifest the nature, glory, and efficacy of the sacrifice of Christ, whereby those other had an end put unto them, and so were taken away. And in comparing these things together, he wonderfully sets out the wisdom and grace of God in dealing with the church, so as to manifest that all his counsels, from the begin- ning, did aim at and centre in the person and mediation of Christ. And these things are duly to be considered by all who desire to understand the mind of the Holy Ghost in this epistle.
This chapter hath two general parts: 1. A proposition and decla- ration of the fabric of the tabernacle, its furniture, and the services performed therein; from the beginning unto verse 10, 2. A de- claration of the nature of the tabernacle and sacrifice of the Lord Christ, with the end and efficacy thereof; from verse 11 unto the end.
Of the first general, there are four parts: (1.) A proposition of the constitution of the tabernacle of old, with all its utensils and furniture, as it was prepared for the service of the priests, verses 1-5. (2.) The use of that tabernacle and the things in it, in and unto the sacred duties and services of the priests, verses 6, 7. (3.) The judgment of the apostle upon the whole both of the fabric and its use, verse 8. (4) The reasons of that judgment, verses 9, 10.
In the first part there is, [1.] A general proposition of the apheare verse 1. [2.] A particular explanation of it, verses 2-5,
VERSE I. Eiye wev obv nal 4 mpwrn Oimaswmmare Aarpelac rb re hy10y Hoominoy.
Some things must be premised unto the reading of these words. “H xparn, “the first,” doth in the original answer in gender unto all things which the apostle
ee f
VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 181
treats of,—namely, the priesthood, the tabernacle, and the covenant. But many Greek copies do expressly read oxvq, “ the tabernacle.” So is the text expressed in Stephen’s edition, wherein he followed sixteen ancient manuscripts, adhering generally unto the concurrent agreement of the greatest number ; and the word is retained in the most common edition. But there are ancient copies also where itis omitted: and they are attested unto by all ancient translations, as the Syriac and Vulgar Latin; the Arabic supplying “ covenant,” in the room of it. Where- fore Beza left it out, and is followed by the generality of expositors, as he is by our translators. Cameron contends for retaining it. But the reasons for its re- jection are cogent and undeniable; as,—
1. In the last verse of the preceding chapter, whereunto this immediately suc- ceeds, the apostle mentioning the old covenant, calleth it absolutely r4y Tparny, “the first,” without the addition of dsadyxnv; and immediately repeating 4 zparn, —that is, “ that first,’—it is irrational to think that he refers it to another subject.