VER. 6, 7.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 229
was so far from it, that any person entered with him into the most holy place, that no one was allowed to be in the other part of the sanctuary, where he might so much as see the veil opened, or look in after him whilst he performed his service, verse 17. As all the people were kept out of the sanctuary and waited at the door whilst the priests entered daily into it; so all the priests were kept without the sanctuary whilst the high priest entered into the most holy place. Hence there was one always provided, who was next in succession unto that office, to perform this office in case of sickness or occasional pollutions of him who was actually high priest. And he was called “ the second priest,” 2 Kings xxv. 18. From whence, in times of disorder and confusion, they had afterwards two high priests at once, John xviii. 13, 24. Thus sacredly was the presence of God in the holy place made inaccessible, not only to all the people, but even unto all the priests themselves.
Some say that indeed the high priest went alone into the most holy place once a-year only, but with other priests and on other occasions he might enter oftener. But this is weak beneath consideration; for the express institution was, that he should go alone, and go but once. And this was that great truth which in this ordinance God stated unto the church, namely, that there is no entrance into the gracious presence of God but by the high priest. That the true high priest should take along all believers with him, and give them admission with boldness unto the throne of grace, was, as the apostle declares in the next verse, not as yet made known.
2. The way whereby he engaged into this service was, that he _ went into this holy place. This, as we observed before, is not here expressed, but is necessarily traduced from the foregoing verse. And it is his entrance through the veil that is intended; which also was a part of his service. For it was a type both of the entrance of Christ ito heaven, and of our entrance by him unto the throne of grace, verse 24, chap. x.19, 20. This was that veil which in the temple was rent from the top to the bottom upon the death of our Saviour, Matt. xxvii. 51. For hereby the way was laid open into the holy ' place, and the gracious presence of God discovered unto all that come unto him by Christ.
3. The time of this service is expressed, that it was only “once every year.” The first order unto this purpose was a prohibition or negative precept, that the high priest “should not come at all times into the holy place,” Ley. xvi. 2; that is, not every day, as he did into the sanctuary,— not at any time of his own choice. He might not choose, he might not appoint a time for the service of this holy place, whatever occa- sion he apprehended of it or necessity for it. Times of sacred wor- ship are the Lord’s, no less than the things of it. Our own stated
’ Fs Arak rou tviaurou.
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230 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. IX.
times are no less disapproved by him than any other parts of sacred worship of our own finding out, 1 Kings xi. 32, 33. And as this time of the entrance of the high priest into the most holy place was limited unto “once every year,” which our apostle observes; so the “precise day of the year was determined by the law. It was fixed unto “the tenth day of the seventh month,” or Tisri; which, reckoning from Nisan, the beginning of their ecclesiastical year, answers unto our September. This was the great day of atonement, which with the fast of it ensued thereon, Lev. xvi. 29,
But whereas it is said that he entered “once every year,” the meaning is, that upon one day in the year only he did so, and had liberty so to do: for it is evident that on that day he went twice into it; yea, it is most probable that he did so four tumes. He had three offerings or sacrifices to offer on the day of éxpiation. The first was of a bullock and a ram, for himself and his household, Lev. xvi. 3. This the apostle notes distinctly, “which he offered for himself.” Secondly, a goat, for a sin-offering, which he offered for the people, for “the errors of the people,” verse 9. Thirdly, the service of the scape-goat, which also had the nature of a sacrifice, verse 10. Of the first two, whose blood was offered on the altar, it is said dis- tinctly that he carried of the blood into the most holy place. He did so, first that of the bullock and the ram, before he offered the goat for the sins of the people. He killed not the goat until he came out of the holy place, after he had carried in the blood of the sacrifice for himself, verses 11-14. After this he carried in the blood of the goat that was offered for the sins of the people, verse 15. So that of necessity he must enter twice distinctly on that one day into the most holy place.