Fourthly, This being the state of the law, or first covenant, the apostle makes an application of it unto the question under debate in the last words of the verse: “Can never with those sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, make the comers there- unto perfect.” We must first speak unto the reading of the words, and then unto the sense and meaning.
Expositors generally take notice that in the original there is a trajection in the words, or that they are placed out of their proper order; which translators do rectify: Kar’ émourdy rats Suciais &s mpoogépovow,— Every year” (or “ yearly”) “ with the sacrifices which they offer;” for Tats xur’ émauriy Svofass,— “ With those sacrifices which they offer year by year,” as we have rendered the words. But the apostle seems to place xar’ émaurév in the entrance of the words to signalize the annual sacri- fice, which he principally intended. But there isa great difficulty in the distinction and pointing of the words that follow: es rd diqvexés, “in perpetuum,” “continually,” or “ for ever;”
Kae’ ivavroy.
Els rd dun- vents.
VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 425
that is, say some, which they were so to do indispensably by the law whilst the tabernacle or temple was standing, or those ordinances of worship were in force.
But neither the signification of the word nor the use of it in this epistle will allow it in this place to belong unto the words and sentence going before; for it doth not anywhere signify a duration or continuance with a limitation. And the apostle is far from allowing an absolutely perpetual duration unto the law and its sacrifices, were they of what use soever, especially in this place, where he is proving that they were not perpetual, nor had an effi- cacy to accomplish any thing perfectly; which is the other significa- tion of the word. And it is used only in this epistle, chap. vii. 3, in this place, and verses 12, 14, of this chapter. But in all these places it is applied only unto the office of Christ, and the efficacy of it in his personal ministry. It is of the same signification with ¢/¢ +) wavredés, chap. vil. 25, “ for ever,” “ to the uttermost,” “ perfectly.” Wherefore that which is affirmed of Christ and his sacrifice, verses 12, 14, of the chapter, is here denied of the law. And the words should be joined with those that follow: “The law by its sacrifices could not perfect for ever” (or “unto the utmost”) “the comers thereunto.”
In the words thus read there are three things: 1. The impotency of the law; Ovdérore dévara,—“ It can never.” 2. That with respect whereunto this impotency is charged on it; that is, “the sacrifices which it offered.” 3. The effect itself denied with respect unto that impotency; which is, “to perfect for ever the comers there- unto.”
1. The impotency of the law as unto the end mentioned is em- phatically expressed, Ovdéqore dtivarcu,—“ It can never ie q do it:” “it can do it by no means, no way; it is impos- 07" 4 sible it should.’ And it is thus expressed to obviate all thoughts in the minds of the Hebrews of all expectations of per- fection by the law. or thus they were apt to think and hope, that, by one way and means or another, they might have ac-
-ceptance with God by the law. Wherefore it was necessary thus
to speak unto them who had an inveterate persuasion unto the contrary.
2. That with respect whereunto this impotency is ascribed unto the law is its “sacrifices.” For from them was the perfect expia- tion of sin to be expected, or from nothing prescribed by the law. To deny this power unto them, is to deny it absolutely unto the whole law, and all its institutions. And these sacrifices are ex- pressed with respect unto their nature, the time of their offering, and those by whom they were offered.
(1.) For their nature, he says, Tats airais Suofag: “ Tisdem sacri-
426 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. X.
37 o>
iis ipsis hostiis’ or “sacrificiis,” Our translation ren- dereth not the emphasis of the expression. “ lis hostiis quas quotannis,—“ with the same sacrifices,” or “ those sacrifices which were of the same kind and nature.” Ad- vais 18 omitted in our translation. Taz Svo/ase, is “ with those sacri- fices;” the article being demonstrative. “The same;”—not individu- ally the same, for they were many, and offered often, 01 every year, when a sacrifice was offered again materially the same; but they were of the same kind. They could not by the law offer a sacrifice of one kind one year, and a sacrifice of another the next; but the same sacrifices in their substance and essence, in their matter and manner, were annually repeated, without variation or alteration. — And this the apostle urgeth, to show that there was\no more in any one of them than in another; and what one could not do, could not be done by its repetition, for it was still the same. Great things were effected by these sacrifices: by them was the first covenant consecrated and confirmed; by them was atonement and expiation of sin made,—that is, typically and declaratively; by them were the priests themselves dedicated unto God; by them were the people made holy. Wherefore this impotency being ascribed unto them, it absolutely concludes unto the whole law, with all other privileges and duties of it.