This “ offering of the body of Jesus Christ” is the glorious centre .
VER. 11-14. ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. R-0481
of all the counsels of the wisdom of God, of all the purposes of his will for the sanctification of the church. For, (1.) No other way or means could effect it: (2.) This will do it infallibly; for Christ crucified is the wisdom of God and the power of God unto this end. This is the anchor of our faith, whereon alone it rests.
4, The last thing in the words gives us the manner of the offer ing of the body of Christ. It was done épéra&: “once for all,” say we,—once only; it was never before that one time, nor shall ever be afterwards,—‘“ there remaineth no more sacri- fice for sins.” And this demonstrates both the dignity and efficacy of his sacrifice. Of such worth and dignity it was, that God abso-
"Rodrak,
- lutely acquiesced therein, and smelled a savour of eternal rest in it:
and of such efficacy, that the sanctification of the church was _per- fected by it, so that it needed no repetition. It also made way for the following state of Christ himself, which was to be a state of glory, absolute and perfect, inconsistent with the repetition of the same sacrifice of himself. Tor, as the apostle shows, verses 12, 13, after this sacrifice offered, he had no more to do but to enter into glory. So absurd is that imagination of the Socinians, that he offered his expiatory sacrifice in heaven, that he did not, he could not enter into glory, until he had completely offered his sacrifice, the memorial whereof he carried into the holy place. And the apostle lays great weight on this consideration, as that which is the foundation of the faith of the church. He mentions it often, and argues from it as the principal argument to prove its excellency above the sacrifices ofthe law. And this very foundation is de- stroyed by those who fancy unto themselves a renewed offering of the body of Christ every day in the mass. Nothing can be more directly contrary unto this assertion of the apostle, whatever colour they may put upon their practice, or whatever pretence they may give unto it.
Wherefore the apostle in the next verses argues from the dignity and eflicacy of the sacrifice of Christ, by its difference from and opposition unto the legal sacrifices, which were often repeated,
Verses 11-14. Kai wig put lepeds fornxe nad? jutpav Aerroupyayv, xal ras adrag roA- Adnig mpocpépwv Nvoias, alsives ovdérore dbvavras meprerciy cmapriag: aris 08 wiav dmtp amapridy xpoceviynas Suoiay, cig rd Oimventg Exddsoey ev
— OekiG rod Ocov, +d Aosrdy Exdeydmevos Ews redaow of exdpol adrod browédsoy
ray woday alrou mi yap mpoopopg rerereiwney cig rd Omvents rods ayia- Cojuévoug.*
1 Various Reapmve.—Scholz and Lachmann, and several other critics, prefer
- obros, verse 12. Tischendorf retains adrés in his text.—Ep.
VOL. XXIII. 3l
482 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. X.
Ver. 11-14.—And every priest standeth daily minister- ing, and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
These words are an entrance into the close of that long blessed discourse of the apostle concerning the priesthood and saerifice of Christ, their dignity and efficacy, which he shuts up and finisheth in the following verses, confirming the whole with the testimony of the Holy Ghost before produced by him.
Four things doth he here instruct us in, by way of recapitulation of what he had declared and proved before: 1. The state of the legal priests and sacrifices, as unto the repetition of them; by which he had proved before their utter insufficiency to take away sin, verse 1]. 2. In that one offering of Christ, and that once offered, in opposition thereunto, verse 12. 8. The consequence thereof on the part of Christ; whereof there are two parts: (1.) His state and condition immediately ensuing thereon, verse 12, manifesting the dignity, efficacy, and absolute perfection of his offering; (2.) As unto the continuance of his state and condition afterwards, verse 13. 4, The absolute effect of his sacrifice, which was the sanctification of the church, verse 14. .
In the first of these we have, 1. The note of its introduction, nai, “and.” 2. The subject.of the proposition in it, “ every priest.” 3. What is ascribed unto them in the discharge of their office; which is expressed, (1.) Generally, they “stood ministering day by day;” (2.) Particularly, as unto that part of their office which is now under consideration; “ they often” (that is, every day) “offered the — same sacrifices.” 4.'The inefficacy of those sacrifices, though often offered; “they could not take away sins.” Besides this work of daily offering the same sacrifices, which could not take away sin, there was nothing ensued on them of glory and dignity unto them- selves, or benefit unto the church. This the apostle insinuates, although it be left out in the comparison, insisting especially on the contrary in the opposite sacrifice of Christ, both as unto his own ° glory and the eternal salvation of the church.