Oz».
500 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. x:
(1.) It would insensibly weaken their faith in Christ, and give them a disregard of evangelical worship; which did indeed prove unto many of them a cause of that apostasy and final destruction which he so frequently warns them against.
(2.) Whereas God had determined now speedily to put an utter end unto the city, temple, and all its worship, by a universal de- solation, for the sins of the people, if they did obstinately adhere unto the observance of that worship, it was justly to be feared that they would perish in that destruction that was approaching; which probably many of them did. To instruct them in that light and knowledge of the truth that might deliver them from these evils,
was the first design of the apostle in the doctrinal part of this epistle: |
yet doth he not plainly and in terms express it anywhere in this epistle, not even in this place, where it was most properly and natu- rally to be introduced; yet he doth that which evidently includes it, namely, exhort them unto those duties which, on the principles he hath declared, are utterly inconsistent with Mosaical worship,—and this is, our free entrance into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. For an entrance, in any sense, with our worship into the most holy place, is inconsistent with, and destructive of all Mosaical institutions. And this was an effect of the singular wisdom wherewith the apostle was furnished to write this epistle. For had he directly and in terms opposed their observation, no small tumult and outery would have been made against it, and great provocation had been given unto the unbelieving Jews. But, notwithstanding, he doth the same thing no less effectually in these words, wherein there is-scarce a word which that application of his discourse doth not follow upon. And his wisdom herein ought to be an instructive example unto all those that are called unto the instruction of others in the dispensa- tion of the gospel, especially such as through any mistakes do oppose themselves unto the truth. Such things as will give exasperation unto the spirits, or advantage unto the temptations of men, ought to be avoided, or treated on with that wisdom, gentleness, and meekness, as may be no prejudice unto: them. This way of pro- cedure doth the same apostle expressly prescribe unto all ministers of the gospel, 2 Tim. 11. 23-26. 8. There is in the words the privilege which is the foundation of WT eerik Es the duty exhorted unto: “ Having therefore boldness repinciay es to enter into the holiest,”’—for a regular entrance into i ii 7 or of the most holy. The privilege intended is directly : opposed unto the state of things under the law; and — from the consideration of it is the nature of it to be learned. For the entrance into the holiest, in the tabernacle, belonged unto the worship of the church, it was the principal part thereof; but it had
a |
many imperfections attending it: (1.) It was not into the special
VER. 19-23. | EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 501
presence of God, but only into a place made with hands, filled with some representations of things that could not be seen. (2.) None might ever enter into it but the Acgh priest alone, and that only once a-year. (3.) The body of the people, the whole congregation, were therefore jointly and severally utterly excluded from any entrance into it. (4) The prohibition of entrance into this holy place belonged unto that bondage wherein they were kept under the law, which hath been before declared. The privilege here men- tioned being opposed to this state of things among them, which respected their present worship, it is certain that it doth concern the present worship of God by Christ under the gospel. And they are therefore utterly mistaken who suppose the entrance into the most holy to be an entrance into heaven after this life for all be- lievers; for the apostle doth not here oppose the glorious state of heaven unto the church of the Hebrews and their legal services, but the privileges of the gospel-state and worship only. Nor would it have been to his purpose so to have done; for the Hebrews might have said, that although the glory of heaven after this life doth exceed the glories of the services of the tabernacle, which none ever ques- tioned, yet the benefit, use, and efficacy of their present ordinances and worship might be more excellent than any thing that they could obtain by the gospel. Neither were believers then also excluded from heaven after death, any more than now. Therefore the pri- vilege mentioned is that which belongs unto the gospel church in its perfect state in this world. And the exercise and use of it doth consist in our drawing nigh unto God in holy services and worship through Christ, as the apostle declares, verse 22.
There is, then, a twofold opposition in these words unto the state of the people under the law: (1.) As unto the spirit and frame of mind in the worshippers; and, (2.) As unto the place of the wor- ship, from whence they were excluded, and whereunto we are ad- mitted.
(1.) The first is in the word raffnofav, “boldness.” There were two things with respect unto those worshippers in this