officiated, was his own body, while he continued upon earth ; and the heaven of heavens, when he ascended within the vail''. How infinitely does this exalt him above all the Aaronic priests! We allow that the tabernacle was glorious : but what glory had it, when compared with Christ's immaculate body, in which, not a mere symbol only of the Divine presence dwelt, but all the fulness of the Godhead ? And what was the holy of holies in comparison of heaven itself, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God? Surely in whichever light we view the tabernacle in which Christ officiated, we must acknowledge it to have been far " greater and more perfect than that which was made with hands."]
2. He offered a far more valuable sacrifice —
[The high-priests could offer nothing but the blood of beasts, which had not in itself the smallest efficacy towards the expiation of sin : the virtue, which it had, was wholly derived from its typical relation to the great Sacrifice. But " Christ is entered into the holy place with his own blood ;" and there presents it before God as a propitiation for our sins. Compare the sacrifices then, the blood of goats and of calves, with the blood of our incarnate God : who does not see the worthless- ness of the one, and the infinite value of the other ? No wonder that the former needed to be " offered year by year continually," since they had no power to take away sin, or to pacify an accusing conscience': but the latter fully satisfies for the sins of the whole world, and, having been once offered, perfects for ever them that are sanctified by it™.]
3. He obtained far richer benefits for his people —
[The utmost that the high-priest obtained for the people was, a remission of those civil or political penalties which were annexed to their several transgressions : with respect to real pardon before God, the annual repetition of their sacrifices sufficiently manifested, that that was beyond the sphere of their influence". But Christ has obtained for us redemption from all the bitter consequences of sin ; as well from the sufferings, which we should have endured in the future world, as from the bondage, to which we should have remained sub- ject in this present life. Nor are the effects of his sacrifice transient, like those under the law: it excels no less in the duration than in the greatness of the benefits it procures ; it obtains for us, not redemption only, but " eternal redemption."
^ Heb. viii, 2. The "tabernacle" seems primarily to refer to his body. Compare John i. 14. 'EcrKiiywaev, with Col. ii. 9. But it may also relate to heaven, since it certainly was a figure of that also, ver. 24.
1 ver. 9. "> 1 John ii. 2. Heb. x. 14. « Heb. x. 1,4, 11.