The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 219

Ver. 7.-Jror if that first covenant had more probable meaning. On the whclo been faultless, then should no plaoe have passage be it observed : I. " Behold, tho beon eought for a oeoond. "For" introduces days co1:71e," liko "in that dny," is a uRual this sontcnce as a reason for what hoe been prophetic phrase for denotin,,. tho n"'0 of the alrcC11.ly sriid; i.e. for o. better covenant having Messiah. 2. The failure of the old cove- been spol<en of. The oxprcssion might be nant is attributed in the first pl~e to tho object.eel to by Hobrew readers as implying people's not continuing in it, an,J then, as a imperfection in the original Divine covenant. consequence, to the Lonn's with,lrawal of "Nay," so.ye tho writer, "it was imperfect, his protection. 'l'he evidence of such with- it was not faultless ; for prophecy itself de- drawal immediately before the prophet's clares this." Should it be further objected view may be supposed to have been the that in the prophecy it is not the old cove- Babylonian captivity. 3. The distingnisbin.,. nant itself tho.t is found fault with, but the characteristics of the new covenant o.re (1) people for not observing it, the answer would God's laws, not imposed as an external code, be that the remedy for their non-observance but put into the mind and written on the being tho substitution of a new one that heart; (:cl) the general knowledge of the would answer its purpose better, some im- LORD by email as well as great, without the perfection in the old one is implied. This former need of continual admonition; and is indeed the very point of this verse. If (3) as the originating and inspiring cause it be asked, further, how faultiness in the of all, the forgiveness on the Lonn's part of old covenant is compatible with the view of past sins. It is important to perceive that its Divine origin, the answer is abundantly this last characteristic of the new covenant, supplied in St. Paul's Epistles. His posi- though coming last in order, is given as the tion constantly is that the Mosaic Law, reason for the other two; for this is a first though in itself "holy, jnst, and true," and principle of the gospel. The sense of for- acleq uate to its purpose, was still imperfect giveness through Christ, of a.cceptance in as a means of ju.stification. It was but a the Beloved, is ever set forth as the inspir- temporary dispensation, with a purpose of ing principle of the obedience of Christians. its own, intervening between the original "We love him, because he first loved us." promise to Abraham and the fulfilment of And hence flow the two results denoted in that promise in Christ. Thus it is no de- the prophecy. (1) "I will put my laws," rogation to itself or to its Author to charge etc. ; i.e. there will ensue, through the in- it with "wee.knees and unprofitableness " spiring Spirit, from the sense of forgive- for a purpose it was never meant to answer. ness in Christ, a hearty service of love and Ver~. 8-12.-Forfinding fault with them loyo.lty; no mere mechanical observance of (i.e. the people), he aaith (or, as some take an external code. Then, (2) "And they it, finding fault, he 1aith to them), Behold, shall not teach," etc.; i.e. those who thus, led the days come, saitli the Lord, that I will by the Spirit, give themselves to such hearty acoomplieli upon the house of Israel and the service, will acquire, further, an i=e,liate, house of J'udah a new covenant : not aooord- o.nd as it were instinctive, "knowledge of ing to the ooven.ant that I made with their the Lord," not confined to " the wise " or fathers in the day when l took them by the "the scribe," but the personal privilege of hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; even the "little ones" of Christ (cf. Matt. because they oontinued not in my covenant, xi. 25, "I thank thee, 0 Father, Lord of and I regarded them not, aaith the Lord. heaven and earth, because thou hast hid For this ia the oovenant that I will make these things from the wise and prudent, and with the house of Israel after those days, hast revealed them unto be.bee;" also John eo.ith the Lord; I will put my laws into vi. 45, " It is written in the prophets, And their mind, and write them in their hearts . they shall be all taught of God;" also l and I will be to them a God, and they shall Thess. iv. 9, " But 11.:1 toucni.ng brotherly be to me a peoplo : and they shall not tee.oh love, ye need not that I write unto you; for every man his neighbour, and every man ye yourselves are taught of God to love hill brother, saying, Know the Lord : for one e.nother;" o.lso 1 John ii. 20, "But nll shall know me, from the least to the ye ho.ve an unction from the Holy One, greatest. For I will be merciful to their and ye know all things"). It is not to bo 11nrighteousness, and their sins and their inferred (us has been) from this last result .niquities will l remember no more. The that a distinct order of ministry is no es- passage is quoted from the LXX., with a sential constituent of the Cllristian Church few verbal differonoee which do not affect for admonition of others. The fact that the men.ning. In vcr. 9 our A.V. renders such a ministry w11s ~tituted from the tho original in Jeremiah "although I was first in all the Churches, and wos in e.ctive an Husband unto them," insteud of "and I operation when apostles wrote as above, is reg11,rded them not (1t4;,w 'l,µe>..-r,ua. ~im;;v)." in itself sufficient disproof of such o. view. The LXX., followed iu tho tcx.t, g1.es the All tb,1t is implied ~ thut all faithful 212 'l'HE EPISTLE 'l'O THE HEDilEWS. [en. vm. 1-13,