The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 231

thnt I\ nation shouhl he singled out, and prepared to receive the Messiah and his gospel-a nation t.lirongh which the truth shonlr\ snread world-wide. Hence the covenant with hrnel-a covenant of Law ; wonderful blessings promised on obedience. 'l'his tended to humiliation, was constantly broken and renewed, an,! thus carried t,1 the heart of the people the sinfulness of sin, man's inability to deliver himself, and his need of redemption through another. When that was accomplished it was no morn needed, and was abolished, and only the original covenant remained. II, '!'HE PERFECTION OF 'l'HE NEW COVENANT IS SEEN IN ITS CONTRAST TO THls OLD. The prophecy of Jeremiah quoted here contains three particulars of such " contrast. 1. A conscience pacified by perfect forgiileness. The twelfth verse becrins with "for," and contains the ground of the preceding. Forgiveness first. In the Jewish economy the expiation of sin was imperfect and temporary, and quite unfit tc, perfect the conscience of the worshipper. The sacrifices provided a kind of legal pardon by which the nation was kept in special relation to Jehovah, but they could not put away moral guilt; "it was not possible that the blood," etc. But the new covenant n1ade ample provision for all that was needed-a forgiveness free(" merciful"), compre- hensive (" iniquities and sins"), irreversible (" remember no more"), a forgiveness that meant the annihilation of the record from the very memory of Heaven. 2. A mind enlightened by direct communion with God. "I will be to them," etc. The Jewi8h ritual made the people dependent on the priests for their knowledge of Jehovah; they might not enter the tabernacle, nor approach the symbol of the Divine presence; for the mass of Israel clouds and darkness were round about God. But through the new covenant we all have "access by one Spirit unto the Father." 3. A heart willingly consecrated to the Divine sel'vice. "My laws in their mind and heart." Even unuer Judaism some were able t-0 say," Oh how I love thy Law!" but it was not so with the average Jew. 'l'o him the Law was irksome and restraining. Ile might conform to it outwardly, but it was by the compulsion of fear, or a slavish sense of duty; his obedience did not carry his heart with it. But under the new covenant there is a new nature in harmony with the Divine will, a disposition inclining us to obedience. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" Ill. BY THE INTROD"C'0TION OF A NEW AND PERFECT COVE..."IANT, THE OLD IS DIS- ANNULLED, "In that he r.aith, A new," etc. The practical lesson for to-day in this is -You are living under the new covenant; see to it that you possess its blessings. 1. Remember the high character of these blessings covenanted to us, Doubtful, shadowy, partial forgiveness; the intervention of the priest for personal knowledge of God; right- doing not so much from willingness as fear ;-that was the old covenant. Are not many Christians rather living under this than under the new? 2. Remember the universal possibility of these blessings. The old covenant was restrictive, national, hereditary, and belonged to Abraham's seed only. But under the new covenant exclusiveness has vanished. God is in covenant with the race. His promises are to "every creature." 'l'he rainbow of this covenant spans the world. 3. Remember tlie eertain permanenca of these blessings secured by the mediation of Christ. As Aaron was the mediator of the old, Christ is of the new covenant; that is, its blessings are bestowed through him. We can only receive them from his pierced hands, and as the result of his priestly work. But he is ever presenting his pleading blood before the throne on hie people's behalf, therefore they shall continue for ever. Christ's continuance is the pledge of their continuance; "an everlasting covenant, ordered in," etc.-C. N. Vera. 1-5.-Here we he.ve the substance of the argument, ana -illustrations hitherto adduced. It we.s the aim of the writer to ahow from prophecy, and the nature of the priesthood, e.nd sacrifices of the Mosaic Law, the unrivalled and peculiar glory ?i Jesus Christ, and in these few verses the truths of the preceding arguments are recapitulated. It hints at the desirableness of reviewing the course of exposition, aild the advantage, well known to all teachers, of the value and necessity of repeating important truths, the.t the things which he.ve been uttered may not be misunderstood or forgotten. Iu this summary we hnve- 1. THE EXCLUSIVE GLORY OF CHRIST IN HIS ENTHRONEMENT. He is aeated " as a Priest upon his throne." which declares a decisive contrast to the brief and :i.nxioud  222 THE EPISTLE TO TIIE HEBHE,VS. [011, VIU, 1-13,