The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 263

Jehovah was re-established and affirmed. The other offerings of the year were dependent on this, representing the various spiritual privileges of those who are at peace with the Most High. On that day, not only was atonement made for the people, but also for the priesthood, and the altar on which the other sacrifices were offered, and the taber- nacl~ and its furniture, implying that the privileges these represented were only possible through the atonement made then. Had there been no Day of Atonement it would have involved the extinction of their peculiar privileges as the chosen people, That day was to Israel what to the believer that day is when in faith he first lays hie sins on Christ, and enters the number of the redeemed. Subject-The Day of .Atonement fulfilled, and its imperfect blessings perfected in Christ. 1. THE IMPERFECTION OF THE OLD 'l'ESTAMENT TYPE. (Vers. 6-10.) It is here said that the Divine Spirit was the Author of these arrangements, that they were a representalion of sacred truth, and that in every part of them we have the utterance of a thought of God-so much so that there is, probably, no fundamental doctrine of the New Testament whose striking symbol we cannot find in one or other of these ancient ordinances. Describe the Day of Atonement-the penitence which was to usher it in ; the services conducted entirely by the high priest ; the two sets of sacrifices, the sin and burnt offerings for himself and his house, and those for the people; the slaying the sin offering for himself, and his entrance within the veil with the blood of sprinkling; the slaying the sin offering for the people, and his second entrance within the veil, sprinkling also the furniture of the holy place as he passed out ; the confession of sins over the head of the scapegoat and its being sent away into the wilderness; the putting on of his gorgeous robes and presenting the burnt offerings (dedication after expiation); the closing of the ceremony with the high priestly benediction. Now, what was the use of all this ? 1. It was perfect as a type. It is not possible to imagine a more perfect para.lie! than exists between this and New Testament truth. On the sinner's side, repentance, faith, holiness; on the Saviour's side, the substitutionary offering of himself, the passing into the Father's presence to plead his sacrifice, and then "as far as the east is from the west, so far," etc. 2. lt was perfect as a means of legal and ceremonial cleansing. God has in all ages but one means of atonement. 'l'he nation was not a nation of saved persons after the Day of Atonement ; the fact that this was repeated annually showed that " it was not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin." This day" sanctified unto the purifying of the flesh" (ver. 13)-" flesh" as opposed to spirit; it removed legal and ctremonial defilement, and retained the nation in its legal standing with Jehovah. 3. But it was imperfect for giving access to God. "The Holy Ghost this," etc. Conscience knows thnt no formalism, no human works, can atone for sin and admit to the Divine favour; that when the Day of Atonement has done its best, the spirit of man is left as far from Jehovah as it was before; that the true veil remained unrent. IL THE PERFECTION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TYPE. Vera. 11, 12, and 14 display the wonderful perfection of our Lord's sacrifice. 1. His Divine appointment. The various titles of the Saviour are not used at random. Here he is called Christ, the Anointed On&-he who was promised by God, and for whom the ages have been looking. The subatitution of another in our stead depends for its efficacy on whether God will accept him in that capacity. But God "gave his Son;" God" made him to be a Sin Offering for us;" God "bath set him forth to be a Propitiation." "My son, God will provide himself a lamb;" twenty centuries later, "Behold the Lamb of God I" 2. His Divine ,w,ture. "Christ, who through the eternal Spirit," etc. Does this refer to the Holy Ghost? We think not. That name is given to him nowhere else, and it is not easy to see the bearing of tha~ idea on the argument. We take it as referring to the eternal nature of Christ, as opposed to his fleshly nature. "Made of the seed of David accord- ing to the flesh, but declared to be the Son of God according," etc. ; "A Priest, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." According to the flesh, he is Son of man ; according to hie eternal spirit, he is Son of God. The efficacy of his sacrifice was due to the eternal spirit of Godhead, the most extraordinary feature in his person. He who poured out his soul unto death at the world's great altar for man's sin was God himself, making the atonement his righteous- ness required. Hence the infinite efficacy of that atonement. 3. His Divine sinlu1- ne11s, " Without spot." He cao. bear our sins because he had none of hi11 ow11,, OH, IL 1-28.] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 255