The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 265

joy and felicity or heaven. 6. Then follows the acceptablene!s of prayer, which I~ denoted by the golden oenser; 11.nd the odours represent the prayers of the se.ints. Prayers e.re pleasant to God from the sense of onr need, 11.nd therefore humility or soul; our (11.ith in his interest in us, 11.nd our desire to glorify hie Name. The angel said to Cornelius, '' Thy prayers 11.nd thine alms are come up for 11. memorial before God." 7. And, lastly, this furniture signifies mercy and adoration. There was the mercy-seat, under which, in the most sacred place, was the Divine Law. Between the Law and God came the cover of the ark, which was sprinkled with sacrificial blood, and through faith in the arrangement sins were forgiven. This is realized in the Redeemer, who is our Propitiat.ion; through whom we have redemption, even the forgiveness of sins. Then the cherubim overshadowed the mercy-seat; for the angels desire to look into these things, and bow with reverence and love in the presence of God. The object of all revelation, all sacrifice, all the work of the Son of God, 11.nd all the sacred power of the Spirit, is to prepare believers by the experiences of earth for the adoration of heaven.-B. Vers. 6-10.-Symbolism of ths sacrificea. The writer declares that the past dis- pensation of the Law was a parable or figure. 'l'he whole of this Epistle turns upon the interpretation of this parable. Our Lord employed many parables to set forth the nature of bis kingdom. He presented many aspects and features and processes of the gospel; and the meaning or these things be explained to the humble and docile spirit of his disciples. In the condition of the Jews under the Law, there was the exclusion of the people from the first tabernacle, and the exclusion of the priests from the second, or holy of holies. The high priest, once a year, entered with awe into the presence of God. There were constant repetitions of the same service which could not take away sin. 'l'here was much that w_as external and ceremonial, and had respect to washings-purification from the defilement that arose from touching certain objects-and there was a sha,rp division with reference to meats and drinks. All these thiugs were parables, and when the times of reformation came, their object was seen, because a parable must be lifted to the higher region of the truth which it is designed to illustrate. It must be inferior to the object. Here was a sinful priest who offered his errors, and therefore we need one who was sinless and Divine. The repetition of the sacrifice suggests the need of One who by one offering should take away sin. It suggested the need of greater light, for there was a veil which hid the interior of the holy of holies. This veil was rent at the death of Christ, and heaven is now open to faith and worship. "The smoke of thine atonement here Darkened the sun and rent the veil, Made the new way to heaven appear, And showed the great Invisible: Well pleased in thee, our God looks down, And calls his rebela to a crown." It leads 1111 to consider the removal of all exclusiveness; aod while formerly priest and high priest alone could minister in the tabernacle, all believers are now kings and priests unto God. It teaches us how n~ful was_ a_ spi:itual system to displace that which had to do with the outward washing and d1St1nct1ons of food; and to make us know that the kingdom of God is not in meats and drinks, but in "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."-B. Vers.11 12.-(Jhruf, eternal priesthood. Over against the imperfection and material character ~f the laws of Moses which concerned meats, drinks, and divera washings, there is here introduced the exalted nature and efficiency of the Redeemer's priesthood. L 'l'his appears IN THE FU~RE AND ENDURING EFFECTS O~ _ms B~OBIFICE. All bis office relates chiefly to eternity, whereas the work of the Lev1tical priesthood had to do with annual atonement, purity of person, and temporal blessings. Our Lord directs our thoughts and hopes to the immeasurable future in which are to be found spiritual life holy peace, perfection of worship, and the everlasting presence of God. These bl~ings will always be good things to c~me; for with God is the Fountam of lif11, audio his light shall believers always see light, CH, IX, 1-28,) THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 257