Heb 9:6-10 | JFB | STEP | 6. The use made of the sanctuary so furnished by the high priest on the anniversary of atonement. ordained —arranged. always —twice at the least every day, for the morning and evening care of the lamps, and offering of incense ( ). went

Hebrews 9:6-10

6. The use made of the sanctuary so furnished by the high priest on the anniversary of atonement.

ordained—arranged.

always—twice at the least every day, for the morning and evening care of the lamps, and offering of incense (Ex 30:7, 8).

went—Greek, "enter": present tense.

7. once every year—the tenth day of the seventh month. He entered within the veil on that day twice at least. Thus "once" means here on the one occasion only. The two, or possibly more, entrances on that one day were regarded as parts of the one whole.

not without blood— (Heb 8:3).

offered—Greek, "offers."

errors—Greek, "ignorances": "inadvertent errors." They might have known, as the law was clearly promulged, and they were bound to study it; so that their ignorance was culpable (compare Ac 3:17; Eph 4:18; 1Pe 1:14). Though one's ignorance may mitigate one's punishment (Lu 12:48), it does not wholly exempt from punishment.

8. The Holy Ghost—Moses himself did not comprehend the typical meaning (1Pe 1:11, 12).

signifying—by the typical exclusion of all from the holiest, save the high priest once a year.

the holiest of all—heaven, the antitype.

the first tabernacle—the anterior tabernacle, representative of the whole Levitical system. While it (the first tabernacle, and that which represents the Levitical system) as yet "has a standing" (so the Greek, that is, "has continuance": "lasts"), the way to heaven (the antitypical "holiest place") is not yet made manifest (compare Heb 10:19, 20). The Old Testament economy is represented by the holy place, the New Testament economy by the Holy of Holies. Redemption, by Christ, has opened the Holy of Holies (access to heaven by faith now, Heb 4:16; 7:19, 25; 10:19, 22; by sight hereafter, Isa 33:24; Re 11:19; 21:2, 3) to all mankind. The Greek for "not yet" (me po) refers to the mind of the Spirit: the Spirit intimating that men should not think the way was yet opened [TITTMANN]. The Greek negative, "ou po," would deny the fact objectively; "me po" denies the thing subjectively.

9. Which—"The which," namely, anterior tabernacle: "as being that which was" [ALFORD].

figure—Greek, "parable": a parabolic setting forth of the character of the Old Testament.

for—"in reference to the existing time." The time of the temple-worship really belonged to the Old Testament, but continued still in Paul's time and that of his Hebrew readers. "The time of reformation" (Heb 9:10) stands in contrast to this, "the existing time"; though, in reality, "the time of reformation," the New Testament time, was now present and existing. So "the age to come," is the phrase applied to the Gospel, because it was present only to believers, and its fulness even to them is still to come. Compare Heb 9:11, "good things to come."

in which—tabernacle, not time, according to the reading of the oldest manuscripts. Or translate, "according to which" parabolic representation, or figure.

were—Greek, "are."

gifts—unbloody oblations.

could not—Greek, "cannot": are not able.

him that did the service—any worshipper. The Greek is "latreuein," serve God, which is all men's duty; not "leitourgein," to serve in a ministerial office.

make . . . perfect—perfectly remove the sense of guilt, and sanctify inwardly through love.

as pertaining to the conscience—"in respect to the (moral-religious) consciousness." They can only reach as far as the outward flesh (compare "carnal ordinances," Heb 9:10, 13, 14).

10. Which —sacrifices.

stood —consisted in [ALFORD]; or, "have attached to them" only things which appertain to the use of foods, &c. The rites of meats, &c., go side by side with the sacrifices [THOLUCK and WAHL]; compare Col 2:16.

drinks— (Le 10:9; 11:4). Usage subsequently to the law added many observances as to meats and drinks.

washings— (Ex 29:4).

and carnal ordinances—One oldest manuscript, Syriac and Coptic, omit "and." "Carnal ordinances" stand in apposition to "sacrifices" (Heb 9:9). Carnal (outward, affecting only the flesh) is opposed to spiritual. Contrast "flesh" with "conscience" (Heb 9:13, 14).

imposed—as a burden (Ac 15:10, 28) continually pressing heavy.

until the time of reformation—Greek, "the season of rectification," when the reality should supersede the type (Heb 8:8-12). Compare "better," Heb 9:23.