Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Hebrews Ch.9 / 13 Ch.s
HEB:9
* The Jewish tabernacle and its utensils. (1-5) Their use and
meaning. (6-10) These fulfilled in Christ. (11-22) The
necessity, superior dignity, and power of his priesthood and
sacrifice. (23-28)
#1-5 The apostle shows to the Hebrews the typical reference of
their ceremonies to Christ. The tabernacle was a movable temple,
shadowing forth the unsettled state of the church upon earth,
and the human nature of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom the
fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. The typical meaning of
these things has been shown in former remarks, and the
ordinances and articles of the Mosaic covenant point out Christ
as our Light, and as the Bread of life to our souls; and remind
us of his Divine Person, his holy priesthood, perfect
righteousness, and all-prevailing intercession. Thus was the
Lord Jesus Christ, all and in all, from the beginning. And as
interpreted by the gospel, these things are a glorious
representation of the wisdom of God, and confirm faith in Him
who was prefigured by them.
#6-10 The apostle goes on to speak of the Old Testament
services. Christ, having undertaken to be our High Priest, could
not enter into heaven till he had shed his blood for us; and
none of us can enter, either into God's gracious presence here,
or his glorious presence hereafter, but by the blood of Jesus.
Sins are errors, great errors, both in judgment and practice;
and who can understand all his errors? They leave guilt upon the
conscience, not to be washed away but by the blood of Christ. We
must plead this blood on earth, while he is pleading it for us
in heaven. A few believers, under the Divine teaching, saw
something of the way of access to God, of communion with him,
and of admission into heaven through the promised Redeemer, but
the Israelites in general looked no further than the outward
forms. These could not take away the defilement or dominion of
sin. They could neither discharge the debts, nor resolve the
doubts, of him who did the service. Gospel times are, and should
be, times of reformation, of clearer light as to all things
needful to be known, and of greater love, causing us to bear
ill-will to none, but good-will to all. We have greater freedom,
both of spirit and speech, in the gospel, and greater
obligations to a more holy living.
#11-14 All good things past, present, and to come, were and are
founded upon the priestly office of Christ, and come to us from
thence. Our High Priest entered into heaven once for all, and
has obtained eternal redemption. The Holy Ghost further
signified and showed that the Old Testament sacrifices only
freed the outward man from ceremonial uncleanness, and fitted
him for some outward privileges. What gave such power to the
blood of Christ? It was Christ's offering himself without any
sinful stain in his nature or life. This cleanses the most
guilty conscience from dead, or deadly, works to serve the
living God; from sinful works, such as pollute the soul, as dead
bodies did the persons of the Jews who touched them; while the
grace that seals pardon, new-creates the polluted soul. Nothing
more destroys the faith of the gospel, than by any means to
weaken the direct power of the blood of Christ. The depth of the
mystery of the sacrifice of Christ, we cannot dive into, the
height we cannot comprehend. We cannot search out the greatness
of it, or the wisdom, the love, the grace that is in it. But in
considering the sacrifice of Christ, faith finds life, food, and
refreshment.
#15-22 The solemn transactions between God and man, are
sometimes called a covenant, here a testament, which is a
willing deed of a person, bestowing legacies on such persons as
are described, and it only takes effect upon his death. Thus
Christ died, not only to obtain the blessings of salvation for
us, but to give power to the disposal of them. All, by sin, were
become guilty before God, had forfeited every thing that is
good; but God, willing to show the greatness of his mercy,
proclaimed a covenant of grace. Nothing could be clean to a
sinner, not even his religious duties; except as his guilt was
done away by the death of a sacrifice, of value sufficient for
that end, and unless he continually depended upon it. May we
ascribe all real good works to the same all-procuring cause, and
offer our spiritual sacrifices as sprinkled with Christ's blood,
and so purified from their defilement.
#23-28 It is evident that the sacrifices of Christ are
infinitely better than those of the law, which could neither
procure pardon for sin, nor impart power against it. Sin would
still have been upon us, and have had dominion over us; but
Jesus Christ, by one sacrifice, has destroyed the works of the
devil, that believers may be made righteous, holy, and happy. As
no wisdom, learning, virtue, wealth, or power, can keep one of
the human race from death, so nothing can deliver a sinner from
being condemned at the day of judgment, except the atoning
sacrifice of Christ; nor will one be saved from eternal
punishment who despises or neglects this great salvation. The
believer knows that his Redeemer liveth, and that he shall see
him. Here is the faith and patience of the church, of all
sincere believers. Hence is their continual prayer as the fruit
and expression of their faith, Even so come, Lord Jesus.