Exposition of Hebrews 6-10, Exegesis of chapter 10 · Exegesis of verse 20
VERSE 20.
Having told us that we have foreign, an entrance into the holiest; he now declares what the way is whereby we may do so. The way into the holiest under the Tabernacle was a passage with Blood through the Sanctuary, and then a turning aside of the Veil, as we have declared before. But the whole Church was forbidden the use of this way, and it was appointed for no other end but to signifie, that in due time there should be a way opened unto Believers unto the presence of God, which was not yet prepared. And this the Apostle describes, (1.) From the preparation of it; which he hath Consecrated. (2.) From the properties of it; it was a new and living way. (3.) From the tendency of it; which he expresseth, (1.) Typically, or with respect unto the old way under the Tabernacle, it was through the Veil. (2.) In an exposition of that Type; that is, his flesh. In the whole, there is a Description of the Exercise of Faith in our access unto God by Christ Jesus. Having therefore, Brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest, by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he hath Consecrated for us, through the Veil, that is to say, his Flesh.
1. The preparation of this way is by an foreign, by a Dedication. The word hath a double signification, one in things natural, the other in things sacred; foreign.which yet are of no affinity unto one another. In things natural, it is to make new, so as to be ready for use: In things sacred, it is to Dedicate or Consecrate any thing at the first erection or making of it unto sacred services. The latter sence of the word, which we receive in our translation, is here to be imbraced, yet so as it includes the former also. For it is spoken in opposition unto the Dedication of the Tabernacle, and way into the most holy place, by the Blood of Sacrifices, whereof we have treated in the Ninth Chapter. So was this way into the holy place Consecrated, Dedicated, and set apart sacredly for the use of Believers, so as that there never is, nor ever can be any other way but by the Blood of Jesus. Or there is this also in it, that the way it self was new prepared and made, not being extant before.
The way of our entrance into the holiest, is solemnly Dedicated and Consecrated Observ.for us, so as that with boldness we may make use of it. He hath done it for us, for our use, our benefit, and advantage.
2. The properties of this way are two.
1. That it is, foreign, New. (1.) Because it was but newly made and prepared. (2.) Because it belongs unto the new Covenant. (3.) Because it admits foreignof no decays, but is always new, as unto its efficacy and use as in the day of its first preparation. Whereas that of the Tabernacle waxed old, and so was prepared for a removal; this way shall never be altered nor changed, never decay, it is always new.
2. foreign, it is Living. This Epithet is placed by apposition, without any note foreign.of distinction or conjunction. And it is said to be Living, (1.) In opposition unto the way into the holiest under the Tabernacle which was, 1. By Death. Nothing could be done in it without the Blood of the Sacrifices. 2. It was the cause of death unto any one that should make use of it, the High Priest only excepted, and he but once a year. (2.) It is Living as unto its efficacy, it is not a dead thing; it is that which hath a Spiritual vital efficacy in our access unto God. (3.) It is living from its effects: it leads to Life, and effectually brings us thereunto, and is the only way of entring into everlasting Life.
All the priviledges we have by Christ are great, glorious, and efficacious, all tending and leading unto life.Observ.
This new and living way of our approach unto God, is nothing but the exercise of Faith, for acceptance with God by the Sacrifice of Christ, according unto the Revelation made in the Gospel.
3. He shews which way it thus leads to the holiest, or what is the tendency foreign.of it, it is through the Veil. The Apostle shews here expresly what he alludeth unto in the Declaration he makes of our entrance into the holiest. The Veil here intended by him, was that between the Sanctuary and the most holy place, whose Description we have given on chap. 9. For there was no possible entrance thereinto, but through that Veil, which was turned aside, when the High-Priest entred. What this Veil was unto the High Priest in his entrance into that holy place, that is the Flesh of Christ unto us in ours, as in the last place is described in exposition of this Type, that is, his Flesh.foreign.
For the opening of these words, and the vindication of the Apostles application of this Type, we may observe,
1. The Flesh of Christ, the Body of Christ, the Blood of Christ, Christ himself, are all mentioned distinctly, as the matter of his Sacrifice. See chap. 9. 14, 25, 28.
2. This is done on various respects, to express either the dignity, or the efficacy of the Nature, and manner of his Offering.
3. In the Sacrifice of Christ, the Flesh was that which suffered peculiarly, as the great token and evidence of his real sufferings.
4. The whole efficacy of his Sacrifice is ascribed unto every essential part of the Humane Nature of Christ, in that which is either acted, or suffered therein. To his Soul, Isa. 53. his Blood, chap. 9. 14. his Body, ver. 10. his Flesh, as in this place. For these things were not distinctly operative, one in one effect, another in another, but all of them concurr'd in his Nature and Person, which he Offered once wholly to God. So that where any of them is mentioned, the whole Humane Nature of Christ as unto the efficacy of it in his Sacrifice, is intended.
5. Yet were these things distinctly typified and fore-signified in the Sacrifices and Service of old. So was the Flesh of Christ by the Veil, as his whole Nature by the Tabernacle, his Soul by the Scape-goat, his Body and Blood by the Sinoffering on the day of Expiation, when the Sacrifice was burnt without the Camp.
6. Herein in an especial manner was the whole a Type of the Flesh of Christ, in that there was no entrance to be laid open into the Holy place, but by the rending of the Veil. The time when the High Priest entered into it, it was indeed by turning it aside, whereon it immediately closed again, and forbad an entrance, and a prospect unto others. Wherefore there could be no entrance into that holy place abiding, unless the Veil was rent and torn in pieces; so that it could close no more. For it came to pass on the death of the Lord Jesus, that the Veil of the Temple was rent from the top to the bottom. And that which is signified hereby, is only this, that by virtue of the Sacrifice of Christ, wherein his Flesh was torn and rent, we have a full entrance into the holy place, such as would have been of old, upon the rending of the Veil. This therefore is the genuine interpretation of this place, we enter with boldness unto the most holy place through the Veil, that is to say, his Flesh; We do so by vertue of the Sacrifice of himself wherein his Flesh was rent, and all hindrances thereby taken away from us. Of all which hindrances the Veil was an Embleme, and principal Instance, until it was rent and removed.
The sufficiency of the Sacrifice of Christ unto all the ends of the perfection of the Church, in all duties and priviledges, is that which the Apostle instructs us unto herein. And there is great instruction given us in this Comparison of the Type, and Anti-type, into the way and nature of our access unto God, in all our solemn Worship. It is God as he was represented in the holy place, to whom we address our selves peculiarly, that is, God the Father as on a Throne ef Grace; the manner of our Access is with holy confidence grounded solely on the efficacy of the Blood, or Sacrifice of Christ.
The way is by Faith, as to the removal of the Obstacles, and the view of God as reconciled. This is given us by the suffering of Christ in the Flesh, which laid open the entrance into the Holy place. Wherefore the Apostle saies not, that the Veil was the flesh of Christ, as some pretend who have hence cavill'd at the Authority of this Epistle on no other ground but because they could not apprehend the spiritual Light and Wisdom that is therein; Only he says, we have Our entrance into the Holy place by vertue of the flesh of Christ, which was rent in his Sacrifice, as through the rending of the Veil a way was laid open into the Holiest. This is the first encouragement unto the Duty Exhorted unto from the benefit and priviledge we have by the Blood of Christ.
Another to the same purpose follows.