Exposition of Hebrews 6-10, Exegesis of chapter 10 · Exegesis of verses 6, 7
VERSE 6, 7.
In Burnt Offerings and Sacrifices for Sin thou hast had no pleasure; Then said I, Lo, I come (in the Volume of the Book it is written of me) to do thy Will, O God.
TWo things are asserted in the Foregoing Verse in general. (1.) The Rejection of Sacrifices for the end of the compleat Expiation of Sin. (2.) The Provision of a new way or means for the accomplishment of that end. Both these things are spoken unto apart, and more distinctly in these two verses: The former ver. 6. the latter ver. 7. Which we must also open, that they may not appear a needless repetition of what was before spoken.
Ver. 6. He reassumes and farther declares what was in general before affirmed, ver. 5. Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldst not. Hereof we have yet a farther Confirmation and Explication, which it stood in need of. For notwithstanding that General assertion, two things may yet be enquired about. (1.) What were those Sacrifices and Offerings which God would not. For they being of various sorts, some of them only may be intended, seeing they are only mentioned in general. (2.) What is meant by that Expression, that God would them not; seeing it is certain that they were appointed and commanded by him.
Wherefore our Lord Jesus Christ whose words in the Psalm these are, doth not only reassert what was spoken before in general, but also gives a more particular account of what Sacrifices they were which he intended. And two things he declares concerning them.
1. That they were not such Sacrifices as Men had found out and appointed. Such the World was filled withal, which were offered unto Devils, and which the people of Israel themselves were addicted unto. Such were their Sacrifices unto Baal and Moloch, which God so often complaineth against and detesteth. But they were such Sacrifices as were appointed and commanded by the Law. Hence he expresseth them by their Legal Names, as the Apostle immediately takes notice, they were Offered by the Law, ver. 8.
2. He shews what were those Sacrifices appointed by the Law, which in an especial manner he intended; and they were those which were appointed for the Legal and Typical Expiation of Sin. The general names of them in the Original, are, foreign. The First was the general name of all Victims or Sacrifices by Blood; the other of all Offerings of the Fruits of the Earth, as Flower, Oyl, Wine, and the like. For herein respect is had unto the general design of the Context, which is the removal of all Legal Sacrifices and Offerings of what sort soever, by the Coming and Office of Christ. In compliance therewith they are expressed under these two general names, which comprehend them all. But as unto the especial Argument in hand, it concerns only the Bloody Sacrifices Offered for the Attonement of Sin, which were of the First sort only, or foreign. And this kind of Sacrifices, whose incompetency to Expiate Sin he declares, are referred unto Two Heads.
1. Burnt Offerings. In the Hebrew it is foreign in the Singular Number, which is usually rendred by foreign, in the Plural, and Sacrifices of this kind were foreign.called foreign, or Ascensions, from their Adjunct, the rising up, or ascending of the Smoak of the Sacrifices in their Burning on the Altar; a Pledge of that sweet savour which should arise unto God above, from the Sacrifice of Christ here below. And sometimes they are called foreign or firings, from the way and means of their Consumption on the Altar, which was by fire. And this respects both the foreign or the continual Sacrifice, Morning and Evening, for the whole Congregation, which was a Burnt Offering; and all those which on especial occasions were offered with respect unto the Expiation of Sin.
2. The other Sort is expressed by foreign, which the Greek renders by foreign, for or concerning Sin. For foreign the Verb in Kal signifieth to Sin, and foreign.in Piel, to expiate Sin. Hence the Substantive foreign is used in both those Senses, and where it is to be taken in either of them, the circumstances of the Text do openly declare. Where it is taken in the latter Sense, the Greek renders it by foreign, a Sacrifice for Sin; which expression is retained by the Apostle, Rom. 5. 3. and in this place. And the Sacrifices of this kind were of two sorts; or this kind of Sacrifices had a double use. For, (1.) The great Anniversary Sacrifice of Expiation for the Sins of the whole Congregation, Levit. 26. was a foreign or foreign, a Sin Offering. (2.) The same kind of Offering was also appointed unto, and for particular persons, who had contracted the Guilt of particular Sins, Levit. 4. This Sacrifice therefore was appointed both for the Sins of the whole Congregation, namely, all their Sins of what sort soever, Levit. 16. 21. and the especial Sins of particular persons. The one Offering of Christ was really to effect what by all of them was represented.
Concerning all these Sacrifices it is added, foreign, thou hadst no pleasure. foreign.In opposition hereunto, God gives Testimony from Heaven concerning the Lord Christ and his undertaking; This is my Beloved Son, foreign, In whom I am well pleased, Matt. 3. 17. Chap. 17. 5. See, Isa. 42. 1. Ephes. 1. 6. This is the great Antithesis between the Law and the Gospel; Sacrifices and Offerings for sin, foreign; This is my Beloved Son, foreign. The word signifies to approve of with delight, to rest in with satisfaction, the exercise of foreign, the Divine good Will, The Original word in the Psalm is, foreign, which signifies to ask, to seek, to enquire, to require. Wherefore, as we observed before, although the Apostle doth directly express the Mind and Sense of the Holy Ghost in the whole Testimony, yet he doth not exactly render the words in their precise signification, word for word. Thus he renders foreign by foreign, and foreign by foreign, when an exact Translation would have required the contrary application of the words. But the meaning is the same, and the two words used by the Psalmist are exactly represented in these used by the Apostle.
There are two Reasons of this seeming Repetition, thou wouldst not, thou hadst no pleasure. (1.) A Repetition of the same words, almost of the same signification, about the same subject, signifies the determinate certainty of the Removal of these Sacrifices, with the disappointment and ruin of them, who should continue to put their trust in them. (2.) Whereas there were two things pretended unto in the behalf of these Sacrifices and Offerings, First, their Institution by God himself, and Secondly, his acceptance of them, or being well pleased with them; one of these words is peculiarly applyed unto the former; the other unto the latter; God did neither Institute them, nor ever accepted of them unto this end of the Expiation of Sin, and the Salvation of the Church thereby. And we may observe,
1. It is the Will of God that the Church should take especial notice of this sacred truth, that nothing can expiate or take away Sin, but the Blood of Christ alone. Hence is the vehemency of the rejection of all other means in the Repetition of these words. And it is necessary for us so to apprehend his Mind, considering how prone we are to look after other ways of the Expiation of Sin, and Justification before God. See Rom. 10. 3. 4.
2. Whatever may be the Use or Efficacy of any Ordinances of Worship, yet if they are employed or trusted unto for such ends as God hath not designed them unto, he accepts not of our persons in them, nor approves of the things themselves. Thus he declares himself concerning the most Solemn Institutions of the Old Testament. And those under the New have been no less abused in this way, than those of Old.