THE EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL TO THE HEBREWS
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
If then he were on earth, etc... That is, if he were not of a higher condition than the Levitical order of earthly priests, and had not another kind of sacrifice to offer, he should be excluded by them from the priesthood, and its functions, which by the law were appropriated to their tribe.
8:5. Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered to Moses, when he was to finish the tabernacle: See (saith he) that thou make all things according to the pattern which was shewn thee on the mount.
Who serve unto, etc... The priesthood of the law and its functions were a kind of an example and shadow of what is done by Christ in his church militant and triumphant, of which the tabernacle was a pattern.
8:6. But now he hath obtained a better ministry, by how much also he is a mediator of a better testament which is established on better promises.
8:7. For if that former had been faultless, there should not indeed a place have been sought for a second.
8:8. For, finding fault with them, he saith: Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord: and I will perfect, unto the house of Israel and unto the house of Juda, a new testament:
8:9. Not according to the testament which I made to their fathers, on the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: because they continued not in my testament: and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
8:10. For this is the testament which I will make to the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my laws into their mind: and in their heart will I write them. And I will be their God: and they shall be my people.
8:11. And they shall not teach every man his neighbour and every man his brother, saying: Know the Lord. For all shall know me, from the least to the greatest of them.
They shall not teach, etc... So great shall be light and grace of the new testament, that it shall not be necessary to inculcate to the faithful the belief and knowledge of the true God, for they shall all know him.
8:12. Because I will be merciful to their iniquities: and their sins I will remember no more.
8:13. Now in saying a new, he hath made the former old. And that which decayeth and groweth old is near its end.
A new... Supply `covenant'.
Hebrews Chapter 9
The sacrifices of the law were far inferior to that of Christ.
9:1. The former indeed had also justifications of divine service and a sanctuary.
9:2. For there was a tabernacle made the first, wherein were the candlesticks and the table and the setting forth of loaves, which is called the Holy.
9:3. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies:
9:4. Having a golden censer and the ark of the testament covered about on every part with gold, in which was a golden pot that had manna and the rod of Aaron that had blossomed and the tables of the testament.
9:5. And over it were the cherubims of glory overshadowing the propitiatory: of which it is not needful to speak now particularly.
9:6. Now these things being thus ordered, into the first tabernacle, the priests indeed always entered, accomplishing the offices of sacrifices.
9:7. But into the second, the high priest alone, once a year: not without blood, which he offereth for his own and the people's ignorance:
9:8. The Holy Ghost signifying this: That the way into the Holies was not yet made manifest, whilst the former tabernacle was yet standing.
9:9. Which is a parable of the time present: according to which gifts and sacrifices are offered, which cannot, as to the conscience, make him perfect that serveth, only in meats and in drinks,
9:10. And divers washings and justices of the flesh laid on them until the time of correction.
Of correction... Viz., when Christ should correct and settle all things.
9:11. But Christ, being come an high Priest of the good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hand, that is, not of this creation:
9:12. Neither by the blood of goats or of calves, but by his own blood, entered once into the Holies, having obtained eternal redemption.
Eternal redemption... By that one sacrifice of his blood, once offered on the cross, Christ our Lord paid and exhibited, once for all, the general price and ransom of all mankind: which no other priest could do.
9:13. For if the blood of goats and of oxen, and the ashes of an heifer, being sprinkled, sanctify such as are defiled, to the cleansing of the flesh:
9:14. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who by the Holy Ghost offered himself unspotted unto God, cleanse our conscience from dead works, to serve the living God?
9:15. And therefore he is the mediator of the new testament: that by means of his death for the redemption of those transgressions which were under the former testament, they that are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
9:16. For where there is a testament the death of the testator must of necessity come in.
9:17. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is as yet of no strength, whilst the testator liveth.
9:18. Whereupon neither was the first indeed dedicated without blood.
9:19. For when every commandment of the law had been read by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people.
9:20. Saying: This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
9:21. The tabernacle also and all the vessels of the ministry, in like manner, he sprinkled with blood.
9:22. And almost all things, according to the law, are cleansed with blood: and without shedding of blood there is no remission.
9:23. It is necessary therefore that the patterns of heavenly things should be cleansed with these: but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.