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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 10:7 - 10:7
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Heb 10:7. Τότε, then) We shall speak of this particle at Heb 10:8. The parallels are, then; I am come; in the book: and corresponding, I said; of Me; it has been written.-ἥκω, I am here at hand, I am come) It corresponds to the Hebrew preterite, באתי.[59] The verb, ἥκω, is treated of at Rev 2:25.-ἘΝ ΚΕΦΑΛΊΔΙ ΒΙΒΛΊΟΥ ΓΈΓΡΑΠΤΑΙ ΠΕΡῚ ἘΜΟῦ, in the volume of the book it is written of Me) מגלת ספר, LXX., ΚΕΦΑΛῚς ΒΙΒΛΊΟΥ here, and Eze 2:9. מגלה is rendered by the same translators ΚΕΦΑΛῚς, Eze 3:1-2, Ezr 6:2. This phrase (nomenclature) cannot be understood of any particular part of the Pentateuch (for, except it, no other prophetical writings, to which the psalm might seem to refer, existed in the time of David), for many, nay, all the parts, treat of Christ; nor can it be understood of the whole Pentateuch, for although the whole volume of the law is often quoted, yet it never receives this appellation. Moreover, the sacrifices in this passage are called ΤῸ ΠΡΏΤΟΝ, the first, Heb 10:9 : wherefore the volume of the book does not denote the book which contained the very account also of the sacrifices heretofore offered. Also, the Divine rejection of sacrifices (Thou wouldest not), and the Messiah’s exhibition of Himself to do the will of GOD, came after the perpetual offering of them, and not previously. What, then, is the volume of the book? We do not require to go far to learn; it is the very page on which this very psalm was written. There are these two parallels: I have said, lo! I come; and, in the volume of the book it is written עלי, concerning Me, of Me: by this very writing I undertake to do Thy will. The Messiah places Himself as surety by both expressions; and hence the presence, in the highest degree, of the Spirit of prophecy is perceived. David had before his eyes, and in his hand, the book in which the psalm was written, and shows this very book as the written contract of the Messiah; comp. Neh 10:1. From that very day when this psalm was written, it became incumbent on Christ, by some new way, to do the will of GOD. It is consistent with all this, that it is not said, in Thy book, or in the book of the Lord, as in Psa 139:16, and Isa 34:16, but simply, in the book. Comp. note on the following verse. Augustine understands “the volume of the book,” here, of the beginning of the book of Psalms; but at that time the Psalms had not yet been collected into one volume. Others have understood it of the whole Scripture; but even the writings of the Old Testament which then existed, had not been so collected into one, as to be called one book.-τὸ θέλημά σου, Thy will) That GOD wills and has pleasure in something different from the legal sacrifices, was evident from this very fact, that the flesh of oxen and the blood of goats did not afford Him satisfaction; but what His will is, we deduce from the very preparing of the Messiah’s body, by which, when it was offered, we were to be sanctified; Heb 10:10. Christ, in the Psalms, acknowledges and embraces this as the will of GOD.
[59] I come, or rather, I have come, was the creed (symbolum), as it were, of the Lord Jesus. I am come, says He, to fulfil the law, Mat 5:17 : to preach, Mar 1:38 : to call sinner’s to repentance, Luk 5:32 : to send a sword, and to set men at variance, Mat 10:34-35 : I have come down from heaven to do the will of Him that sent Me, Joh 6:38-39. These are the very words of the fortieth Psalm. I am sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, Mat 15:24 : I am come into this world for judgment, Joh 9:39 : I have come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly, Joh 10:10 : to save what had been lost, Mat 18:11 : to save men’s lives, Luk 9:56 : to send fire on the earth, Luk 12:49 : to minister, Mat 20:28 : to seek and to save that which was lost, Luk 19:10, comp. with 1Ti 1:15 : I am come into the world the Light, Joh 12:46, etc.: to bear witness to the truth, ch. Joh 18:37. See, Reader, that thy Saviour obtain what He aimed at in thy case. But do thou, for thy part, say why thou art come here. Dost thou, then, also do the will of God? from what time? and in what way?-V. g.