Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadWilliam Burkitt Notes and Observations - Hebrews 9:7 - 9:7
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Observe here, 1. The person administering described, The high priest alone; none of the priests were permitted to be so near him as the sanctuary, when he administered in the most holy place. Thus sacredly was the presence of God, in the holy of holies, made inaccessible not only to the people, but even to all the priests themselves. The great truth which was represented and shadowed forth was, that there was no entrance into the gracious presence of God, but by our great High Priest the Holy Jesus. The high priest alone, and no other person, entered into the holy of holies.
Observe, 2. The high priest engaging in his service. He entered through the vail into the holy place. This was a type both of the entrance by him into the throne of grace. We read,Mat_27:15. Of the rending of this vail, at the death of our Saviour, from top to bottom: Signifying thereby, that the way was laid open into the holy place, and the gracious presence of God discovered, and made accessible to all that come unto him by Jesus Christ.
Observe, 3. The time of this service expressed, it was once only every year; and the day, the precise day of the year, determined, Lev_16:29, to wit, the tenth day of the month Tizri, answering our September called the great day of atonement; on which day such a complete atonement was made for sin, that the Jews had a saying, "That on the day of expiation all Israel was made as innocent as in the day of creation."
Observe, 4. The nature of this service; the apostle tells us, it was not without blood, that is, he did it by blood, sprinkling it seven times with his finger towards the mercy-seat, Lev_26:11-12. There is an emphasis in the expression, not without blood, to manifest the necessity of the death and blood-shedding of Jesus Christ our great High Priest, and the impossibility of our entering into the gracious presence of God without the blood of the reconciling sacrifice Christ Jesus.
Observe, 5. For whom this blood was offered; first, for himself, then for the people; that is, for his own sins, and the sins of the people: This argued the great imperfection of that state; whereas Christ our great High Priest, was not to offer up the blood of goats, but his own blood, not for himself at all, but for others only; not once a year, but once for all; by one offering he hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified.