by the blood of Jesus - Our acceptance before God is based entirely on Christ's sacrifice.
Two additional phrases repeat this thought:
10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us,
through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
by a new and living way -
new {GK=prosphotos, lit., newly slain} - "By a road freshly slain and living." [Wuest]
The historic fact, of His crucifixion, does not automatically grant access to everyone.
Each sinner must appropriate His sacrifice anew. Although the Gospel account is 2,000 years old, each true believer will embrace it as essential for his personal salvation and for his present life. ie., 'It was for my sin that He died. It is in His life that I live.' Gal 2:20
living - For the redeemed, His death and resurrection brings us into newness of life,
which He hath consecrated {ie., initiated, opened} for us...
through the veil, that is to say, His flesh.-
The veil in the tabernacle separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. As sinners, even the priests were excluded from the presence of the Holy God. Heb 9:6-8
Our High Priest, whose body was the 'more perfect Tabernacle' (the true Holy Place), offered Himself as our sin bearer. With the rending of His body, in death, His blood became the propitiation for our sin. Having removed our sin, He became the way of access into God's Presence, for all who are in Christ (Heb 9:11-14,28). This was demonstrated, as He finished His work on the cross, by the tearing of the veil in the earthly Temple (Mat 27:50,51).
Previously (at Heb 9:4), we noted that the writer seemingly miss-located the Golden Altar of Incense
on the 'wrong side' of the veil in the tabernacle. However, compare the context (9:2-4).
The words "wherein was" locate the table and lampstand in the first tabernacle (the Holy Place).
The words "which had" indicate that the Golden Altar 'belonged' or 'pertained' to the second tabernacle (ie., the Most Holy Place), although it was physically outside the veil.
This golden altar of incense symbolized the prayers of God's people rising up toward God.
But their prayer, like the incense smoke, was hindered, by the veil, from free access to the Mercy Seat, where it 'belonged.' Once a year, symbolic access was opened. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest filled a censer with coals from this altar and then passed through the veil "not without blood." 9:7; Lev 16:12-14; Psa 141:2
Now, through the blood of Christ, the veil is gone. The way is open. We, who are 'in Christ,' enjoy such audience with the Father, as belongs to His children. Joh 15:7; 16:25-28
Consider the priestly privilege and responsibility which belongs to believers:
10:21 And [having] an high priest over the house of God;
This High Priest -- is uniquely ours. He calls us His brethren. Heb 2:17
-- is unique in power and position. He is God the Son. Heb 3:1-6; Rom 8:34
Not only do we have Access into God's immediate presence (v.19,20),
but, there, in God's presence, our High Priest is our Advocate (v.21).
10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
let us... (occurs 3x in v.22,23,24) - These three verses outline the Christian's priestly service.
It is not "lettuce." "Salad bar Christians" pick and choose what appeals to them. [JVMcGee]
But as a kingdom of priests, we are not free to neglect any of these ministries. Ex 19:6; 1Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6
A. Draw near...- The way has been opened into the Holy of Holies (v.19-21) Rom 5:1,2
with a true heart - ie., a genuine, sincere heart; not with lip service. Mat 15:8; Joh 4:23,24
in full assurance of faith - Assurance depends, not on the strength of my faith,
but on the strength of the One in whom I trust.
We approach God, not because we are full of faith, but because Christ is the Living Way.
having our hearts sprinkled... our bodies washed -
As the OT priest required ceremonial cleansing, so the NT priest must be cleansed in:
heart - The conscience cleansed by consciousness of the value of the blood of Christ.
body - The conduct cleansed by obedience to the Word of Christ applied by the Holy Spirit.
[line above adapted from GWms]
"Pure water" does not refer to baptism. Physical water cannot cleanse our way of life. This is the washing with the water of God's Word. Joh 13:10; 15:3; 17:17; Eph 5:25,26
For what purpose? The OT priest approached God in behalf of other people.
10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is];
but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Considering one another requires...
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves...
forsake {GK=egkataleipo, to let down, to abandon, to leave in straits}
"Some believers were 'coldly withdrawing' from the fellowship for concern of self, rather than for one another (eg., under threat of persecution, or dissension). Such were to remember that their responsibility was all the greater if some seem to have failed grievously and others are in danger of failure." [HAIronside]
assembling {GK=episunagogue, a gathering together}
The choice of this word may imply that "some members of this community... had persuaded themselves that the relation of Judaism and Christianity, and of the 'synagogue' and the Church, was such as to permit them to avoid close [interaction] with Christians and direct association with Christian assemblies. This neglect was the first step toward apostasy." [CJEllicott]
Although some may have been attending the Jewish synagogue, it was an inadequate substitute for the gathering of believers, since it would not be conducive to encouraging one another in Christian doctrine and discipleship.
exhorting one another (cp. Heb 3:13) - exhort {GK=parakaleo, comforting, encouraging}
It is possible to assemble while forsaking the purpose for assembly.
the Day when the Lord returns to earth, to judge the unsaved. 1The 5:1-11
Anticipation of either 'day' should motivate our labor for the Master.
Some see 'the day approaching' as a reference to the imminent destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. (ie., 'When the place of meeting is destroyed, you will need to gather all the more to encourage one another.') cp. Mat 24:1,2; Acts 5:42
The New and Living Way to God, through Christ
a. The Privileges and Responsibilities of those who draw near - v.19-25
b. The Hopelessness of those who turn away - v.26-31
10:26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth,
there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
for...- v.26-31 provide a severe warning (in light of the coming day of judgment, v.25)
of the serious consequences of neglect of the truth. (v.26-31 parallel Heb 6:4-8.)
if we sin wilfully - The verb form indicates deliberate persistence.
In context, the willful sin is continued rejection of Christ's sacrifice, after receiving the knowledge {GK=epignosis, precise, correct, full knowledge} of the way of salvation. cp. v.29; Heb 6:4-6; 2Pet 2:21
there remains no more sacrifice for sins.- The OT Temple sacrifices could not take away sin.
Rather, they foreshadowed Christ's sacrifice for the remission of sin. (cp. v.4,12,14,17,18)
Whoever rejects that sacrifice, has no hope, though he brings lambs without number,
for he will die in his sins (Joh 8:24).
10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation,
which shall devour the adversaries. {cp. Mal 4:1; Heb 12:29}
Contrast the expectation of God's children: Heb 9:27,28.
10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
This verse alludes to Deu 17:2-7, regarding apostasy from Jehovah to idols.
Here, it is applied to apostasy from Christ, to return to ritualistic Judaism. cp. Heb 2:2-4; 12:25
10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy,
sorer punishment -- punishment under the old covenant was physical and temporal.
-- punishment for rejection of the New Covenant is spiritual and eternal.
thought worthy - ie., by God, on the Day of Judgment.
who hath trodden under foot the Son of God,
ie., by regarding Him (whose Name is above every name, 1:1-4) as dirt (ie., as of no worth).
and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing,
ie., by regarding Christ's blood (which established the New Covenant, 9:13-17),
as a common thing {'unholy' is GK=koinos, common, ordinary, unclean, defiled}, and therefore, of no more value than the blood of any other man or animal.
"'Sanctified' here is positional. Just as all Israel was set apart by the blood of
the old covenant and yet any Israelite lacking faith could turn from the privileges that were his by the blood, so the entire professing Church is set apart unto God by the blood of the new covenant. But it is possible for a professor to reject Christ's sacrifice and the blessedness which it has purchased." [HAIronside]
and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
ie., by discarding the Holy Spirit's testimony (regarding Christ) as beneath one's intellect.
which promises judgment upon those who turn from Jehovah to idols.
There is no help in false gods. In turning to them from the living God, the people, who should have known God's favor, bring themselves under His judgment.
10:31 [It is] a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
In Habakkuk ch. 2, the LORD spoke to the prophet in a vision, to assure him that, although evil men seem to have the upper hand, justice will prevail in the end. The final fulfillment of the prophecy awaits the future Messianic Kingdom. As quoted, here, it is clear that Christ's second coming is in view. Jam 5:7,8; 1Pet 1:3-9
10:38 Now the just shall live by faith:
Hab 2:4 is quoted 3x in the NT, each time with a different emphasis...
the just (Rom 1:16,17) - are made 'just' {righteous} by believing the Gospel of Christ.
by faith (Gal 3:11) - Justification is by faith, not by the law.
shall live (v.38) - The Christian lives, by faith in Christ,...