Ver. 1. A Shadow of good things, &c.] That is, of Christ, saith one. When the sun is behind, the shadow is before; when the sun is before, the shadow is behind. So was it in Christ to them of old. This Sun was behind, and therefore the law or shadow was before; to us under grace the Sun is before, and so now the ceremonies of the law, these shadows, are behind, yea, vanished away.
Ver. 2. No more conscience of sin] Christ, though he took not away death, yet he did the sting of death; so though he took not away sin, yet he did the guilt of sin.
Ver. 3. Made of sins every year] A solemn confession of them, and what great need they had of a Saviour to expiate them, laying their hands on the head of the sacrifice, in token that they had in like sort deserved to be destroyed.
Ver. 4. Should take away sins] And so pacify conscience; for sin is to the conscience as a mote to the eye, as a dagger to the heart, 2 Samuel 24:10, as an adder’s sting to the flesh, Proverbs 23:32.
Ver. 5. But a body hast thou prepared] A metaphor from mechanics, who do artificially fit one part of their work to another, and so finish the whole, κατηρτισω. God fitted his Son’s body to be joined with the Deity, and to be an expiatory sacrifice for sin.
Ver. 6. Thou hast had no pleasure] viz. As in the principal service and satisfaction for sin.
Ver. 7. Lo, I come] As an obedient servant bored through the ear, Exodus 21:6 Ps 40:6,7, wise and willing to be obsequious. Servus est nomen officii, a servant is the master’s instrument, and ολως εκεινου, saith Aristotle, wholly at his beck and obedience. It is written of me] Christ is author, object, matter, and mark of Old and New Testament. Therefore if we will profit thereby, we must have the eyes of our minds turned toward Christ, as the faces of the cherubims were toward the mercy seat.
Ver. 8. Which are offered by the law] To the great cost and charge of the offerers. This we are freed from, and are required no more than to cover God’s altar with the calves of our lips.
Ver. 9. Lo, I come] True obedience is prompt and present, ready and speedy, without shucking and hucking, without delays and consults, Psalms 119:60. He taketh away the first] Clear consequences drawn from Scripture, are sound doctrine, Matthew 22:32. [See Trapp on “Mt 22:32”]
Ver. 10. By the which will] That is, by the execution of which will, by the obedience of Christ to his heavenly Father.
Ver. 11. Take away sin] Separando auferre, sunder it from the soul, strike a parting blow betwixt them, περιελειν, Undique tollere.
Ver. 12. But this man] Opposed to the plurality of Levitical priests. One sacrifice, and once for ever, not many and often, as they. And he sat down, when as they stood daily offering oftentimes. Note the antithesis, and Christ’s precellency. On the right hand of God] Which he could not have done if he had not expiated our sins. John 16:10, “Of righteousness, because I go to my Father.” He could not have gone to his Father if he had not first fulfilled all righteousness, and fully acquitted us of all our iniquities.
Ver. 13. Expecting till his enemies] Admire and imitate his patience. The God of peace shall tread Satan and the rest under our feet shortly, Romans 16:20.
Ver. 14. He hath perfected] tie would not off the cross till all was finished.
Ver. 15. The Holy Ghost also witnesseth] viz. By inspiring the pemnen, 2 Timothy 3:16, acting and carrying them into all truth, 2 Timothy 2:25, as it were by a holy violence, φερομενοι.
Ver. 16. I will put my laws] [See Trapp on “Heb 8:10”]
Ver. 17. Will I remember no more] Therefore there needs not any repetition of a sacrifice for sin in the New Testament.
Ver. 18. Where remission of sin is] viz. An impletory remission, as now in the New Testament, not a promissory, as under the Old.
Ver. 19. To enter into the holiest] viz. By our prayers, which pierce heaven and prevail with God.
Ver. 20. By a new] Fresh, and as effectual at all times as if Christ were but newly sacrificed for us. Tam recens mihi nunc Christus est, ac si hac hora fudisset sanguinem, saith Luther. Christ is even now as fresh to me as if this very hour he had shed his precious blood. προσφατον, Recens mactatus. Which he hath consecrated, or new made for us] Paradise had a way out, but none that ever we could find in again. Heaven hath now a way in (sc. this new and living, or life giving, way, a milky way to us, a bloody way to Christ), but no way out again. Through the veil, that is; his flesh] Whereby we come to God, dwelling bodily therein. Like as where I see the body of a man, there I know his soul is also, because they are not severed; so is it here. The veil or curtain in the sanctuary did hide the glory of the holy of holies; and withal ministered an entrance into it for the high priest.