9 

9:1 The first covenant had ordinances of outward worship, and a worldly - a visible, material sanctuary, or tabernacle.

• Of this sanctuary he treats, Heb 9:2-5.
• Of those ordinances, Heb 9:6-10.

9:2 The first - The outward tabernacle. In which was the candlestick, and the table - The shewbread, shown continually before God and all the people, consisting of twelve loaves, according to the number of the tribes, was placed on this table in two rows, six upon one another in each row. This candlestick and bread seem to have typified the light and life which are more largely dispensed under the gospel by Him who is the Light of the world, and the Bread of life.

9:3 The second veil divided the holy place from the most holy, as the first veil did the holy place from the courts.

9:4 Having the golden censer - Used by the high priest only, on the great day of atonement. And the ark, or chest, of the covenant - So called from the tables of the covenant contained therein. Wherein was the manna - The monument of God's care over Israel. And Aaron's rod - The monument of the regular priesthood. And the tables of the covenant - The two tables of stone, on which the ten commandments were written by the finger of God the most venerable monument of all.

9:5 And over it were the cherubim of glory - Over which the glory of God used to appear. Some suppose each of these had four faces, and so represented the Three - One God, with the manhood assumed by the Second Person. With out - spread wings shadowing the mercy - seat - Which was a lid or plate of gold, covering the ark.

9:6 Always - Every day. Accomplishing their services - Lighting the lamps, changing the shewbread, burning incense, and sprinkling the blood of the sin offerings.

9:7 Errors - That is, sins of ignorance, to which only those atonements extended.

10 

10:40 Martha was encumbered - The Greek word properly signifies to be drawn different ways at the same time, and admirably expresses the situation of a mind, surrounded (as Martha's then was) with so many objects of care, that it hardly knows which to attend to first.

10:41 Martha, Martha - There is a peculiar spirit and tenderness in the repetition of the word: thou art careful, inwardly, and hurried, outwardly.

10:42 Mary hath chosen the good part - To save her soul.Reader, hast thou?

11 

11:27 Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked! - How natural was the thought for a woman! And how gently does our Lord reprove her!

11:28 Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it - For if even she that bare him had not done this, she would have forfeited all her blessedness.

4 

4:25 Wherefore - Seeing ye are thus created anew, walk accordingly, in every particular. For we are members one of another - To which intimate union all deceit is quite repugnant.

4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not - That is, if ye are angry, take heed ye sin not. Anger at sin is not evil; but we should feel only pity to the sinner. If we are angry at the person, as well as the fault, we sin.And how hardly do we avoid it. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath - Reprove your brother, and be reconciled immediately.Lose not one day. A clear, express command. Reader, do you keep it?

4:27 Neither give place to the devil - By any delay.

4:28 But rather let him labour - Lest idleness lead him to steal again. And whoever has sinned in any kind ought the more zealously to practise the opposite virtue. That he may have to give - And so be no longer a burden and nuisance, but a blessing, to his neighbours.

4:29 But that which is good - Profitable to the speaker and hearers.To the use of edifying - To forward them in repentance, faith, or holiness.That it may minister grace - Be a means of conveying more grace into their hearts. Hence we learn, what discourse is corrupt, as it were stinking in the nostrils of God; namely, all that is not profitable, not edifying, not apt to minister grace to the hearers.

4:30 Grieve not the Holy Spirit - By any disobedience.Particularly by corrupt discourse; or by any of the following sins.Do not force him to withdraw from you, as a friend does whom you grieve by unkind behaviour. The day of redemption - That is, the day of judgment, in which our redemption will be completed.

4:31 Let all bitterness - The height of settled anger, opposite to kindness, ver. Eph 4:32.And wrath - Lasting displeasure toward the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, opposite to tenderheartedness. And anger - The very first risings of disgust at those that injure you, opposite to forgiving one another. And clamour - Or bawling. "I am not angry," says one; "but it is my way to speak so." Then unlearn that way: it is the way to hell. And evil speaking - Be it in ever so mild and soft a tone, or with ever such professions of kindness.Here is a beautiful retrogradation, beginning with the highest, and descending to the lowest, degree of the want of love.

4:32 As God, showing himself kind and tenderhearted in the highest degree, hath forgiven you.

6 

6:24 Miserable are ye rich - If ye have received or sought your consolation or happiness therein.

6:25 Full - Of meat and drink, and worldly goods.That laugh - That are of a light trifling spirit.

6:26 Wo to you when all men shall speak well of you - But who will believe this?

6:27 But I say to you that hear - Hitherto our Lord had spoken only to particular sorts of persons: now he begins speaking to all in general. Mat 5:44.

6:29 To him that smiteth thee on the cheek - Taketh away thy cloak - These seem to be proverbial expressions, to signify an invasionof the tenderest points of honour and property. Offer the other - Forbid not thy coat - That is, rather yield to his repeating theaffront or injury, than gratify resentment in righting your self; in any method not becoming Christian love. Mat 5:39.

6:30 Give to every one - Friend or enemy, what thou canst spare, and he really wants: and of him that taketh away thy goods - By borrowing, if he be insolvent, ask them not again. Mat 5:42.