John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. For it is not possible , etc..] There is a necessity of sin being taken away, otherwise it will be remembered; and there will be a conscience of it, and it must be answered for, or it will remain marked, and the curse and penalty of the law must take place: but it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins ; which was shed on the day of atonement: sin is a breach of the moral law, but these sacrifices belong to, the ceremonial law, which are less acceptable to God than moral duties; sin is committed against God, and has an objective infiniteness in it, and therefore can never be atoned for by the blood of such creatures; it leaves a stain on the mind and conscience, which this blood cannot reach; besides, this is not the same blood, nor of the same kind with the person that has sinned; yea, if this could take away sin, it would do more than the blood of the man himself could do; such blood shed can never answer the penalty of the law, satisfy divine justice, or secure the honour of divine holiness: but what the blood of these creatures could not do, the blood of Christ has done, and does: that takes away sin from the sight of justice, and from the consciences of the saints. Compare with this the Septuagint version of ( Jeremiah 11:15). what, has the beloved committed abomination in my house? shall prayers, and the holy flesh take away thy wickednesses from thee, or by these shall thou escape?
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - The apostle having shown that the tabernacle, and ordinances of the covenant of Sinai, were only emblems and types of the gospel, conclude that the sacrifices the high priests offered continually, could no make the worshippers perfect, with respect to pardon, and the purifyin of their consciences. But when "God manifested in the flesh," becam the sacrifice, and his death upon the accursed tree the ransom, the the Sufferer being of infinite worth, his free-will sufferings were of infinite value. The atoning sacrifice must be one capable of consenting, and must of his own will place himself in the sinner' stead: Christ did so. The fountain of all that Christ has done for his people, is the sovereign will and grace of God. The righteousnes brought in, and the sacrifice once offered by Christ, are of eterna power, and his salvation shall never be done away. They are of power to make all the comers thereunto perfect; they derive from the atonin blood, strength and motives for obedience, and inward comfort.
Greek Textus Receptus
αδυνατον 102 A-NSN γαρ 1063 CONJ αιμα 129 N-NSN ταυρων 5022 N-GMP και 2532 CONJ τραγων 5131 N-GPM αφαιρειν 851 5721 V-PAN αμαρτιας 266 N-APF
