Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 7. But into the second] That is, the holy of holies, or second part of the tabernacle, the high priest alone, once every year, that is, on one day in the year only, which was the day on which the general atonement was made. The high priest could enter into this place only on one day in the year; but on that day he might enter several times. See Lev. 16.
Not without blood] The day prescribed by the law for this great solemnity was the tenth of the month Tisri, in which the high priest brought in the incense or perfumes, which he placed on the golden censer; he brought also the blood of the bullock; and sprinkled some portion of it seven times before the ark, and the veil which separated the holy place from the holy of holies. See Lev. xvi. 14. He then came out, and, taking some of the blood of the goat which had been sacrificed, he sprinkled it between the veil and the ark of the covenant, Lev. xvi. 15.
Which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people] uper twn tou laou agnohmatwn? For transgressions of which they were not conscious: there were so many niceties in the ritual worship of the Jews, and so many ways in which they might offend against the law and incur guilt, that it was found necessary to institute sacrifices to atone for these sins of ignorance. And as the high priest was also clothed with infirmity, he required to have an interest in the same sacrifice, on the same account.
This was a national sacrifice; and by it the people understood that they were absolved from all the errors of the past year, and that they now had a renewed right of access to the mercy-seat.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 6-10 - The apostle goes on to speak of the Old Testament services. Christ having undertaken to be our High Priest, could not enter into heave till he had shed his blood for us; and none of us can enter, eithe into God's gracious presence here, or his glorious presence hereafter but by the blood of Jesus. Sins are errors, great errors, both in judgment and practice; and who can understand all his errors? The leave guilt upon the conscience, not to be washed away but by the bloo of Christ. We must plead this blood on earth, while he is pleading it for us in heaven. A few believers, under the Divine teaching, saw something of the way of access to God, of communion with him, and of admission into heaven through the promised Redeemer, but the Israelite in general looked no further than the outward forms. These could no take away the defilement or dominion of sin. They could neithe discharge the debts, nor resolve the doubts, of him who did the service. Gospel times are, and should be, times of reformation, or clearer light as to all things needful to be known, and of greate love, causing us to bear ill-will to none, but good-will to all. We have greater freedom, both of spirit and speech, in the gospel, an greater obligations to a more holy living.
Greek Textus Receptus
εις 1519 PREP δε 1161 CONJ την 3588 T-ASF δευτεραν 1208 A-ASF απαξ 530 ADV του 3588 T-GSM ενιαυτου 1763 N-GSM μονος 3441 A-NSM ο 3588 T-NSM αρχιερευς 749 N-NSM ου 3756 PRT-N χωρις 5565 ADV αιματος 129 N-GSN ο 3739 R-ASN προσφερει 4374 5719 V-PAI-3S υπερ 5228 PREP εαυτου 1438 F-3GSM και 2532 CONJ των 3588 T-GPN του 3588 T-GSM λαου 2992 N-GSM αγνοηματων 51 N-GPN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. Errors (agnohmatwn). Lit. ignorances. See on ch. v. 2.
