The Divine Incarnation. Heb. 10:5-7 continues. (105)
That there was an insufficiency to the typical sacrifices was plainly intimated by their frequent repetition (v. 2). Had the offerer been so “purged” as to have “no more conscience of sins,” that is, had his moral guilt been fully and finally expiated, then no further offering had been needed. Even though God’s people continually commit fresh sins a new sacrifice is not required. Why? Because the one perfect Sacrifice has made complete satisfaction unto God, and is of perpetual efficacy before Him: therefore is it ever available to penitence and faith, for application unto fresh pardons. There was no proportion between the infinite demerits of sin, the demands of God’s justice, and the slaying of beasts. Whether the matter be viewed in the light of God’s nature, of man’s soul, or of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, it was obvious that the blood of bulls and goats could not possibly make atonement (v. 4). “It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices” (Heb. 9:23.
- “In other show the pre-eminency of Christianity over Judaism, at every crucial point, proof has been furnished from the Old Testament Scriptures. The excellency of the Son over angels Heb. 1:4, was made from Ps 97:7 Heb. 1:6. The exaltation of man through the humbled Messiah over all the works of God’s hands Heb. 2:6–9, Ps 8:4–6 was cited. The superiority of Christ’s priesthood over Aaron’s, Ps 110:4 was cited. Heb. 6:20. The superseding of the old covenant by the new, Jer. 31:31, was cited Heb. 8:8. “Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldst not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin Thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of Me), to do Thy will, O God” (vv. 5–7). These verses are direct quotation from Ps. 40: 2, 16, 22, 10, etc., which was a Messianic one. In it the Lord Jesus is heard speaking, speaking to His Father. “Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith.” The precise force of the opening “Wherefore”. In accord with the facts pointed out in the first four verses; or, in proof thereof, Christ came not to offer those fruitless sacrifices, but to do the will of God in their room. Christ took away the first, that He might establish the second. Here, we behold… the matchless love and obedience of the Son, and the federal agreement which was between the Father and the Son in the work of redemption and the salvation of the Church. The demonstration of the perfect harmony between the old and the New Testament.” Pink Arthur
- “Wherefore when He cometh into the world.” The second person in the Holy Trinity, who had been in the Father’s delight from all eternity. By whom and for whom all things were created “that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” Col. 1:16; who is “over all, God blessed forever” Rom. 9:5. He came here not “in the form of God, nor even as an angel, as occasionally He did in Old Testament times; but instead, He came in “the form of a servant,” and was actually “made under the law.” “When the fullness of the time was come” Gal. 4:4, when the sinfulness of man and his utter helplessness, when the insufficiency of Judaism and the powerlessness of the Levitical sacrifices had been made manifest; then it pleased the Son to become incarnate, execute the eternal purpose of the Godhead, fulfill the terms of the everlasting covenant, make good the prophecies and promises of the Old Testament Scriptures.
- “He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not…” Christ, as Mediator had been “set up from everlasting” Prov. 8:23-30. The Lord had “possessed Him,” He was “by Him, as One brought up with Him” Ps. 40:6–8; 50:8, etc, Is. 1:11, Jer. 6:20, Am. 5:21, 22. “But a body hast Thou prepared Me.” Matt. 1:20–23, Jn. 1:14, Gal. 4:4, 1Tim. 3:16. The first, the body of Christ is substituted in the stead of, the Levitical offerings. From all eternity it was Christ, the “Lamb,” who had been “foreordained”. The whole human nature of Christ, consisting of spirit and soul and body. The Holy Spirit here threw the emphasis on Christ’s “body” rather than on His “soul” as in Is. 53:10. The offering of Christ was make his body subject to death, it was to be a “partakers of flesh and blood. Heb. 2:14” He took upon Him “the form of a servant” Phil. 2:7
