Access to God (Heb. 10:19–23. (117)
- “And having an High Priest over the house of God.” ch. 2:17; 3:1; 4:14–16; 8:1. The opening “And” shows that the contents of this verse form a link in the chain begun in v. 19. The adjective should be rendered “great” and not “high”: it is not a relative term, in comparison with other priests; but an absolute one, denoting Christ’s dignity and excellency: He is “great” in His person, in His worthiness, in His position, in His power, in His compassion. To show that Christ is the great Priest, it is here added “over the house of God.” “Now that He is exalted in heaven; the second part of his office as high priest. First, He offered sacrifice for the people, and now He takes the oversight of the house of God: see Zech. 3:6, 7—Joshua being an eminent type of Christ” (John Owen).
- The “house of God” represents the whole family of God both of heaven and earth: compare Heb. 3:3–6, 1Cor. 3:9–17, 2Cor. 6:16, 17, Eph. 2:19–22, 1Tim. 3:15. The church here below is what is first, for it is unto it that this encouragement is given, and unto whom this motive of drawing nigh is proposed. But as it is in the heavenly sanctuary that Christ now ministers, and into which we enter by our prayers and spiritual worship, so the “house of God” includes both the church militant and the church triumphant. Christ is “over the house of God,” He as the headship, lordship, authority, is in view. The Lord Christ presides over the persons, duties, and worship of believers. He assists the worshippers by His Spirit for the performance of every duty; in that He directs the government of the church, ordains its officers, and administers its laws; in that He makes their service acceptable with God. He is King in Zion, wielding the scepter, protecting the interests of His church, and, according to His pleasure, overthrowing its enemies. It is the Lord who adds to the church those who are to be saved. He is the alone Head, and as the wife is to be subject to her husband in all things, so the members of Christ’s mystical body are to own no other Lord. From Him we are to take our orders; unto Him we must yet render an account.
- “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water” v. 22. To “draw near” unto God is a sacerdotal act, common to all the saints, who are made priests unto God” Rev. 1:6: approaching unto the Most High to present their praises and petitions, both publicly and privately. “To draw near to God is an act of the heart or mind, whereby the soul, under the influence of the Spirit, sweetly, and irresistibly returns to God in Christ as its only center of rest. ch. 4:16; 7:19, Ps. 73:28, Is. 29:13, Jer. 30:21, Jas. 4:8. The believer, fixes himself in the cleft of the Rock of ages; he gets into the secret place of the blessed stair, by which we ascend unto heaven; and then he lifts his voice in drawing near to God, by the new and living way. He says with David ‘I will go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy.’ And if God hides His face, the soul will wait, and bode good at His hand, saying, ‘hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him: He will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me.’ And if the Lord smiles and grants an answer of peace, he will not ascribe his success to his own faith or fervor, but unto Christ alone” (Condensed from Eben. Erskine, 1733).
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” 1Kg. 15:3, 1Chr. 12:33; 28:9, Ps. 32:11; 51:10; 84:11; 119: 7, 10, 69, 80, 145, Pr. 23:26, Jer. 24:7, Act. 8:21. It is not sufficient to assume a reverent posture of body, or worship with our lips only; nor is God honored when we give way to unbelief. A “true heart” is opposed to a double, doubting, distrustful, and hypocritical heart. He “trieth the hearts and the reins” and “whose eyes are like a flame of fire.” It continues.
