A commentary on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. By M. John Calvin. Translated…A commentarie on the vvhole Epistle to the Hebrevves. By M. Iohn Caluin. Translated…

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves: but by his own blood entered he in once unto the holy place, and obtained eternal redemption for us.

12 Neither by the blood of goates and calues: but by his owne blood entred he in once vnto the holy place, and obtained eternall redemption for vs.

Now these things thus ordained, &c.] Verse 6 Omitting all other matters, he undertakes to deal with that wherein was ⟨p. 178⟩most difficulty. He saith that the Priests which performed the services about the sacrifices, were always accustomed to enter into the first Tabernacle: but the high Priest entered only once every year with a solemn sacrifice into the holiest place of all. And of this he gathereth, that whilst this Tabernacle of the law was standing, the Sanctuary was yet closed up, and the way was no otherwise opened into the kingdom of God, but by the overthrowing of this first Tabernacle. We see then how that even the figure of the old tabernacle did admonish the Jews that they were to aspire further. Those then who wittingly do shut up the passage, by retaining the shadows of the law still, do very foolishly. Therefore to this purpose, in the 8. verse, he takes the first Tabernacle in another sense than heretofore. For in the sixth verse, it signified the common Sanctuary; but here it signifies the whole body of the Tabernacle. For it is set as opposite to the Sanctuary of Christ, whereof he will speak by and by. He saith that the taking down thereof was to our great profit, because that by the ruin of it, access is given us to come the more familiarly to God.

NOw these things thus ordained, &c.] Verse 6 Omitting all other matters, he vndertakes to deale with that wherein was ⟨p. 178⟩most difficultie. He saith that the Priests which performed the seruices about the sacrifices, were alwaies accustomed to enter into the first Tabernacle: but the high Priest entred only once euery yeere with a solemne sacrifice into the holiest place of all. And of this he gathereth, that whilest this Tabernacle of the law was standing, the Sanctuarie was yet closed vp, and the way was no otherwise opened into the kingdome of God, but by the ouerthrowing of this first Tabernacle. We see then how that euen the figure of the olde tabernacle did admonish the Iewes that they were to aspire further. Those then who wittingly doe shut vp the passage, by retaining the shadowes of the law still, doe very foolishly. Therefore to this purpose, in the 8. verse, he takes the first Tabernacle in another sense than heretofore. For in the sixt verse, it signified the common Sanctuarie; but here it signifies the whole bodie of the Tabernacle. For it is set as opposite to the Sanctuarie of Christ, whereof hee will speake by and by. He saith that the taking downe thereof was to our great profit, because that by the ruine of it, accesse is giuen vs to come the more familiarly to God.