20. which, &c.--The antecedent in the Greek is "the
entering"; not as English Version, "way." Translate, "which
(entering) He has consecrated (not as though it were already existing,
but has been the first to open, INAUGURATED
as a new thing; see on
Heb 9:18,
where the Greek is the same) for us (as) a new (Greek, 'recent';
recently opened,
Ro 16:25, 26)
and living way" (not like the lifeless way through the law offering of
the blood of dead victims, but real, vital, and of
perpetual efficacy, because the living and life-giving
Saviour is that way. It is a living hope that we have,
producing not dead, but living, works). Christ, the
first-fruits of our nature, has ascended, and the rest is sanctified
thereby. "Christ's ascension is our promotion; and whither the glory of
the Head hath preceded, thither the hope of the body, too, is called"
[LEO].
the veil--As the veil had to be passed through in
order to enter the holiest place, so the weak, human suffering
flesh
(Heb 5:7)
of Christ's humanity (which veiled His God head) had to be passed
through by Him in entering the heavenly holiest place for us; in
putting off His rent flesh, the temple veil, its type, was
simultaneously rent from top to bottom
(Mt 27:51).
Not His body, but His weak suffering flesh, was the veil;
His body was the temple
(Joh 2:19).
JFB.
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