Which was a figure for the time then present,— The word then is not in the original, though our translators have not distinguished it, as usual in such cases, by putting it in a different character. By the present time many eminent commentators understand the present time of the temple service: "What the Holy Ghost pointed out from the construction of the tabernacle, and only the high-priest's entrance into it, holds equally now under the temple at this present time; in which gifts and sacrifices are offered daily." Doddridge, however, and others, give the passage a different turn; understanding it, not as referring merely to the temple, but that the constitution before described, was a figurative representation of the Christian dispensation, which, at the timewhen the apostle wrote, was displayed in all its glory: in which view, we read and translate as follows;—"Which is only a kind of allegorical figure and parable, referring to the glorious displays of the present time; in which, nevertheless, there is hitherto a continuance of the temple service; so that gifts and sacrifices are still offered, which yet, in the nature of things, are not able to make the person who performs the service perfect, with respect to the conscience; as they refer not to the real expiation of guilt, but only to the averting of some temporal evils, which the law denounced on transgressions." This, in a few words, expresses what seems to be of the greatest importance forunderstanding the Mosaic sacrifices; which is, that they were never intended to expiate offencesto such a degree, as to deliver the sinner from the final judgment of God, in another world; but merely to make his peace with the government under which he then was, and to furnish him with a pardon pleadable against any prosecution which might be commenced against him in their courts of justice, or any exclusion from the privilege of drawing near to God, as one externally at peace with him, in the solemnities of his temple worship. Expositors have perplexed themselves greatly with respect to the construction of this and the next verse; which however appears to me exceeding plain. The apostle's reasoning seems to be this: "By what we have mentioned in the foregoing verses, the Holy Ghost plainly denoted what follows, Hebrews 9:8 namely, that the way into the holy of holies was not made manifest while the first tabernacle continued; which is a figure,a visibletype and emblem even to the present time: at which time the same kind of gifts and sacrifices are offered in the temple, as were heretofore offered in the tabernacle: and which neither then nor now are able to make perfect, as to the conscience, him that ministereth only in meats or drinks;— τον λατρευοντα μονον επι βρωμασι ." This is a natural and easy construction of the words, and the 9th and 10th verses must otherwise appear as tautology, the apostle having before said thesame thing; unless we understand him as here speaking of the temple service, which it seems extremely proper for his argument to assert as of the same import and signification with the tabernacle service. Until the time of reformation, means the time of the Messiah, when all things should be set aright. See Acts 3:19 and Acts 11:19.
Related Commentaries of Hebrews 9:9
Hebrews 9:9
9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;