This is a broad outline of the passage. The contrast between the type and the real is

magnified, and perfection is alone found in the heavenly priesthood and the one Offering

of Christ. There is another line running through this section which bears immediately

upon the text we are studying. Every section of the above structure is not only marked by

the words "no perfection," but also by the abrogation of the commands and offerings of

the law and the setting aside of the Old covenant itself. This we set out separately in

order that it may be seen quite clearly.

C |

7: 18. The putting away of the commandment concerning priests. (athetesis).

| 8: 8. The finding fault with the 1st covenant.

D

C |

9: 26. The putting away of the sin offering. (athetesis).

| 10: 9. The taking away of the 1st covenant.

It will be seen that for every statement concerning the failure to bring to perfection,

there is also a statement concerning annulling or putting aside. Regarding the first

covenant the words are, "finding fault" as over against "making new," and "taking away"

as over against "establishing" the second. No proof is required as to the meaning of these

passages.  In 7: 18 and 9: 26 the word athetesis occurs.  In 7: 18 it is the

"disannulling  (or abrogation)  of the commandment"--the "carnal commandment"

(verse 16), the appointment of the Levitical priesthood. In 9: 26, by every argument of

structure, parallel, and context, it must mean the disannulling or abrogation, not of the sin

of the believer, but of the typical Sin-offering of Israel's priesthood. This is the insistent

theme of chapter 9: from verse 12 to the end. "Neither by the blood of goats and

calves, but by His own blood . . . . . how much more shall the blood of Christ." The first

covenant was dedicated with the blood of bulls and goats. The patterns of things in the

heavens were purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with an infinitely

better sacrifice than these. "Now once upon an end of the ages, for an abrogation of sin

offering by the sacrifice of Himself, He has been manifested." Chapter 10: is even more

explicit. "Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me."

The oft repeated offerings of the Levitical priesthood pass away before the once offered

sacrifice of Christ. "For where remission of these, there is no more offering for sin."

USAGE.--Heb. 10: 28  contains the only other reference in the epistle, "He that

despised Moses' law."  Gal. 3: 15 speaks of disannulling a covenant.  Luke 7: 30

reads "rejected (mar. frustrated) the counsel of God." I Cor. 1: 19 renders it "bring to

nought." A reference to the LXX but confirms this conclusion.  Psa. 33: 10, "He

maketh the devices of the people of none effect." Psa. 89: 34, "My covenant will I

not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips." The next word teach the same

as Hebrews, namely, the permanence of that covenant established by oath.  Other

renderings, despise, rebel, etc., point in the same way Usage confirms the demand of

structure. Sin is often synonymous with sin-offering.