Commentary on Hebrews and the Catholic Epistles John Calvin (continued)
John Calvin
16. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
16. Hoc esse testamentum quod statuam cum ipsis post dies illos, dicit Dominus, ut ponam leges meas in corda illorum, et in mentibus eorum inscribam illas,
17. And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 17. Et peccatorum et iniquitatum eorum non recordabor amplius. 18. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 18. Porro ubi fit horum remissio, non est amplius oblatio pro peccato. 11. And every priest, etc. Here is the conclusion of the whole argument, --- that the practice of daily sacrificing is inconsistent with and wholly foreign to the priesthood of Christ; and that hence after his coming the Levitical priests whose custom and settled practice was daily to offer, were deposed from their office; for the character of things which are contrary is, that when one thing is set up, the other falls to the ground. He has hitherto labored enough, and more than enough, in defending the priesthood of Christ; the conclusion then is, that the ancient priesthood, which is inconsistent with this, has ceased; for all the saints find a full consecration in the one offering of Christ. At the same time the word {τετελείωκεν}, which I render ``has consecrated,'' may yet be rendered ``has perfected;'' but I prefer the former meaning, because he treats here of sacred things. 169
By saying, them who are sanctified, he includes all the children of God; and he reminds us that the grace of sanctification is sought elsewhere in vain.
But lest men should imagine that Christ is now idle in heaven, he repeats again that he sat down at God's right hand; by which phrase is denoted, as we have seen elsewhere, his dominion and power. There is therefore no reason for us to fear, that he will suffer the efficacy of his death to be destroyed or to lie buried; for he lives for this end, that by his power he may fill heaven and earth. He then reminds us in the words of the Psalm how long this state of things is to be, even until Christ shall lay prostrate all his enemies. If then our faith seeks Christ sitting on God's right hand, and recumbs quietly on him as there sitting, we shall at length enjoy the fruit of his victory; yea, when our foes, Satan, sin, death, and the whole world are vanquished, and when corruption of our flesh is cast off, we shall triumph for ever together with our head.
15. The Holy Ghost also is a witness, etc. 170 This testimony from Jeremiah is not adduced the second time without reason or superfluously. He quoted it before for a different purpose, even to show that it was necessary for the Old Testament to be abrogated, because another, a new one, had been promised, and for this end, to amend the weakness of the old. 171 But he has now another
169See Appendix K 2. 170"Now testify to us does also the Holy Spirit;" such may be the rendering of the words. The {δὲ} is translated ``And,'' by Macknight, and ``Morever,'' by Stuart, but ``Now'' seems the most suitable. --- Ed
171The quotation as made here affords a remarkable instance of what Calvin has previously