Having therefore, brethren
As they were to the apostle, in a natural and civil sense, being
Hebrews, as well as in a spiritual relation, being believers in
Christ; which is observed, to testify his affection to them, and
to engage their regard to the duties hereafter urged,
particularly brotherly love, and to signify their common and
equal right to the privilege next mentioned, which is
boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus:
the place saints have boldness to enter into is heaven, called
"the holiest", in reference to the holy of holies, in the
tabernacle; which was a type of it, for the sacredness and
invisibility of it, and for what was in it, went into it, or was
brought thither; as the Shechinah, or divine Majesty, which
resided there; the high priest who went into it once a year; the
blood of sacrifices which was carried into it; the sweet incense;
the ark of the testimony, in which was the law; and the mercy
seat; all which were typical of Christ, his person, blood,
sacrifice, righteousness, intercession, and the grace and mercy
which come through him. Heaven was symbolically shut by the sin
of man, when he was drove out of the garden of Eden; it was
typically opened by the entrance of the high priest into the holy
of holies, on the day of atonement; Christ has in person entered
into it by his blood, and opened the way for his people; and
believers in him may "enter" now, and they do, when they exercise
grace on him, who is there, and when they come and present their
prayers and praises to God by him; and they have now an actual
right to enter into the place itself, and will hereafter enter in
person: and the manner of their present entrance is, "with
boldness"; which signifies their right unto it, the liberty
granted them by God, and the liberty which they sometimes have in
their own souls, and great courage and intrepidity of mind; which
arises from a sense of remission of sins, as may be concluded
from the connection of these words with the preceding; and is
found to be true by experience; and such boldness is consistent
with reverence, humility, and submission. The way of entrance is
"by the blood of Jesus"; and which gives both entrance and
boldness; for hereby sin is removed both from the sight of God,
and the conscience of the believer; peace is made with God, and
spoken to him; pardon is procured, law and justice satisfied, and
neither to be feared, and the everlasting covenant confirmed.