Since our sins were forgiven us, we also have boldness to enter the sanctuary, that is, into heaven.
Heb. 10:19. By the Blood of Jesus Christ
Through blood, that is. For, having been deemed worthy through the cross and blood of Christ of the forgiveness of sins, we received boldness.
Heb. 10:20. a new****** and living way,
Heb. 10:20. which He newly opened for us
As for the entrance into the Sanctuary, He Himself inaugurated for us the way, that is, He Himself made the way new, having Himself begun it and Himself been the first to pass through it. Instead of calling the way "new" – νέαν, he called it πρόσφατον – recent, opened for our times. It is to our praise that we have been deemed worthy of that which Abraham was not deemed worthy; heaven is now opened to us. He called it "living" because the first way into the Sanctuary, according to the law, was death-bearing. That way no longer has a place, but for those who accept it, it becomes a cause of death. But this new way so leads to life that it itself lives and will remain so perpetually. Or by "living" understand, similarly to "recent" (πρόσφατον), something new and flourishing, as if in contrast to the entrance into the Old Testament Sanctuary: for that way is a way of death.
Heb. 10:20. Through the veil, that is, His flesh,
He renewed for us this path into heaven through His flesh: for when it was lifted up on the cross and ascended, then the heavenly realm was opened to us. Therefore he rightly called it a "veil." For the distinctive property of a veil is precisely this: that when it is removed, what is within is revealed.
Heb. 10:21. and having a great Priest over the house of God,
Having a "Priest," obviously Christ, and the "house" is us, the believers (Heb. 3:6), according to the following words: "I will dwell in them and walk among them" (2 Cor. 6:16, cf. Lev. 26:12). Or, what I think is better, heaven: for he also calls it the "Sanctuary," and says that the High Priest ministers in it, interceding on our behalf.
Heb. 10:22. let us draw near
To what? To faith and to spiritual service, or — to heaven, where our High Priest is.
Heb. 10:22. with a sincere heart,
That is, free from the guile of wickedness, unhypocritical toward the brethren, or not doubting, not at all wavering or being perplexed concerning the future good things, and therefore not falling into faintheartedness. So he continues.
Heb. 10:22. with full (ἐν πληροφορίᾳ) faith,
He teaches us under what condition we do not fall into faintheartedness, namely, if we have the fullness (πληροφορίαν) of faith, that is, faith both firm and most perfect. For it is possible to believe, but not fully. So, for example, some say that the resurrection will be the possession of some but not of others; this is not full, but rather imperfect faith. Therefore, let us draw near with full faith. Since nothing here is visible — neither the temple, nor heaven, nor the High Priest — Christ, but is hidden from us, just as in the Old Testament the high priest, entering the Holy of Holies, was not visible, for this reason full and undoubting faith is necessary.
Heb. 10:22. Sprinkling having cleansed the hearts from an evil conscience,
Having spoken about faith, he now shows that not faith alone is required, but also a virtuous life. The Jews sprinkled the body, but we sprinkle the hearts, so as to be conscious of nothing wicked in ourselves. We shall be sprinkled by virtue itself, or by the grace of the Spirit, who forgave us our sins in the font and strengthened us so that, if we make the effort, we no longer fall into sin.
Heb. 10:22. Having washed the body with pure water,
By the water of baptism. "Pure," either meaning that which makes pure, or that which has no admixture of blood, as in ancient times with the admixture of ashes. Although the grace of the Spirit in baptism also cleanses souls, Paul here joined the visible with the invisible. At the very least, in the actual performance of baptism, water is taken for the body. Since we are twofold, the cleansing is also twofold.
Heb. 10:23. let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
That is, let us firmly hold fast to the "hope" that we have confessed. For at the beginning of faith we hoped that we ourselves would ascend to heaven; and when we entered into the covenant of faith, we confessed that we believe in the resurrection of the dead and in life everlasting. Therefore, let us hold fast to this confession.
Heb. 10:23. For faithful is He who promised.
He gives strength so that we may hold fast to a firm hope, especially if we consider the worthiness of "Him who promised." For "faithful," that is, true is Christ, who said: "where I am, there My servant will be also" (John 12:26).
Heb. 10:24. Let us be attentive to one another, encouraging one another to love and good works.