10 They are only a matter of food and drink and various ceremonial washings-external regulations applying until the time of the new order.
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances,
10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
10 but are limited to matters of ritual and behavior. It's essentially a temporary arrangement until a complete overhaul could be made.
10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.
10 For that old system deals only with food and drink and various cleansing ceremonies-physical regulations that were in effect only until a better system could be established.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Hebrews 9:10
Commentary on Hebrews 9:6-10
(Read Hebrews 9:6-10)
The apostle goes on to speak of the Old Testament services. Christ, having undertaken to be our High Priest, could not enter into heaven till he had shed his blood for us; and none of us can enter, either into God's gracious presence here, or his glorious presence hereafter, but by the blood of Jesus. Sins are errors, great errors, both in judgment and practice; and who can understand all his errors? They leave guilt upon the conscience, not to be washed away but by the blood of Christ. We must plead this blood on earth, while he is pleading it for us in heaven. A few believers, under the Divine teaching, saw something of the way of access to God, of communion with him, and of admission into heaven through the promised Redeemer, but the Israelites in general looked no further than the outward forms. These could not take away the defilement or dominion of sin. They could neither discharge the debts, nor resolve the doubts, of him who did the service. Gospel times are, and should be, times of reformation, of clearer light as to all things needful to be known, and of greater love, causing us to bear ill-will to none, but good-will to all. We have greater freedom, both of spirit and speech, in the gospel, and greater obligations to a more holy living.