9:10 {5} [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, {g} imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.
(5) Another reason why they could not clear the conscience of the worshipper is because they were outward and carnal or material things.
(g) For they were as you would say, a burden, from which Christ delivered us.
9:10 [Which stood] only... carnal ordinances. The Revised Version is much clearer: [Being] only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances
Divers washings. Baptisms in the Greek. Immersions of the whole body were often required in the Jewish service. For examples see Ex 29:4; Le 16:4 17:15 Nu 19:7. These washings were all carnal ordinances for ceremonial purification.
Carnal ordinances. These rites pertained to the flesh, were outward, did not renew the spirit, and were temporal, imposed
until the time of reformation. That is, until the new covenant was ushered in.
9:10 They could not so perfect him, with all their train of precepts relating to meats and drinks, and carnal, gross, external ordinances; and were therefore imposed only till the time of reformation - Till Christ came.
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.
