Albert Barnes Commentary Hebrews 9:10

"[being] only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation." — Hebrews 9:10 (ASV)

Which stood only in meats and drinks. The idea is that the ordinances of the Jews, in connection with the services of religion, largely consisted of laws pertaining to what was lawful to eat and drink, etc. A considerable part of those laws related to the distinction between clean and unclean beasts, and to arrangements designed to keep them externally distinct from other nations. It is also possible that there may be a reference here to meat and drink offerings. On the grammatical difficulties of this verse, see Stuart on the Hebrews, in the passage cited.

And divers washings. The various ablutions required in the service of the tabernacle and the temple included washing of the hands, of the victim to be offered, etc. It was for this purpose that the laver was erected in front of the tabernacle (Exodus 30:18; Exodus 31:9; Exodus 35:16), and that the bronze sea and the lavers were constructed in connection with the temple of Solomon (2 Chronicles 4:3–5; 1 Kings 7:26). The Greek word here is baptisms. On its meaning, see Barnes on Matthew 3:6 and Mark 7:4.

And carnal ordinances. A marginal note reads: “Or, rites or ceremonies.” Alternatively, they are “Ordinances of the flesh”; that is, ordinances which pertained to the flesh, or to external ceremonies. The object was rather to keep them externally pure than to cleanse the conscience and make them holy in heart.

Imposed on them. Laid on them—epikeimena. It does not mean that there was any oppression or injustice in regard to these ordinances, but that they were appointed for a temporary purpose.

Until the time of reformation. The word here rendered reformation—diorywsiv—means, properly, emendation, improvement, reform. It refers to putting a thing in a right condition, making it better, or raising up and restoring that which has fallen down. Passow. Here the reference is undoubtedly to the gospel, as being a better system—a putting things where they ought to be. Compare to Barnes on Acts 3:21.

The idea here is that those ordinances were only temporary in their nature and were designed to endure until a more perfect system should be introduced. They were of value to introduce that better system; they were not adapted to purify the conscience and remove the stains of guilt from the soul.