Interestingly, the grammar indicates
that to make the people holy is a continuous process, not a complete event, as
one might have expected on the emphasis on the completeness of Christ’s work.
The reason for the author’s choice of expression probably has to do with the
relational aspect of holiness. To be made holy is to enjoy intimacy with God.
By its very nature, such a relationship is ongoing, not an event of the past.
It is not a bank account, which, once established, is equally valuable even if
it is forgotten. It is a relationship. Its currency is intimacy. (Sigurd
Grindheim, The Letter to the Hebrews [The Pillar New Testament
Commentary; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 2023], 487)
Further Reading:
Refuting Tony Brown on the theology of the Epistle to the Hebrews
