This is the substance of the discourses of this chapter, considered apart by themselves, We must also inquire into their relation unto those foregoing, and the design of the apostle in them, which is twofold; for,—
First, They have respect unto his general purpose and aim. And herein they contain an entrance into a full and particular descrip- tion of the sacerdotal office of Christ, with the excellency of it, and the benefits which thereby redound unto the church. This was the principal intention of the apostle in the writing of this epistle; for besides the excellency of the doctrine hereof in itself, and the ines- timable benefits which the whole church receiveth thereby, it was peculiarly for many reasons necessary for the Hebrews, as hath been showed. Wherefore in the first chapter he lays down a de- scription of the person of Christ, which, under the new testament,
VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. _ 441
is vested with all those sacred offices in and over the church of God which were typically exercised by others under the old. Of these, in the following chapters he more particularly treats of his kingly and prophetical; comparing him therein with Moses and Joshua, showing in sundry instances his pre-eminence above them. He had also by the way interserted several things concerning his sacerdotal office, with a general description whereof, and declaration of the advantage of the church thereby, he closeth the foregoing chapter.
In all these things it was the purpose of the apostle not to handle them absolutely, but with respect unto that exercise of them which, by God’s appointment, was in use in the church of the Hebrews under the old testament; for that the nature of his treaty with them did require. And herein he effected two things, both apposite unto his principal end; for,—1. He declares what it was in all those institutions which God intended to instruct them in, seeing they were all “shadows of good things tocome.” So he lets them know that whatever esteem they had of them, and however they rested in them, they were not appointed for their own sakes, but only for a time, to foresignify what was now, in the person and mediation of Christ, actually and really exhibited unto them. 2. He makes it evident how exceedingly the way and worship of God which they were now called unto, and made partakers of under the gospel, did excel those which before they were intrusted with; whence the con- clusion was easy and unavoidable, unto the necessity of their stead- fastness in the profession of the gospel,—the principal thing aimed at in the whole.
On these grounds, the apostle undertaketh a comparison between the priesthood of Aaron and his successors and that of Jesus Christ, which was prefigured thereby. And this he doth with respect unto both the ends mentioned; for, first, he shows them how they were of old instructed in the nature and use of that priesthood which, according to the promise of God, was to be introduced and erected in the church in the person of his Son. Hence he lays down sundry things which they knew to belong unto the priesthood of old, whence they might learn somewhat, yea much, of the nature of this now exhibited, seeing they were instituted on purpose to declare it, al- though they did it but obscurely. And then also he makes known the excellency of this priesthood of Christ above that of old, as the substance excels the shadow, and the permanent thing represented, the obscure and fading representations of it. Unto the handling of these things an entrance is here made, which, with sundry occasional diversions, is pursued to the end of the 10th chapter.
_ Secondly, In particular, the present discourse of this chapter hath relation unto what immediately precedes in the close of the fore- going; for haying therein proposed to their consideration the priestly
442 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. V.
office of Christ, and given a glorious description of it in general, with respect unto his person and exaltation, he shows how greatly this conduces to the advantage and consolation of the church, as may be seen in the text, and our exposition of it. To confirm what he had so proposed, and to strengthen our faith in expectation of the benefits expressed, he enters upon a particular description of that office as exercised by Christ; and in this respect the ensuing discourse renders the reasons and gives the grounds of what he had immediately before laid down and declared.
VERSE I.
Tla&s yap d&pysepeds 2& cevdpurov AuwCavomevos, dartp avbpamray nadioraras ra pos roy @edy, Iva wpoopépn Oapad re nal Svoing dIotp Kmapriav.
"EE dvdpoxav. Syr., 8t2 22 724, “ whois of ” (or “ from amongst”) “the sons of men.” ‘“Yxtp dvbparav xabiorates. Syr., SSP 8% oF =n, ‘* stands for men ;” that is, in their stead. Ta xpos rev cov. Syr., TIS 8T28T TE, “over the things which are of God,” or which belong to him; not so properly, as we shall see. The Arabic renders 72 xpos rdv Ocov, “ in the things that are offered unto God ;” a good sense of the words. And the Ethiopic is, “ appointed for men with” (or * before”) “ God;” that is, to do for them what is to be done with God. Vulg. Lat., “in iis que sunt ad Deum,” “in the things appertaining unto God,” or which are to be done with him. So Arias, “ ea que ad Deum,” to the same pur- pose. Beza, “in iis que sunt apud Deum peragenda,” “ in the things that are to be performed towards God;” more properly than ours and the Rhemists, “in things pertaining to God,” for so do things innumerable, on one account or other, that are not here intended. Adpa. Syr., 827?, “ oblations,” “ offerings;” a general name for all sacrifices.