(3.) That the office of the priesthood of Christ is confined unto the church, unto believers. Theirs he is, and for them alone doth he administer before God in this office.
2. There is a general denotation of this priest, as to his gualifica- tions, in the word rowtror, He doth not now say, that ‘we have an high priest,’ only; nor ‘another high priest, not according to the ordinances of the law,—which he had proved before, from the type of Melchisedec and the testimony of the psal- mist; but moreover such an one as hath that dignity and those excellencies which he now ascribes unto him. The salvation of the church doth not depend merely on its having a high priest,—which ~ yet in itself is absolutely necessary thereunto,—but on his dignity and excellency, his exaltation and glory.
Wherefore it is affirmed of him, that he is “such an high priest as is set on the right hand of the throne of the glorious Majesty in the heavens.” And two things we must consider in these words: (1.) The design of the apostle in them; and, (2.). Their particular interpreta- — tion :-— Ms
(1.) The design of the apostle, as we observed before, was not to prove the reality of his priesthood, that he was truly a priest; nor yet absolutely the qualifications of his person; but his dignity and excellency. For our Lord Jesus Christ, when he was on the earth,
Towvroy.
VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 9
and whilst he offered up to God his great propitiatory sacrifice, was, as unto his outward state and condition, inferior unto the Levitical high priests, who were in great honour and veneration among the people. But the state and condition of any in the bearing and dis- charge of an office is not to be esteemed-and reckoned from what he condescends unto, with respect unto any action or duty belong- ing unto that office,—for a king may condescend unto very mean services, when the condition of his subjects and good of the king- dom require it of him,—but it is to be reckoned from his durable estate, and perpetual abode therein. Now, although our Lord | Christ was for a season in a condition of deep humiliation, taking on him “the form of a servant,” and being esteemed even as “a worm, and no man,’—which was necessary unto the sacrifice he had to offer,—yet as unto his durable state, wherein he continues in the discharge of his office, he is incomparably exalted above all the high priests under the law. And this is that. which the apostle designs here to declare. For what did the high priest do, after he had offered the anniversary sacrifice of expiation unto God? He entered, indeed, into the holy place with the blood of the sacrifice, presenting it there before the august pledges of the presence of God; but all the while he was there, he stood before the typical throne, or ark and mercy-seat, with holy awe and reverence; and immedi- ately on the discharge of his present duty, he was to withdraw and go out of the holy place. A great privilege this was, and a great honour was herein put on the high priest; for all others, both priests and people, were everlastingly excluded out of that sanctu- ary. But what is this unto the glory of our high priest? For after he had offered his great sacrifice unto God, he “entered not into the holy place made with hands, but into heaven itself.” And he entered, not to stand with humble reverence before the throne, but to sit on the throne of God, at his right hand. Nor did he do so to abide there for a season, but for evermore.
(2.) As to the words themselves, we may observe, that the apostle _ three times in this epistle maketh use of them with some little variety, chap. i. 3, xii. 2, and in this place. Chap. i. 3, “ He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” where there is ‘no mention of the throne. Chap. xii. 2, “He is set down at the right hand of the throne of God;” where “‘ Majesty” is not added. Here we have both, “ The right hand of the throne of the Majesty.” In the first place, the glory of his kingly power is intended; in the last, his exaltation and glory, as they ensued on his sufferings; and in this place, the declaration of his glory in his priestly office. The same glory and advancement hath respect unto various acts and powers in the Lord Christ :—
{1.] The manner of his enjoyment of this dignity and glory is
10 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. VIII.
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expressed in the word éxdésoev, “he sat down.” Hereof there was nothing typical in the legal high priest, who never sat down in the holy place. But as he was in many things typed by the Levitical priests, so in what they could not reach unto, he was represented in Melchisedec, who was both a king and a priest. And hence he is prophesied of as “a priest upon his throne,” Zech. vi. 13. And the immutable stability of his state and condition is also intended.
[2.] The dignity itself consists in the place of his residence,