God*^ : and he died also as a victim, an expiation for sin, even for the sins of the whole world '^.]
He was " higher than the heavens" —
[He was so previous to his incarnation. From all eternity was he " in the bosom of the Father ^," and " had a glory with him before all worlds*^." He was in a sense that the highest archangel never was, the Son of God, " his only-begotten Son^," whom " all the angels of heaven worshipped'\" He was " the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his person \" And subsequent to his death, also, was he exalted " far above all principalities and powers, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come^ :" " for he rose ajjain, and went into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto himi."]
In all these respects he was widely different from all the priests under the Levitical law —
[They were " taken from amongst their brethren," and " compassed with the same infirmities" as others; and *' re- ceived honour from," rather than conferred honour upon, the office they sustained ; and could execute it only during a few short years of their existence upon earth™. Had He in any of these respects resembled them, he would not have been a suitable High-priest for us.]
To elucidate this, I will proceed to shew, II. Why "such an High-priest alone became us" —
Had the Lord Jesus been an imperfect being, like the high-priests of old,
1. He would have needed an offering for himself —
[They were forced to offer a sacrifice first for their own sins, before they could hope for any acceptance in what they should offer for the sins of others". But this was unnecessary for Him, because there was no spot of sin found in him. And this is the very particular which the Apostle, in the words following my text, specifies, as resulting from His spotless character : " He needeth not daily, as those high-priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's."
« Luke xxiii. 46. with John x. 17, 18. ^ Matt. xx. 28.
e John i. 18. f John xvii. 24. s Heb. i. 5.
'> Heb. i. 6. * Heb. i. 3.
i^ Phil. ii. 9—11. Eph. i. 20, 21. '1 Pet. iii. 22.
■^ Heb. V. 1, 2, 4. " Heb. v. 3.