To set forth this is the chief scope and aim of the Apostle in the whole context. And, to illustrate his subject, he points out,
1. The superior dignity of his person —
[Christ is the true Melchizcdec, the " King of righteous- ness and peace," without father (as it respected his human nature), without mother (as to his divine nature) ; having neither beginning of days, nor end of Hfe*^: " for from ever- lasting to everlasting he is God'." But the Aaronic priests were poor mortals like ourselves. Besides, the Aaronic priests were sinners, and needed first to offer for their own sins, and then for the people's : but not so the Lord Jesus : " he knew no sin :" " he was without spot and blameless :" " he was holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens," even " the Son of God who is consecrated for evermore""."]
2. The transcendent excellency of his offering —
[The Mosaic priests offered nothing better than the blood of bulls and of goats: but the Lord Jesus offered his own immaculate body ; yea, " he made his own soul an offering for sin"." True, it was the manhood only that suffered; but his manhood, having " the Godhead dwelling in it bodily"," was of more value than all the cattle upon a thousand hills : it was a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world p.]
3. The glory of the place where he ministers —
[The tabernacle where the Mosaic priests officiated was glorious, as being consecrated to such a holy use: but, glorious as it was, " it had no glory by reason of the glory that ex- celleth," even of that heavenly " tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man^." There is he, not in a room darkened with a veil, but in the heaven of heavens ; not in the presence of a bright cloud, a mere symbol of the Deity, but in the immediate presence of God himself; not presenting the blood of beasts, but his own most precious blood, that was once shed on Calvary ; not offering a cloud of incense, but pouring forth his own prevailing intercession ; not bearing a breast-plate with the names of the twelve tribes, but bearing on his breast the name of every individual of his elect ; not appearing there for one people only, but for all the sinners of mankind ; not obtaining mere temporal blessings, or spiritual blessings for a
k Heb. vii. 1—3, ' Ps. xc. 2. Prov. viii. 22—31.
m Heb. vii. 26—28. " Isai. liii. 10. with Heb. ix. 11, 12.
" Col. ii. 9. P 1 John ii. 2.
1 Compare 2 Cor. iii. 10, 11. with ver. 1, 2.