Christ’s fulfilment of his high-priestly office as related to the Aaronic priesthood. —Christ’s ministry is superior to that of the Levitical priests as he himself is superior to them.
1. Of the things which we have spoken (ém? Tots Aeyou- dos). The A.V. is wrong. ‘Ei is in the case of, or in the consideration of : not of, nor in addition to. Tots Aeyouevois “the things which are being spoken”: the matters now under: discussion.
The sum (kepddraov). Rend. the chief point. It is not the sum of what precedes, but the main point of the present discussion. This point is that Christ is the minister of a better sanctuary, connected with a better covenant.
Such an high priest (rovodrov). Taken up from ch. vii. 26. Is set (€xd@icev). Repeating ch. i. 3. Rend. sat down.
The throne of the majesty (rod O@pcvou ris weyadwovrns ). See on ch. i. 8. The phrase N. T.°.
In the heavens (év rots ovpavois). Const. with sat’ down, not with majesty, which is complete in itself and needs no qualifying epithet.
2. Aminister (Aeroupyés). Sat down asa minister. From an old adjective Aezros or Adiros (found only in this com-
468 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. VII.
pound), belonging to the people, and épyov work. Hence, orig- inally, the service of the state in a public office. In LXX and N. T. AeToupyds minister, Aevroupyetv to minister, and ret- roupyia ministry are used both of priestly service to God and of service tomen. <Ae:rovpyia in LXX rarely of the service of the priests, often of the Levites. See 1 K.i. 4; xix. 21; 2K. iv. 48; vi. 15. Aesrovpyovs, Heb. i. 7, in the general - sense of servants of God.
Of the sanctuary (Tav ayiwv). The heavenly sanctuary. Ta dyta the most holy place, Heb. ix. 8, 12, 25; x.19; xiii. 11. Comp. dyta aylov holy of holies, Heb. ix. 3.. “Ayta holy places generally, but with special reference to the innermost sanctu- ary, Heb. ix. 24.
The true tabernacle (tis oxnvis ths adnOivhs). Explan- atory of rav dyiwv. ‘The form of expression is emphatic : the tabernacle, the genuine one, as compared with the tabernacle in the wilderness. For aAn@wes real, genuine, see on J. i. 9. Zxnvn a tent. For different shades of meaning, comp. Matt. xvii. 4; L.xvi.9; Acts vii. 43. In this epistle always of the tabernacle in the wilderness.
3. A priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices. Therefore Christ, a high priest, must have gifts and sacri- fices to offer, and a sanctuary in which to offer them.
Wherefore it is of necessity (60ev dvayxaiov). Rend. wherefore it is necessary.
Somewhat to offer (6 mpocevéyxy). Lit. what he may offer. The construction is unusual. Comp. Acts xxi. 16. The statement is a truism, unless it be assumed that the Hebrew Christians were ignorant of the doctrine of Christ’s priest- hood.
4. Rend. “Now if he were on earth he would not be a priest at all, seeing that there are those who offer the gifts
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according to the law.” Christ could not be a priest on earth, because there is an order of priests already established by law ; and as Christ was not of the tribe of Levi (ch. vii. 18, 14) he could have nothing in common with them.
5. Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things (oftives drrodelypatt Kal ox1a NaTpevovalw THY érroupav- tov). The connection is, “ there are those who offer the gifts according to the law, such as (oftwves) serve,” etc. For Xat- pevovow serve, see on 2 Tim. i. 8. Omit unto. Rend. serve the copy and shadow, etc., or, as Rev., that which is a copy and shadow. For trdderypa copy, see on 1 Pet. v. 3; 2 Pet. ii. 6. Comp. Heb. ix. 23. Tov émrovpavioy “of heavenly things.” Ta érovpdwa in N. T. usually “heavenly places.” See Eph.i. 3; 11.6; iii. 10; vi. 12: “heavenly things,” J. iii. 12; Philip. ii. 10; Heb. ix. 23.*