lienediction. "Sacrifices for sins" equivalent to, those of men to God; that is, he was chnr~ed to ~~nnge the concerns of his brethren with the ~ost High, holding an inter- mediate pos1t1on. What was the necessity for such an intermediary? 1. J~ was a wi:tness to tlu~ si11Julness of man. One tribe was set apart for the service of the taber- uacle. Only one family of this might enter the sacred building, Aaron and his four ~ons; five persons in all out of the thousands of Israel, and these only permitted to undertake their duties after solemn rules of consecration. But of this family, only one might pass into the most holy place, and he but once. in a year, and then only in a manner which must have impressed him deeply with the Sanctity of the place. Nothing could more clearly show the distance at which sin had placed man from God. 2. The fnct of mediatwn is a declaration that the broken intercourse between God and man can be renewed. In Eden God communed with man, but sin broke this communion. Sinful rnan coulJ only say with Cain, "From thy face shall I be hid, and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond." But when the doctrine of mediation was taught-and that must liave been very early, for it underlies the idea of sacrifice-how great a door of hope was suddenly opened before them I The intervention of another might yet be, like Jacob's ladder, the means of communication between heaven and earth, 3. The fact of media- tion is G testimony to the principle of substitution. This principle which underlies the New Testament system no less underlies the Old; it runs through the entire Word of God as the principle which keeps it together. Mediation is representation. The high priest represented the people before God. God treated with him on their behalf. What ihey could not do for themselves, he did. II. THE NECESSITY THAT THE MEDUT0R SHOULD DE DIVINELY APPOINTED. The ~tress of the passage is on the word " appointed." 1. This is necessary to ensure the Divine acceptance of the Mediator. Man has no rights, no power, he is helpless and undone, entirely dependent on the mercy of the offended God. He, therefore, can havo no assurance that his representative will be accepted apart froru the Divine appoint- ment of him; but that gives perfect assurance. He whom God has appointed to draw near to him on our behalf cannot draw near in vain. 2. TMs Divine appointment is necessary to show the good wi'll of God to those for whom mediation is made. "If man appointed his own mediator it would only show his yearning after God, but when Goel appoints the mediator it shows God's yearning after him." Man could not devise the idea of one to present his case before God; the will would be wanting. Before there could be any movement towards heaven, God himself must work; there must be the upward drawing before the upward tendency. God must always precede our desire for him. The desire for a mediator, the fact of a divinely appointed Mediator, prove that God is on our side. 3. This Divine appointment is necessary to secure the fulfilment of the mediatorial work, or, at least, for one assurance of this. We expect that "what is no one's work" will remain undone. A special appointment is necessary if we aro to enjoy confidence. Now, for the removal of our doubts as to whether our wants really are made known to God, the sacrifice for our sin really presented, etc., there is the fact that one Person of the Divine Trinity has been set apart for this purpose, 'l'hat being so, not in the least particular will the mediatorial duties be unfulfilled. III. THE FULFILMENT OF THIS NECESSITY IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. .. So also Christ," etc. l. The Father hath appointed Christ to this work. Could our case be in Letter bands? He is no stranger to us. We have seen him, and walked with him, and lived with him in the Gospel history, Could we choose, with whom would wu )eave ourselves as with Jesus? 2. The Divine dignity of Christ adds yet greater worth to this appointment. "Thou art my Son." 'l'be Divine Son has free access to the Father, and to his car and heart. What he asks the Father desires; for he and his Father are one. For him to plead for us is for Goel to plead with himself for us. Moreover, as God he is omniscient and untiring and infinitely loving, so that none of our needs escape him. 3. The fact that Christ regards this position as one of glory adds still furtlier worth to the f)ivine appointment. " Christ glorifled not himself to he," etc. li c counts it a glory to be our Mediator; then behold how he loves us I How certainly 110 will fulfil this work; for he is jealous of his glory 1-C. N.
Vcrs. 7-10.-Christ's human experience tl,e second qualijication/1>1' high prustly uxrrk. The second proof that Christ holds the high priestly position. In vcrs. l, :.l en. v. 1-14.J THE EPISTLFl ·To THE HEBREWS. 151