For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things _pertaining_ to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Ver. 1. _Both gifts_] Of things without life. _ And sacrifices_] Of living creatures. _ For sins_] Christ, as God, was the priest and altar to offer... [ Continue Reading ]
Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity. Ver. 2. _Who can have compassion_] μετοιοπαθειν. Or, bear anything with reason, and not be easily angry, but show as much mercy as is meet for his, whether they have i... [ Continue Reading ]
And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins. Ver. 3. _He ought as for the people_] A priest is a person by God's apppointment taken from among men, and for men to offer gifts and sacrifices for sin in their and his own behalf.... [ Continue Reading ]
And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as _was_ Aaron. Ver. 4. _And no man taketh, &c._] Or if he do, he shall smoke and smart for it, as did Nadab and Abihu, Uzzah and Uzziah, &c. _In physicis aer non facit seipsum ignem, sed fit a superiori, _ as Aquinas noteth... [ Continue Reading ]
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. Ver. 5. _Glorified not himself_] As the pope doth, who will needs be styled Pontifex maximus, the greatest high priest (whereas Christ is called only the great, a... [ Continue Reading ]
As he saith also in another _place_, Thou _art_ a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Ver. 6. _Thou art a high priest, &c._] The former proof was not so evident; but this puts the matter out of all question. A minister should use sound speech that cannot be contradicted; that he that is... [ Continue Reading ]
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Ver. 7. _Prayers and supplications_] Gr. ικετηριας, deprecations, and most ardent requests, uttered with deep s... [ Continue Reading ]
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Ver. 8. _Yet learned he obedience_] He came to know by experience what a hard matter it was thus to obey God. _Schola crucis, schola lucis._ Gideon, by threshing the men of Succoth, taught them, Judges 8:7,16. God's cha... [ Continue Reading ]
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Ver. 9. _And being made perfect_] τελειωθεις. Or, being offered up in sacrifice; or, being completed by this experimental knowledge of passive obedience also. _ The author_] And finisher too, Hebrews 12:... [ Continue Reading ]
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. Ver. 10. _Called_] Gr. προσαγορευθεις, spoken unto, called by name, or entitled a high priest, &c.; therefore he is truly so. For persons and things are as God calleth them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. Ver. 11. _Of whom we have, &c._] The digression here begun holds on to the end of the next chapter. _ Hard to be uttered_] Gr. Hard to be expounded. But difficulty doth not dishearten, but rather whet on her... [ Continue Reading ]
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which _be_ the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Ver. 12. _Ye have need that one_] But people plead their rotten charters of age and marriage... [ Continue Reading ]
For every one that useth milk _is_ unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Ver. 13. _In the word of righteousness_] That is, in the more solid doctrine of the gospel concerning Christ, who is our righteousness.... [ Continue Reading ]
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, _even_ those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Ver. 14. _To them that are of full age_] Or that are perfect, τελειων, comparatively perfect, not only past the spoon, but full grown. _ Who by reaso... [ Continue Reading ]