_THE AUTHORITY AND HONOUR OF OUR SAVIOUR'S PRIESTHOOD: NEGLIGENCE IN THE KNOWLEDGE THEREOF IS CONDEMNED._ _Anno Domini 63._ THE priesthood and sacrifice of the Son of God, and the pardon procured for sinners thereby, together with the many happy effects of the pardon thus procured, being matters o... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERY HIGH-PRIEST— This stands connected with the preceding verse, _Let us come boldly to the throne of grace,—for that,_ or _because every high-priest—is ordained, that he may offer,_ &c. as that last verse of the former chapter is in consequence of what is said Hebrews 5:14.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN HAVE COMPASSION— The word Μετριοπαθειν signifies "to treat with moderation and gentleness." See the margin. "Who is able to _proportion his compassion_ to those that are ignorant, and wandering from the exact paths of God's commandments, because he himself also is incident to infirmity." The... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BY REASON HEREOF— "By reason of this infirmity, common to him and all mankind, he is obliged for himself, as well as for the people, to offer sacrifice for sins." Here again is a great dissimilitude of circumstances between the high-priest _taken from among men,_ and _our_ High-priest: for, thou... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT IS CALLED OF GOD,— _Called of God_ means a particular designation or appointment to the dignity of high-priest; such a one as Aaron had, Exodus 30:30. They therefore misapply this text, who would argue from it the necessity of a peculiar appointment made by man to the administration of a... [ Continue Reading ]
SO ALSO CHRIST GLORIFIED NOT HIMSELF— _So likewise Christ did not take the honour to himself of being an high-priest._ "He did not of himself assume that dignity, but was expressly appointed to it by Him, who declared concerning him, that he was his Son.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE SAITH ALSO IN ANOTHER PLACE,— The explication of this follows in ch. 7. The apostle had quoted from the _second psalm_ in the preceding verse; when therefore it follows, _as he saith also in another_ (for there is no word in the original for _place,_) it seems more natural to supply the word _... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH,— _During the time he was in the flesh;_ made lower than the angels, as man, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, ch. Hebrews 2:14. The allusion in the next clause is to the prayers of our Saviour, which he made in the _garden_ to God, to _rem... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH HE WERE A SON,— _Notwithstanding his being a Son, he learned obedience by that severe discipline which he underwent._ The connection of this and the preceding verse seems to stand thus: "Jesus offered up prayers unto him who was able to save him from death; and he was, heard too, by reason of... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING MADE PERFECT,— _Being consecrated,_ (see ch. Hebrews 2:10.) consecrated by sufferings to his office, and fully qualified for the discharge of it. But Archbishop Tillotson would translate it, _having attained the end of his race through sufferings,_ that is, passed through sufferings in his way... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED OF GOD, &C.— It is not the word καλουμενος, as Hebrews 5:4 but προσαγορευθεις, having the title of high-priest given him of God the Father. He was not _called_ to his office, as Aaron was, but he was something more; and, which shews an infinitely superior honour in this respect, he was _salut... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHOM— That is, _Melchisedec:_ "Of whom we have _much to say,_ and _hard to be interpreted,_ so as to make you comprehend it, _seeing you are_ νωθροι, _remiss, careless;_—have little or no desire to hear, or learn, or to attend to what you hear." See Ecclus. 9:29; Sir 11:12. Dr. Heylin reads the v... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN FOR THE TIME, &C.— The doctrines of Christ had been so long taught among the Jews, that they could not but understand the scriptures of the prophets, unless they were extremely obstinate, or careless and negligent. What the _first principles,_ or the _very elements of the oracles of God,_ w... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:— Every one who is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, is here called _a babe:_ the thing intended is, that whosoever is ignorant of _the righteousness of God without the law, which is witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God which is... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM THAT ARE OF FULL AGE,— Τε ειων. So _we speak wisdom to them that are_ perfect, τοις τελειοις. See the note on 1 Corinthians 2:6. Those therefore who are here called _of full age,_ are the same as those who by examination or information, are fully and experimentally acquainted with the mysteries... [ Continue Reading ]