INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS 5 The apostle having made mention of Christ as an high priest, in the preceding chapter, proceeds in this to give an account of an high priest, and applies the character of him to Christ; and shows that he is of another order of priesthood than that of Aaron, even of the ord... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERY HIGH PRIEST TAKEN FROM AMONG MEN,.... Every one that was an high priest under the law was a man, and not an angel; and it was proper he should be so, that he might be a priest for men, have compassion on them, and offer for them; and he was among the number of common men, and was taken out... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO CAN HAVE COMPASSION ON THE IGNORANT,.... Who have committed sins of ignorance, and bring their sacrifices for them; these he does not insult and upbraid, nor break out into anger and indignation against; but pities them, and sympathizes with them; has a just measure of compassion suitable to the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BY REASON HEREOF,.... Because of his sinful infirmity: HE OUGHT, AS FOR THE PEOPLE, SO ALSO FOR HIMSELF TO OFFER FOR SINS; as he offered sacrifice for the sins of the people, so he was obliged to offer for his own sins; in this Christ differed from the high priest, for he had no sin of his own... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NO MAN TAKETH THIS HONOUR TO HIMSELF,.... That is, the honour of the priesthood: the office of the high priest was a very honourable one; it was a peculiar honour to Aaron, and his sons, to be separated unto it; their instalment into it was very grand and solemn; at that time they were anointed... [ Continue Reading ]
SO ALSO CHRIST GLORIFIED NOT HIMSELF TO BE MADE AN HIGH PRIEST,.... It was a glorifying of Christ, to make him an high priest; not as God, for as such no addition can be made to his glory; yea, it was a condescension in him to become a priest: but as man; it was an honour to the human nature to be u... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE SAITH ALSO IN ANOTHER PLACE,.... Or psalm; namely, in Psalms 110:4 that is, the same person, even God the Father; who spake the words before cited, also expressed the following: THOU ART A PRIEST FOR EVER, AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC; that the psalm, from whence these words are taken, bel... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IN THE DAYS OF HIS FLESH,.... Or "of his humanity", as the Arabic version renders it; or "when he was clothed with flesh", as the Syriac version; in the time of his humiliation, when he was attended with the sinless infirmities of the flesh, or human nature; it may take in the whole course of hi... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH HE WERE A SON,.... The Son of God, as the Vulgate Latin version reads; not by creation, nor by adoption, nor by office, but by nature, being the only begotten of the Father, having the same nature and perfections with him: YET LEARNED HE OBEDIENCE; not to his parents, or civil magistrates, t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEING MADE PERFECT,.... In his obedience, through sufferings; having completed his obedience, gone through his sufferings, and finished his sacrifice, and being perfectly glorified in heaven: HE BECAME THE AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION UNTO ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM; the salvation Christ is the auth... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED OF GOD AN HIGH PRIEST, AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC. על דברתי, according to what is said of him, Psalms 110:4 there is a resemblance between Melchizedek and Christ; many things that are said of the one, agree with the other: there is a likeness in Melchizedek to Christ; in his person, and... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WHOM WE HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY,.... Either of Melchizedek, or of Christ, or of his priesthood or of all of these; since the apostle does largely treat of them in the following Chapter s: he says many things concerning Melchizedek in the seventh chapter, and many things of Christ, and his priesth... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN FOR THE TIME YE OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS,.... These Hebrews had had great advantages; they were not only descended from Abraham, and had the law of Moses, and the writings of the Old Testament, but some of them had enjoyed the ministry of Christ, and however of his apostles; and it was now abou... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERYONE THAT USETH MILK,.... And sits down contented with the first principles of the Gospel, such as are easily taken in and digested; or makes use of the ceremonial law, as a schoolmaster to teach him the Gospel: IS UNSKILFUL IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; the Gospel, which is a doctrine of r... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT STRONG MEAT BELONGETH TO THEM THAT ARE OF FULL AGE,.... Or perfect; see 1 Corinthians 2:6. This does not intend a perfection of justification; for though some have a greater degree of faith than others, and a clearer discovery of their justification, yet babes in Christ are as perfectly justifie... [ Continue Reading ]