29, 30. And it is to the Lord Christ alone, who is both the true tabernacle and the minister thereof, that we care to look in all our spiritual distresses.

VERSE 3.

For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices; wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.

§1. The subject stated. $2 (I.) A general assertion concerning every high priest. $3. (II) A particular inference of what necessarily belongs to Christ, The offering of himself. §4. (III.) Observations.

$1. THE

HE Summary description of our High Priest is carried on in this verse. And the apostle manifests, that as he wanted nothing which any other high priest had, that was necessary to the discharge of his office, so he had it all in a more eminent manner than any other. There are two things in the words:

I. A general assertion of the nature, duty, and office of every high priest.

II. A particular inference from them, of what necessarily belonged to the Lord Christ in the susception and discharge of his office.

§2. (I.) "Every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices." The universality of the expression is to be observed; (Tas aрXIEρEUs) every high priest. The apostle thus expresseth it, because there lay no excep tion against his argument, seeing that in the whole multitude of high priests, in their succession from first to last, there was no one but was appointed to this end, and had this duty incumbent upon him, yet it is not one special duty of their office that he insisteth on, but the general end for which they were appointed. (Kabiolalar) is ordained, appointed of God by the law, see chap. v, 12. To offer gifts and sacrifices." This

appears in their original institution, Exod. xxviii, 29; and none but they might approach to God, to offer any thing sacredly unto him. The people might bring their offerings to God, but they could not offer them upon the altar. And God hereby taught the people that nothing should ever be accepted from them, but by the hand of the High Priest who was to come. And whoever he be, if as great and prosperous as King Uzziah, who shall think to approach to God immediately without the interposition of this High Priest, he is smitten with the plague of spiritual leprosy. "Gifts and sacrifices;" (Sapa, munera, donaria, dona.) Sometimes all (p) the corbans in general are intended by this word; for all sacred offerings, of what sort soever, were called corbans, (Ovciai) bloody sacrifices; sacrifices by immolation, or killing, of whatever sort the matter of it was, or to whatever special end it was designed. And the Mincoth were offerings of dead things, as of corn, oil, meats and drinks. To offer all these was the office of the priesthood ordained; and we are taught thereby, that there is no approach to God without continual respect to sacrifice and atonement for sin; and so necessary was this to be done, that the very office of the priesthood was appointed for it. Men do but dream of the pardon of sin, and acceptance with God, without atonement. This the apostle layeth down as that which was necessary for every high priest by God's institution. There never was any high priest, but his very office and essential duty was to offer gifts and sacrifices, for to that end was he ordained of God.

$3. (II.) Hence he infers, that it was necessary "this man should have somewhat to offer." For being a minister of the heavenly sanctuary, and the true tabernacle, he was an high priest; yet this he could not

be, unless he had "somewhat to offer" to God. An high

priest that had nothing to offer, and who was not ordained to that very end, is indeed no priest at all (OBE) "wherefore" the whole force of this inference depends on this supposition, that all the old typical institutions did represent what was really to be accomplished in Christ; whence it was necessary that he should be what they signified and represented. (Tslov) "This man." He of whom we speak, this high priest of the New Testament, before specified by his name Jesus, and by his dignity, the Son of God. This priest must have somewhat to offer, (avaynaiov) of necessity; for whatever otherwise this glorious person might be, yet an high priest he could not be, unless he had some what to offer, (Exen) "that he should have." It is not possession only that is intended; but possession with respect to use. He was so to have somewhat to offer, as to offer it accordingly; for it would not avail the church to have an High Priest that should have somewhat to offer, if it were not actually offered. (Ti о жрoσevεyun) somewhat to offer; that is, in sacrifice to God. The apostle expresseth it indefinitely, (TI 'Ô) somewhat, but he elsewhere declares expressly that this was "himself," his whole human nature, soul and body. For it is impossible, as he declares, that the blood of bulls or goats should ever take away sin, or purge the conscience of the sinner; chap. x, 1-3, &c. wherefore, as it was necessary that he should have somewhat to offer, so it was necessary that this somewhat should be himself, and nothing else.

§4. (III.) And from these words we may observe, 1. That there was no salvation to be had for us, no not by Jesus Christ himself, without his sacrifice and oblation. It was of necessity that he should have somewhat to offer, as well as the legal priests. Some would

have it that Christ is our Savior, only because he declared to us the way of salvation, and gave us an example of the way whereby we may attain it, in his own personal obedience. But whence then was it of necessity that he must have somewhat to offer to God as our priest, that is for us? For this belongeth not to his doctrine nor example. Wherefore there was no other way for our salvation, but by a real propitiation or ATONEMENT made for our sins; and whosoever looketh for salvation from any other quarter, will be deceived.

2. As God designed for the Lord Jesus Christ his proper work, so he furnished him with whatever was necessary for him that he might accomplish the important purpose. Wherefore a body did God prepare for him, chap. x, 1-8, &c.

3. The Lord Christ being to save the church in the way of office, he was not to be spared in any thing necessary thereto. And, in conformity to him,

4. Whatever state or condition we are called to, what is necessary to that state is indispensably required of us. So, in general, holiness and obedience are required in a state of reconciliation and peace with God.

VERSE 4.

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law.

1. Introduction, and scope of the words. $2. The necessity of Christ's exercising his priesthood in heaven. §3. The subject farther explained. §4. First, why might not Christ be a priest on earth. 5. Secondly, why did he not first abolish the Levitical priesthoood to make way for his own, $6. The sense ascertained, $7, 8. (III.) Observations.

§1. In the preceding discourses the apostle hath fully proved, that the introduction of this new priesthood

under the gospel had put an end to the old; he proceeds in this verse to shew how necessary it was that he should neither "offer the things appointed in the law," nor yet abide in the state and condition of a priest here on earth," as those other priests did. For whereas it might be objected, if Christ was an High Priest as he pleaded, why then did he not minister the holy things of the church according to the duty of a priest? To which he replies, that such a supposition was inconsistent with his office, and destructive both of the law and the gospel. For it would thereby overthrow the law, for one that was not of the line of Aaron to officiate in the holy place; the law provided others, so that there was no room for his ministry. And the gospel also would have been of no use thereby, seeing on that supposition the sacrifice it was built upon would have been of the same nature with those under the law.

§2. "For if he were on the earth, he should not be "a priest." (E EV) "if indeed he were on earth." The emphasis of the particle is not to be omitted. If really it were so; or, therein is force granted to the concession, truly it must be so. "If he were on earth," (referring to his present state and condition,) if he were not exalted into heaven in the discharge of his office; if he were not at the right hand of God in the heavenly sanctuary, but could have discharged his whole of fice on earth, "If he were on earth," (referring to his sacrifice and tabernacle,) had a priesthood of the same order and constitution with that of the law; if he were to have offered sacrifices of the same kind with them, which were to be perfected on the earth; if he were not to have offered himself, wherein his sacrifice could not be absolutely consummate without the presentation of himself in the most holy place not made with