The divine services of the first covenant: the rites and bloody sacrifices, 1–10; are far inferior to the “dignity and perfection of the blood and sacrifice of Christ, 11–28. (89)
- “Imposed until the time of reformation.” “The word ‘imposed’ that is, as a burden. There was a yoke in all these legal rites and ceremonies, and too heavy for the people to bear Acts 15:10. They groan under the burden of bondage as treated at large in the epistle to the Galatians. Therefore they were not designed to continue forever, but for a determined and limited season, namely, “unto the time of reformation,” “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law; to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons” Gal. 4:4, 5.
- “But Christ being come an high priest of goods things to come…” Heb. 9: 11, 12. “These words naturally call attention to: His official character: He is ‘come an high priest of good things to come.’ His ministry in that official character: ‘He has obtained eternal redemption for His people,’ ” (John Brown) The legal high priest “could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience” (v. 9): “But Christ”—could. “But Christ being come” no doubt looks back, especially to Gen. 49:10, Ps. 40:7, Is. 59:20, Mal. 3:1, 1Jn. 5:2o. “But Christ being come an High Priest.” True, He came also as Prophet Deut. 18:15, 18, and as King Matt. 2:2, but here the Holy Spirit emphasizes the sacerdotal office of Christ, because it was in that He offered Himself as a sacrifice unto God. In 9:11 to 10:22 the Holy Spirit sets before us the antitype of Lev. 16, the work of Israel’s high priest on the annual day of atonement. Aaron officiating both outside the veil and within it. So the priestly functions of Christ fall into two great divisions, as they were performed on earth and as they are now continued in heaven. Before our great High Priest could enter the Holiest on high and there make intercession before God, He had first to make an atonement for the sins of those He represented, by offering Himself a sacrifice unto God: 7:27, 8:3, 9:26. “The Jews believed their Messiah would be both a prophet and king, they had no expectation of His also being priest, who should redeem sinners unto God. One who should go forth in the terror of His power, subjugating the nations and restoring the kingdom to Israel, appealed to their carnality. Hence it is that the priesthood of Christ is given such a prominent place in this epistle to the Hebrews. “But Christ being come an High Priest.” God appointed His Son “Mediator,” He was constituted the Prophet, the Priest, and the Potentate of His Church. The Father appointed the Son to be the Mediator between Him and His people. A Mediator beginning from His incarnation: there is “one Mediator… the Man Christ Jesus” 1Tim. 2:5. Pink Artur W.
- But Christ being come an High Priest,” and this according to the eternal oath of the Father, which “oath” Heb. 7:20–25. It was “by the word of the oath” that the Son is consecrated to His priestly office (Heb. 7:28), the “oath” denoting God’s eternal purpose and unchanging decree. In Ps. 2:7 God said, “I will declare the decree,” and in Ps. 110:4 we are told, “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek”. That God’s “oath” preceded Christ’s entrance upon and discharge of His sacerdotal office. Heb. 5:6, 7, Christ was in “the days of His flesh.” So too it was as “a merciful and faithful High Priest” that Christ “made propitiation for the sins of the people” Heb. 2:17; 3:1; 4:15; 5:5, 6; 7:1, 11–26. A, None save the priest could offer sin-offering or sacrifice to God Lev. 4:30, 1Sam. 13:7-14
