Chapter 2 opens with the exhortation that for this reason we ought to give the more earnest attention to what He taught. [42]
Chapter 2 sets forth also that Christ had passed through suffering, in order that He “might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people” (c. ii. 17).
Chapter 3 opens with an invitation to consider this Apostle and High Priest of our profession, faithful in all things to Him that appointed Him—far exceeding Moses in glory—for Moses was faithful as a servant; Christ as a son over His own house (vers. 1–6).
Chapter 5 says, “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 sin” (ver. 1), that no man takes this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God as was Aaron. So Christ glorified not Himself, to be made a high priest; but He that said unto Him, “Thou art My Son, to-day have I begotten Thee!” and again, “Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec” (vers. 4, 5, 6).
Further on, after setting forth, in the seventh chapter, the surpassing excellence of the High Priesthood of Christ in comparison with that of Aaron, and marking how exactly such a High Priest was adapted to our every need, “holy, harmless, undefined, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (c. vii. 26), the Apostle sums up his argument in the eighth chapter: “Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum, We have such a High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens—a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched and not man (Heb. viii. 1, 2). And inasmuch as every high priest is ordained to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it is of necessity that this man have somewhat to offer” (Heb. viii. 3).
Jesus was proved to be our High Priest by offering up His own body for our sins, which is stated in the most explicit terms. “But Christ being come, a High Priest of good things to come; . . . neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption (for us)” (Heb. ix. 11, 12).
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. ix. 14). (See also ver. 15.)
“Nor yet that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; for then must He often have suffered since the foundation of the world; but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. ix. 25, 26).
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many,” i.e., of all that look to Him for salvation (Heb. ix. 28).
“By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Heb. x. 10).