An Exposition of Pauls Epistles, Letter 14 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
THe Excellency of Christs Prophetical Office, and the necessity of cleaving to him, and his Doctrine (who is the Apostle and great Prophet of our Profession) hath been spoken to: The Excellency of his Priestly Office follows. There are two parts of the Chapter; In the first hee proves Christ to bee the chief and great Priest, more excellent than any typical Priest, that hee might instruct the Hebrews to moderate their thoughts about the Levitical Priesthood, which they too highly esteemed of to the prejudice of Christ, to vers. 11. In the second part …ee reproves the slothfulness of the Hebrews, that hee might render them more attentive to the following Doctrine; And hee proves the Excellency of Christs Priesthood above the Levitical, by nine Arguments.
Vers. 1. For every High Priest taken from among men, is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that hee may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way, for that hee himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3. And by reason hereof hee ought as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins.
Argum. 1. The perfections which were required in the Levitical Priests, vers. 1, 2. were joyned with some notes of imperfection, and with the sins of the Priests, vers. 2, 3. Therefore Christ which was declared a Priest without sin, in the end of the former Chapter, is more excellent than the Levitical Priests.
Among men] The Perfections of the Levitical High Priest were four. (1) The Levitical Priest was taken from among men, and was chosen one of many. (2) Was ordained for men, in those things which appertained to God, i. e. That in the place and name of the people hee should administer about the worship of God, praying to him for the people, teaching the people in the name of God, and that hee should by all possible means promote the Glory of God, and the salvation of the people. (3) Hee offered gifts of inanimate things, and sacrifices of beasts, sometimes burnt-offerings, for the sins of the people, sometimes peace-offerings, for the obtaining of benefits, sometimes thank-offerings, for benefits received, other whiles sacrifices for special sins, By all which the virtues of Jesus Christs Sacrifice was dimly shadowed out.
Have compassion] (4) The fourth perfection requisite in the Priestly Office, is a sympathy and commiseration proportioned to the greatness of the peoples misery, wherewith they ought to bee touched towards sinners, whether sinning out of ignorance, or voluntary errour and deliberate counsel.
For that] There are two notes of Imperfection in the Priest-hood. (1) That they themselves were obnoxious to the same infirmities, i. e. of ignorance, and errours, and the miseries consequent to sin.
So also] (2) This second n…e demonstrates the former, That they are obliged out of duty to offer Sacrifices, no less for their own sins, than the sins of the people; This is the first Argument.
Vers. 4. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but hee that is called of God as was Aaron.
5. So also, Christ glorifieth not himself to bee made an High Priest, but hee that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
Argum. 2. As the lawful Priests were called to the honour of this office, so Christ was not onelyonly lawfully called by the Father, as Aaron, but also further was acknowledged and declared the onelyonly begotten Son of God, in this Priestly office: Therefore hee is much more excellent than the Levitical Priests. The Antecedent is proved out of Psalm 2. where the Father speaking to his Son, vers. 7. calls him his Son whom hee begot, before hee command him, vers. 8. to ask of him the ends of the earth, or intercede for the salvation of men, which are parts of the Priests office: Therefore in this Psalm, hee is not onelyonly called by the Father to his Priestly office, but also is acknowledged his Son, and so more excellent than the Levitical Priests.
Vers. 6. As hee saith also in another place, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Argum. 3. From Psal. 110. Christ is appointed by the Father a Priest for ever, of whose Priest-hood there is no end, according to the order of Melchisedec the type: Therefore hee is more excellent than the Levitical High Priests.
Vers. 7. Who in the daies of his flesh, when hee had offered up prayers and supplications, with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that hee feared.
Argum. 4. This Argument consists of five Branches, which may bee so many Arguments. (1) Christ is so the Son of God, that hee is man also, the Son in our flesh, the infirmiti…s whereof sometime hee felt, without sin, and so is a more excellent man than the Levitical Priests. (2) Hee offered up prayers and supplications, and himself to death, for his people, and so offered a more excellent Sacrifice than the Levitical Priests. (3) Hee interceded with a greater sense of our misery and guilt, with strong crying and tears, and so in his sympathy towards us excelled the Levitical Priests. (4) With greater confidence hee pleaded our cause than any of the typical Priests could, even then when in the pangs of death, and sense of the Divine wrath or curse, due to our sins, his sanctified humane nature conflicted with the terrours of death. (5) Hee prayed with greater efficacy and fruit, than any typical Priest; For hee was freed according to his prayer, from fear, which the sight of an angry God put upon his sense, and holy reason, because having paid a sufficient price for us, all cause of anger and fear was taken away: Therefore Christ is a far more excellent Priest than the Levitical Priests.
Vers. 8. Though hee were a Son, yet learned hee obedience, by the things which hee suffered:
Argum. 5. Drawn from the former, which with the removal of the scandal of the Cross, shews also the excellency of Christs Priest-hood; Christ was not imployed in beholding of the Sacrifices slain, and himself free from all suffering, as the Levitical Priests in the slaying of Sacrifices, but although hee was the Son of God, yet hee really felt by the sufferings in his body, and in his soul, how hard a matter it was to expiate our sins, taught by experience, what a difficult thing it was to perform expiatory obedience, even to the death of the Cross, for the appeasing of his Fathers wrath, and the satisfaction of Justice: Christ is therefore far more exellent than the Levitical Priests.
Vers. 9. And being made perfect, hee became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him,
Argum. 6. Christ the Chief Priest was every way compleat and perfect, in whom there was not the least thing wanting, which is requisite in a Priest; For being now sanctified, or offered up for a Propitiatory Sacrifice to the Father, hee compleated the whole price of Redemption, or what remained, hee perfected in his last sufferings, of which price no part was paid by the Levitical Priests: Therefore hee is far more excellent than those Levitical Priests.
The Author] Argum. 7. Christ having fully paid the price of our Redemption, by his efficacious merit, became and was declared the Author, Lord, Giver, and Finisher of eternal life to all that beleeve in him, and give up themselves to his instruction: Therefore Christ is far more excellent, &c.
Vers. 10. Called of God an High Priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Argum. 8. Confirming the former, Christ is called of God (whose word is effectual) a Priest after the order of Melchisedec, which order is far more excellent than that of Levi: Therefore Christ is the Chief Priest, far more excellent than the Levitical Priests.
Vers. 11. Of whom wee have many things to say, and hard to bee uttered, seeing yee are dull of hearing.
Argum. 9. The Doctrine of the excellency of Christs Priest-hood (especially as it is represented in the type of Melchisedec) is more ample and high than the Apostle can well declare to their capacity: Therefore hee is far more excellent than the Levitical Priests.
The Second Part.
The second part of the Chapter follows, wherein, from the Excellency of Christs Priest-hood, hee taxes the Hebrews with ignorance, and slowness of understanding, in learning the mysteries of the Gospel: The Proposition containing this reproof is this, You Hebrews are to bee reproved for your slothfulness in not apprehending the mysteries of the Gospel, such as the Priest-hood of Christ is.
Vers. 12. For when for the time yee ought to bee Teachers, yee have need that one teach you again, which hee the first Principles of the Oracles of God, and are become such as have need of Milk, and not of strong meat.
Hee gives four Reasons of his reproof▪ Reas. 1. Because you have need of an Elementary, Catechetical and Childish kind of Doctrine, even now after that for the time which you have enjoyed the light of the Gospel, you might have learned many things, and have been able to instruct others.
Become] Reas. 2. Confirming the former, Because yee are Children and Infants in the knowledge of the Gospel, who have need of Milk, or to bee instructed in the Principles of Doctrine, rather than of solid meat, or perfection of Doctrine.
Vers. 13. For every one that useth Milk is unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: For hee is a Babe.
Reas. 3. Proving the former, Because yee are unskilful in the Word of Righteousness: or yee do not well understand the Doctrine of Justification by Faith in Christ, but are ready to conjoyn the Ceremonies of the Law, with the Faith of Christ: Therefore are yee babes, and to bee reproved for your ignorance.
Vers. 14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Reas. 4. Explaining the latter part of the second Reason, Because you want the property of those that are at full age; for men grown up delight in strong meat, or love the Doctrine which is more perfect. (2) They delight in frequent exercise. (3) By frequent exercise of themselves in the Doctrine of the Gospel, they have contracted an habit of saving Doctrine, not easily changeable, and they have their senses, or the faculties of their mind more ready to judge of the Truth and falsehood of the Doctrine propounded, of the benefit of Truth, and the danger of errour, that they may follow that which is good, and avoid that which is evil: Such are not you Hebrews, although for the time, since your profession of the Faith, you might have been such: Therefore are you to bee reproved.