THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
[p. 95] THE [p. 97] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
Offering is clearly priestly work, but note that in the types the offerer and the priest are distinguished.
“Having made by himself the purification of sins” is not exactly priestly but what lies in the greatness of Christ’s Person.
Is the Sanctifier a priestly thought? It would seem to bring Him to our side, as He and the sanctified are “all of one”. We are the brethren of the Sanctifier.
Being “a merciful and faithful high priest in things relating to God” includes making propitiation for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2: 17). “Every high priest taken from amongst men is established for men in things relating to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; ... on account of this infirmity, he ought, even as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins” (Hebrews 5: 1, 3). “Who has not day by day need, as the high priests, first to offer up sacrifices for his own sins, then for those of the people; for this he did once for all in having offered up himself” (Hebrews 7: 27). “For every high priest is constituted for the offering both of gifts and sacrifices; whence it is needful that this one also should have something which he may offer” (Hebrews 8: 3).
The offering up for sins was done once for all before He set Himself down on the right hand. It is as being seated there that He is Minister of the holy places and of the true tabernacle. The offering for sins does not enter into the present priestly service.
But then it remains a fact that “every high priest is constituted for the offering both of gifts and sacrifices”, so that this High Priest must have an offering service. But it is quite different from the offering of gifts according to the law. That was done by certain persons amongst whom Christ could never have been. As living on earth He would not even be a priest. Others had that office, but it was only serving the [p. 98] representation and shadow of heavenly things. But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry; this linking on with “minister” in chapter 8: 2.
Gifts and sacrifices unable to perfect as to conscience him that worshipped were offered. But Christ, “by his own blood, has entered in once for all into the holy of holies, having found an eternal redemption ... . how much rather shall the blood of the Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to worship the living God?” (Hebrews 9: 12, 14). Offering is essential to the whole system which stands connected with Christ as High Priest. But it is the perfect offering of Christ for sin. His whole ministry as Priest is bound up with the mediatorship of a better covenant established on the footing of better promises (Hebrews 8: 6).