(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. (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:
In the close of the first of these verses, I beg to observe, that there is no word in the original for what our translators have rendered man. And as the pronoun this might have been more properly connected with the word person, being more agreeable to the analogy of faith, I confess that I prefer it. The reading then will be, wherefore it is of necessity that this person have somewhat also to offer. And this is true. As man, considered without an eye to the Godhead, he had nothing equivalent to offer. And, as God, without respect to his manhood, he could not offer. But in the union of both, as one person, God and Man, oh! what an offering did he make, whereby he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified, Hebrews 10:10-14
I have so largely dwelt on the blessed features of the Lord Jesus in his priestly office, in the preceding Chapter s of this Epistle, that it will be the less necessary to enlarge on them here. It is very true, indeed, God the Holy Ghost evidently takes pleasure in bringing them continually forward. And what that matchless Teacher delights in, we may well follow. And so I would indeed, if the limits of a Poor Man's Commentary admitted it. But as this is not the case, I rather refer the Reader to what hath been offered upon Christ's priesthood, and particularly in the fifth Chapter, than swell the present pages.
But one point must be noticed here, as not being noticed before, in relation to Christ's priesthood, namely, when it is said, for if he were on earth, he should not be a priest. This is a subject very highly interesting to be considered, and which ought to be well understood. In the explaining of which, it will serve to throw no small light on it, if we look back and observe, how the Holy Ghost hath throughout scripture, shadowed forth Christ in the law. When the High Priest, on the Day of Atonement, had made the sacrifice for the sins of the people, he entered with the blood into the holy place, Leviticus 16:34; Leviticus 16:34. And this is explained to the Church of what God the Holy Ghost intended by it, Hebrews 9:6-12 and Commentary. Now, then, had the High Priest, when making the sacrifice, not gone into the holy place, the service would have been incomplete. Hence, in like manner, if Christ, to whom this whole service referred, remained on earth, after that he had made his soul an offering for sin, the presentation of it before God on the mercy-seat would not have been complete. It was one great part of his office to carry up his blood to the throne, (the propitiatory), as a full and complete propitiation. Having paid the ransom of his Church by his blood, he virtually takes the price, the current coin of the merchant with him to heaven, and puts it down upon the mercy-seat. Here was, in tire fullest sense of the words, offering both gifts and the sacrifice for sin. And hence it is said, that the priests on earth serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.
And, moreover, it must be further added, that Christ's priesthood, which, after the order of Melchizedec, was an everlasting priesthood, could not have been accomplished had he remained on earth. For, in this case, how would he have entered into heaven as the forerunner of his people? How would he have gone as a public head, and been placed above all principality and power? How would he have taken possession of heaven in our name; and we, by faith, beholding ourselves now raised up together, and made to sit together with him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus? Ephesians 2:6. Reader! do you not know what it is now, by faith, thus to realize and substantiate things that are far off, and bring them nigh? If your faith be the faith of God's elect, the faith once delivered to the saints, you cannot but know it by this divine property, which the Holy Ghost hath marked it by; it is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the Elders obtained a good report, Hebrews 11:1-2. True, indeed, you are not yet entered upon the heavenly country. But, like them, you have seen it afar off, and are persuaded of it, and have by faith embraced it. We see not yet (saith the Apostle), all things put under Jesus. No! For he hath not yet made all his enemies his footstool. This will take place at the final retribution of all things, when he shall see the travail of his soul, and be satisfied, Isaiah 53:10. But, in the mean time, we see him crowned with glory and honor; and ourselves, by faith, crowned with him, in the sure and certain expectation of it, when he will come to take us home to himself, that where he is, there we may be also, John 14:3.