1. The Doctrines Taught
A S Patterson
Hebrews 4:14-16. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The sacred writer is to be understood as here commencing a new paragraph. Still he takes a retrospective glance of what he has said in the preceding context about the greatness and priestly work of Jesus Christ. In the present verses, (1.) he propounds certain doctrines, (2.) prescribes certain duties, and (3.) enforces the duties by the doctrines.
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He here propounds certain doctrines. The subject of these doctrines is “Jesus, the Son of God”. This twofold name is obviously both meant and fitted to represent the personal dignity and the saving agency of Christ, thus to enforce His claims on the homage of our hearts and the service of our lives.
(1.) “Jesus, the Son of God,” is represented as “a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens” – literally, through – “the heavens”. Having offered atoning sacrifice for human sins in this, the outer court of God’s magnificent temple, He “entered within the veil” of the skies and now, in the innermost part, maintains the cause and promotes the welfare, of “them that come unto God by Him”. Christ’s high-priesthood is copiously described in chapters 5,7,9,10.
(2.) He is here represented as “a great high priest”. Personally, He is transcendently glorious; being, as man, immaculately pure and absolutely good; being, as God, possessor of infinite perfection; and being, as Mediator, “crowned with glory and honour”. Officially, He fully and faithfully discharges all the functions of all the mediatorial characters which He sustains – not least, all the functions of His priesthood.
(3.) Of this “great high priest” it is affirmed, that believers “have” Him. To all who hear His glorious gospel, He is revealed and offered. So they who really, and in right earnest, believe on His name, they behold His majesty, experience His grace and can claim Him as their own atoning and interceding high priest – their own immutable and immortal Friend and Saviour.
(4.) He “can be touched with a feeling of their infirmities”. Infirmities comprehends the various ills that flesh is heir to. Even sins may be regarded as included in the present application of the word. The “feeling” which Christ has of these “infirmities” depends, of course, on His Divine perfection, and on the generosity of His human heart. But the sacred writer goes on to associate that “feeling” with the personal experience of the “great high priest”.
(5.) He was “in all points tempted”, or tried, “like as” His friends and followers “are”. Christ was tried, even in respect of sin; and that, both by his exposure to the wily arts and furious onslaughts of Satan, and by the fact that, although He “knew no sin”, He was “made sin” for others and thus endured the curse for them. And in respect of bodily frailty, and social bereavement, poverty of circumstances and perturbation of soul, how truly was He tried as believers are!
(6.) Nevertheless, He was “without sin”. As it was not on account of any sin of His own that He suffered; so His sufferings did not overbear His faithfulness, nor lead Him to violate the law of God in any respect, or to do what was morally wrong. He was negatively and positively perfect. He loved the Lord His God with all His heart and soul and strength and mind, and He loved His neighbour as Himself. How fervent was His piety! How pure His integrity! How tender His benevolence! How noble His unselfishness! How unwearied His activity! How glowing His zeal! How entire His resignation! How remarkable His meekness and humility! He “did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth” (1 Pet 2:22). He was Jehovah’s “righteous servant” (Is 53:11). The prince of this world came, but had nothing in Him (Jn 14:30). He was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb 7:26).
Even the devil’s onslaughts of never prevailed to shake His virtue or to taint His purity, sorely though they vexed His generous and pious soul. His human tastes rendered Him subject to temptation; but His moral purity and power disposed and enabled Him to overcome them. And as His sinlessness affords to men a bright and beautiful example, so it has much to do with the faithful and successful discharge of His priestly work. “Such an high-priest became us” (Heb 7:26). He “offered Himself without spot unto God,” (Heb 9:14). His blood was that of “a Lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:19).
The first of two articles, taken with editing from Patterson’s Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews*. He was a Disruption-era minister in Glasgow.