Of the priestly office of christ
John Gill
1. Christ was to be a Priest;
this was determined on in the purposes and decrees of God: God set him
"forth" proeyeto, foreordained him, "to be a propitiation",
#Ro 3:25 that is, to be a propitiatory sacrifice, to make atonement and
satisfaction for sin; which is one part of Christ's priestly
office; on which, redemption by his blood is founded; to which he was
"verily foreordained before the foundation of the world", #1Pe
1:18-20. The sufferings and death of Christ, whatever he endured from Jews and
Gentiles, were all according to the "determinate counsel and foreknowledge
of God"; and were no other than what his "hand and counsel determined before to be done", #Ac 2:23 4:27,28 and which
he endured in the execution of his priestly office; of which, the decrees of
God are the spring and rise. To this office Christ was called of God; he did
not glorify himself to be called an High Priest, but his divine Father, whose
only begotten Son he is, called him to take upon him this office, invested him
with it, and swore him into it, in the council and covenant
of peace; for he was made a Priest with an oath, #Ps 110:4 to show the
importance, dignity, validity, and perpetuity of his priesthood: to all which
Christ agreed; saying, "Sacrifice and offering that wouldst not";
"I foresee that sacrifices of slain beasts, offered by sinful men, will
not be, in the issue, acceptable to thee; nor be sufficient to atone for sin;
"But a body hast thou prepared me", in purpose, council,
and covenant; which I am ready, in proper time, to assume, and offer up a
sacrifice to divine justice, "
#Heb 10:5. And these eternal decrees, and mutual transactions, are the
basis and foundation of Christ's priesthood; and made it sure and certain.
In the
prophecies of the Old Testament Christ is spoken of as a Priest. Some think he is
meant in #1Sa 2:35 the characters agree with him; however it is certain, David,
under divine inspiration, had knowledge of the above divine transactions, in
which the Son of God was constituted a priest, and spoke of him as such, #Ps
40:6,7 #Ps 110:4 he is the priest, the Tirshatha, as Nehemiah the governor said
should arise with Urim and Thummim, or what were signified
thereby, even all light and perfection, #Ne 7:65 but still more plainly in #Zec
6:12,13 where the Messiah, called the Man the Branch, who was to spring up and
build the temple, and bear the glory, is said to be "a priest upon his
throne". Moreover, each of the parts of Christ's priestly office are
particularly prophesied of, as that he should "make his soul an offering for sin", and should make "intercession for
the transgressors", #Isa 53:10,12 to which may be added, that he sometimes
appeared in the habit of a priest, clothed in linen; see #Eze 9:2 Da 10:5.
There were several types of
Christ as a priest; among these the first and principal was
"Melchizedek, king of Salem, and priest of the most high God", #Ge
14:18 according to whose order Christ was to be, and is a priest, #Heb 5:10
7:17 who this illustrious person was, is not easy to say, and it looks as if it
was the will of God that he should not be known with certainty and precision;
the Jews generally suppose that he was Shem, the son of Noah; and it is certain
that Shem was living at the time that Abraham was met by
this person; and he was also a very pious person, and in whose posterity the
church of God continued till the Messiah came, and who sprung from them; but
this is to be objected to him, that it was well known who was his father, when
born, how long he lived, and when he died: it is not worth while to take notice
of the various opinions of those that have bore the Christian name; they are so fanciful, and without any foundation, as that he was an
angel, or a man created at once perfect and sinless, or the Holy Ghost; that
which may seem at first sight more probable is, that he was the Son of God
himself; and to this interview with him it is thought Christ had respect in
#Joh 8:56. "Abraham saw my day and was glad"; and since of
Melchizedek it is said, "That he liveth and abideth a priest
continually", #Heb 7:3,8 but then this may be
understood of him in his antitype; besides, he is said to be "made like
unto the Son of God", and therefore not he himself; and this would destroy
his being a type of Christ, and Christ's being after his order. It seems best
to suppose that he was some Canaanitish king, famous for his extraordinary
piety, princely dignity, and divine priesthood; whose genealogy and descent
were purposely concealed that he might be a fit type of
Christ, who was to be of his order; that is, after the similitude of him, as it
is explained, #Heb 7:15 and a very great similarity and likeness there is
between them: Melchidezek was a type of Christ in his person, and the eternity
of it, he being "without father" as man, and "without
mother" as God; who as such had no genealogy or descent, but is from
everlasting to everlasting; and in his offices, kingly and
priestly; his name was Melchizedek, king of righteousness; as Christ, the
church's king, is said to be, just and having salvation, to reign in
righteousness, and to be the Lord our righteousness; and his title, king of
Salem, that is, peace, agrees with Christ, who is the prince of peace, and who
is both king and priest on his throne, as this person was; and Christ's
perpetual never changing priesthood is shadowed out by his
being a priest, "not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the
power of an endless life", #Heb 7:16.
Aaron the high priest was an
eminent type of Christ, though Christ was not of the same tribe with him, nor
made a priest after the same law, nor of the same order, but
of one more ancient than his, and which continued in Christ when his was
abolished. Yet there are many things in which Aaron typified Christ; in his
priesthood, as in the separation of him from his brethren; in the unction of
him when installed into his office; in his habit and several vestments with
which he was clothed, his mitre, robe and broidered coat, ephod and the girdle
of it, with the breastplate of judgment; but especially in
the sacrifices which he offered, which were all typical of the sacrifice of
Christ; and in his entrance into the most holy place, bearing the names of the
children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart; in carrying in
the burning coals and incense, with the blood of slain beasts, all typical of
the intercession of Christ, as founded on his sacrifice; as well as he was a good spokesman, one that could speak well; as Christ
has the tongue of the learned to speak on the behalf of his people: and even
all the common priests were types of Christ, in their ordination from among
men, and for men, and to offer gifts and sacrifices for them, though they were
many, and he but one; and their sacrifices many, and were daily offering, and
his but one, and once offered, and which was sufficient. Indeed
all the sacrifices offered up from the beginning of the world, were all typical
of the sacrifice of Christ our great high priest. The sacrifice of Abel, which
was offered up in the faith of the sacrifice of Christ; and those of Noah,
which for the same reason were of a sweet smelling savour to God; the passover
lamb was a type of Christ, our passover, sacrificed for us; and so were the
lambs of the daily sacrifice morning and evening, and all
other sacrifices offered up to the times of Christ's coming, sufferings, and
death, which put an end to them all.
2. Christ is come in the
flesh, and is come as an high priest; he came to give his life a ransom for
many, and he has given himself a ransom price for all his people, which has been testified in due time; and which is a considerable
branch of his priestly office; for the whole of which he was abundantly
qualified, being both God and man.
2a. As man; he is mediator
according to both natures, but the mediator is particularly
said to be "the man Christ Jesus", #1Ti 2:5 he became man, and was
made in all things like unto his brethren, persons of that nature elect; that
he might be fit to be a priest, and officiate in that office, and "that he
might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God",
the glory of the divine perfections, and particularly his justice; to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people, atonement for
them, whereby the justice of God and all his perfections would be glorified,
#Heb 2:17. Christ being man, is taken from among men, and ordained for men, for
their use and service, as the priests of old were: not for angels; the good
angels needed none, and those that sinned were not spared; no priest, no
saviour, nor salvation were provided for them, and therefore Christ took not on
him their nature; but that of men, that they and they only
might reap the benefit of his priestly office; and being man he had something
to offer for them, an human body and an human soul, which as God he had not; as
such he was impassible, not capable of sufferings and death; and had he assumed
an angelic nature, that is not capable of dying, for angels die not; which it
was necessary our high priest should, that by means of
death he might obtain redemption from transgressions, both under the Old and
under the New Testament; and it was proper that satisfaction should be made in
that nature that sinned, and that those of that nature, and not others, should
enjoy the advantages of it: also by being man he has another qualification of a
priest, which is to be compassionate to persons in ignorance, difficulties, and
distress; and hereby Christ becomes a merciful high priest,
one that has a fellow feeling with his people in all their infirmities,
afflictions, and temptations; to which may be added, that Christ's human nature
is holy, harmless, and undefiled; clear of original and actual transgression;
and such an high priest became us, is suitable for us, since he could, as he
did, offer himself without spot to God; and being Jesus Christ
the righteous, he is a very proper person to be an advocate or intercessor for
transgressors.
2b. As God, or a divine
person; being the great God, he was able to be a Saviour, and to work out a
great salvation; being the mighty God, he was mighty to save to the uttermost; and being an infinite person, could make
infinite satisfaction for the sins of men, and render his sacrifice acceptable
to God, and sufficient to put away, and to put an end unto the sins of his
people; and could put a virtue and efficacy into his blood, to cleanse from all
sin, and bring in a righteousness that could justify from all, and could make
his intercession and mediation for his people always prevalent
with God.
3. Christ has executed, and is
executing, and will continue to execute, his priestly office; the parts of
which are more principally these two, offering sacrifice, and making
intercession; to which may be added, a third, blessing his people; for it was the work of the high priest, as to do the two former, so the
latter.
3a. First, Offering a
sacrifice. The work of the priests was to offer sacrifice for sin; Christ was
once offered up to bear the sins of many, and the punishment of them, and to
make atonement for them; he has offered himself a sacrifice to God, of a sweet smelling savour, #Heb 5:3 9:28 Eph 5:2. It may be
inquired,
3a1. Who is
the sacrificer? Christ is altar, sacrifice, and
priest: as he
had something to offer as man, he has offered
it; and as it
became him as a priest to do it, he has done
it;
it is his own act and deed, and is frequently ascribed
unto him;
"He offered up himself unto God", &c. "He gave
himself an
offering and sacrifice", &c. #Heb 9:14 Eph 5:2.
3a2. What it
was he offered; or what was the sacrifice? Not slain
beasts;
their blood could not take away sin; it was not
their blood
he shed; but it was his own, with which he
entered into
the holy place; it was his flesh he gave for
the life of
the world, of his chosen ones; it was his body
which was offered
up once for all; and it was his soul that
was
made an offering for sin; and all as in union with his
divine
Person; and therefore said to be himself which was
the
sacrifice: strictly speaking, it was his human nature
which was the
sacrifice; the divine nature was the altar on
which it was
offered, which sanctified the gift or offering,
and
gave it a virtue and efficacy to atone for sin; it was
through the
"eternal Spirit" he offered up himself,
#Heb 9:14.
3a3. To whom
was the sacrifice offered? It was offered to God; as
it
is often said to be, #Eph 5:2 Heb 9:14 to God, against
whom sin is
committed; and therefore to him was the
sacrifice for
it offered; whose justice must be satisfied;
without
which, God will by no means clear the guilty: and
therefore
Christ was set forth and appointed to be the
propitiation
for sin, to declare the righteousness of God,
to show forth
his justice, the strictness of it, and give it
satisfaction,
#Ro 3:25,26 and being satisfied, the
sacrifice of
Christ became acceptable, and of a
sweet
smelling savour to God, #Eph 5:2.
3a4. For whom
was the sacrifice offered? Not for himself; he
needed none,
as did the priests under the law; he was cut
off, but not
for himself, being without sin: nor for angels;
the elect
angels needing no sacrifice, having not sinned;
and
evil angels were not spared, and so their nature was not
taken by him,
nor a sacrifice offered for them: but for
elect men,
called his church, his sheep, his children; for
whom he laid down
his life, and gave himself an offering to
God. His
sacrifice was a vicarious one; as were those under
the
law, which were typical of his; Christ our passover, was
sacrificed
for us, in our room and stead; Christ suffered,
the just for
the unjust, in the room and stead of them; he
died for the
ungodly, or they must have died; and became the
ransom price
for them.
3a5. What the
nature, excellency, and properties of this
sacrifice of
Christ? It is a full and sufficient sacrifice,
"adequate"
to the purposes for which it was offered: such
were not the
legal sacrifices; they could not make those
perfect
for whom they were offered; nor purge their
consciences
from sin; nor take it away from them: but Christ
has, by his
sacrifice, perform ever all those for whom it is
offered, #Heb
10:1-4,14. It is an "unblemished" sacrifice,
as all under
the law were to be, which was typical of this;
as
the passover lamb, the lambs for the daily sacrifice;
Christ the
sacrifice is a Lamb without spot and blemish,
free from
original and actual sin; in him was no sin, and so
fit to be a
sin offering for the sins of others; and was
offered up,
"without spot", to God. This sacrifice was free
and
"voluntary"; Christ gave himself an offering; he laid
down his life
"freely"; he showed no reluctance, but was
"brought
as a lamb to the slaughter", &c. #Isa 53:7. It was
but
"one" offering, and but "once" offered up. The priests
under the law
stood daily offering the same sacrifices,
because
insufficient; but Christ having offered one
sacrifice for
sin, offered no more, that being sufficient
and effectual
to answer the designs of it; wherefore in the
Lord's
Supper, which is only a commemoration of this
sacrifice,
there is no reiteration of it; it is not an
offering
up again the body and blood of Christ, as the papists
in their mass
pretend; that has been done once, and it is needed
no more.
3a6. What are
the ends and uses of this sacrifice, and the
blessings
which come by it? Christ "is come an High Priest
of good
things to come", #Heb 9:11 or there are many good
things which
come through Christ's priesthood; particularly
through his
sacrifice is a full "expiation" of sin, and
"atonement"
for it; Christ has, by the sacrifice of himself,
put
away sin for ever; finished it, made an end of it, and
reconciliation
for it. And the "perfection" of his
sanctified
ones, that were set apart for himself in eternal
election;
those he has "perfected for ever", by his one
sacrifice,
#Heb 10:14 they are perfectly redeemed,
justified,
pardoned, and saved by it: by giving himself for
them a
sacrifice, in their room and stead, he has obtained
"eternal
redemption" for them; through it he has redeemed
them from all
iniquity, #Tit 2:14 "peace" is made for them
by the blood
of his cross; and through his sufferings and
death
they are reconciled unto God, #Ro 5:10 full "pardon"
of sin is
procured, which was not to be had without shedding
of blood; and
a full satisfaction is made for sin; which is
made through
the sacrifice of Christ; and so there is
redemption
through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins,
free
and full forgiveness of them, #Eph 1:7. In a word
"eternal
salvation" is the fruit and effect of this
sacrifice;
Christ being "made perfect" through sufferings;
and thereby
made perfect satisfaction for sin, he is "become
the author of
eternal salvation" to his people; and which is
owing
to his being "called", and officiating, as "an
High Priest
after the order of Melchizedek", #Heb 5:9,10.