was needful that the Saviour of men should be one who has the fellow-feeling which no being but
a fellow-creature could possibly have; and therefore it was necessary he should actual experience
of all the effects of sin that could be separated from its actual guilt. God sent his own Son in the
likeness of sinful flesh, Ro 8:3; but the more holy and pure he was, the more he must have been
unwilling in his nature to sin, and must have had deeper impression of its evil; consequently the
more must he be concerned to deliver his people from its guilt and power. We should encourage
ourselves by the excellence of our High Priest, to come boldly to the throne of grace. Mercy and
grace are the things we want; mercy to pardon all our sins, and grace to purify our souls. Besides
our daily dependence upon God for present supplies, there are seasons for which we should provide
in our prayers; times of temptation, either by adversity or prosperity, and especially our dying time.
We are to come with reverence and godly fear, yet not as if dragged to the seat of justice, but as
kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grace reigns. We have boldness to enter into the holiest
only by the blood of Jesus; he is our Advocate, and has purchased all our souls want or can desire.
Chapter 5
Chapter Outline
The office and duty of a high priest (1–10)
abundantly answered in Christ.
The Christian Hebrews reproved for their (11–14)
little progress in the knowledge of the gospel.Verses 1–10
The High Priest must be a man, a partaker of our nature. This shows that man had sinned. For
God would not suffer sinful man to come to him alone. But every one is welcome to God, that
comes to him by this High Priest; and as we value acceptance with God, and pardon, we must apply
by faith to this our great High Priest Christ Jesus, who can intercede for those that are out of the
way of truth, duty, and happiness; one who has tenderness to lead them back from the by-paths of
error, sin, and misery. Those only can expect assistance from God, and acceptance with him, and
his presence and blessing on them and their services, that are called of God. This is applied to
Christ. In the days of his flesh, Christ made himself subject to death: he hungered: he was a tempted,
suffering, dying Jesus. Christ set an example, not only to pray, but to be fervent in prayer. How
many dry prayers, how few wetted with tears, do we offer up to God! He was strengthened to
support the immense weight of suffering laid upon him. There is no real deliverance from death
but to be carried through it. He was raised and exalted, and to him was given the power of saving
all sinners to the uttermost, who come unto God through him. Christ has left us an example that
we should learn humble obedience to the will of God, by all our afflictions. We need affliction, to
teach us submission. His obedience in our nature encourages our attempts to obey, and for us to
expect support and comfort under all the temptations and sufferings to which we are exposed. Being