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"Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He
might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being
tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted" (Heb. 2: 17, 18).
This is salvation eis to panteles; the Lord not only saves all that trust in Him, but He
is able also to save right through to the end, or goal, through temptation and trial. It is
this that makes the "better hope" an anchor for the soul. He Who is its sure anchorage
has "suffered being tempted":
"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 (sin excepted)"
(Heb. 4: 15).
No.37. The principal thing.
A seated Priest in a heavenly sanctuary (8: 1, 2).
pp. 174 - 178
The ruling theme of this epistle is that of `perfection' and chapters 5:-10: are occupied
with the office of Christ as Priest after the order of Melchisedec, and with His one great
Offering. Both the priesthood the sacrifice and the heavenly tabernacle are verbally
connected with `perfection'.
The Priest of the perfect.
The reservation of the Apostle manifested in 5: 11 indicates that the doctrine
associated with this Priesthood is by no means elementary, but can only be appreciated
by those of "full age", or as the word is, "the perfect" (5: 14).
This Priesthood is also closely associated with another aspect of "perfection" namely,
that of the "overcomer". This is indicated by the first appearance of Melchisedec in
Scripture when he met Abraham, the overcomer, returning from the slaughter of the
kings.
A comparison and a contrast.
Heb. 5: opens with a description of the service of the high priest. He offered both
gifts and sacrifices, and also had compassion on the ignorant. His limitations are
indicated by the fact that:
"He himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof he ought, as for
the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins" (5: 2, 3).
The Apostle proceeds to develop in some detail a comparison and a contrast.