CHAPTER X
“THE SUM”
And “now of the
things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest.”
And what is that of
which this is “the sum"?
1. That He who was
higher than the angels, as God, was made lower than the angels, as man.
2. That He who was
of the nature of God was made of the nature of man.
3. That He who was
in all things like God was made in all things like man.
4. That as man He
was tempted in all points like as men are and never sinned but was in all
things faithful to Him that appointed Him.
5. That, as man,
tempted in all points like as we are, He was touched with the feeling of our
infirmities and was made perfect through sufferings in order that He might be a
merciful and faithful High Priest; and was called of God to be an High Priest.
6. That by the power
of an endless life He was made High Priest.
7. And that by the
oath of God He was made High Priest.
Such are the
specifications of the Word of God, of which the “sum” is “We have such an High
Priest.” And yet that is only a part of “the sum.” For the whole statement of
“the sum” is, “We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the
throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary, and of the
true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”
On earth there was a
sanctuary which man pitched and which man made. True, this sanctuary was both
made and pitched under the direction of the Lord; nevertheless, it is far
different from the sanctuary and the true tabernacle which the Lord Himself
pitched and not man—as far different as the work of man is from the work of
God.
That “worldly
sanctuary” with its ministry is more briefly described and the meaning of it is
more briefly told in Hebrews 9 than would be possible otherwise to do.
Therefore we quote Hebrews 9:2-12, inclusive: “For there was a tabernacle made;
the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which
is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is
called the holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the
covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had
manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it
the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy-seat; of which we can not now speak
particularly.
“Now when these
things were thus ordained, the priests went always into the first tabernacle,
accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest
alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for
the errors of the people; the Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the
holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet
standing; which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered
both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service
perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks,
and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of
reformation.
But Christ being
come an High Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither
by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into
the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
That sanctuary was
but “a figure;” and it was but a figure “for the time then present.” In it
priests and high priests ministered and offered both gifts and sacrifices. But
all this priesthood, ministry, gift, and sacrifice was, equally with the
sanctuary, only “a figure for the time then present,” for it all “could not
make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience.”
That sanctuary and
tabernacle itself was but a figure of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle
which the Lord pitched, and not man. The high priest of that sanctuary was but
a figure of Christ, who is High Priest of the sanctuary and the true
tabernacle. The ministry of that high priest of the sanctuary on earth was but
a figure of the ministry of Christ, our great High Priest, “who is set on the
right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the
sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”
The offerings of the
priesthood in the ministry of the sanctuary on earth were but a figure of the
offering of Christ, the true High Priest, in His ministry in the sanctuary and
the true tabernacle. Thus Christ was the true substance and meaning of all the
priesthood and service of the sanctuary on earth, and any part of it that ever
passed without this as its meaning was simply meaningless.
And as certainly as
Christ is the true Priest of Christianity, of which the Levitical priesthood
was a figure, so certainly the sanctuary of which Christ is minister is the
true sanctuary of Christianity, of which the earthly sanctuary of the Levitical
dispensation was a figure.
And so it is
written: “If He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing that there are
priests that offer gifts according to the law: who serve unto the example and
shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to
make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that thou make all things according to
the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.” Hebrews 8:4, 5.
“It was therefore
necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with
these [earthly
sacrifices]; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than
these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which
are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the
presence of God for us.” And in “heaven itself,” in the Christian dispensation,
there was seen the throne of God and a golden altar and an angel with a golden
censer offering incense with the prayers of all saints, “And the smoke of the
incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out
of the angel’s hand.” Revelation 4:5; 8:2-4.
Also in this same
time there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament.” Revelation 11:19;
15:5-8; 16:1. And further there was seen there “seven lamps of fire burning
before the throne.” Revelation 4:5. There, too, was seen one like the Son of
man clothed in the high priestly garment. Revelation 1:13. There is therefore a
Christian sanctuary, of which the former sanctuary was a figure, as truly as
there is a Christian high priesthood of which the former high priesthood was a
figure. And there is a ministry of Christ, our High Priest, in this Christian
sanctuary, as truly as there was a ministry of the former priesthood in the
former and earthly sanctuary. And “of the things which we have spoken, this is
the sum: We have such an High Priest who is set on the right hand of the throne
of the Majesty in the heavens; a minister of the sanctuary and of the true
tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.”
The Consecrated Way
— Alonzo Jones
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