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.