V. 21.— And having an high priest over the house of God. And having a great High Priest... [It is in the original a great priest] The great object of the whole Epistle was to exhibit the connexion between the Jewish and Christian worship, by showing that the former was a figure of the latter, an earthly or carnal exhibition of a heavenly and spiritual object. The Apostle therefore dwells on the priesthood of Christ. In the new and spiritual dispensation He is all in all: like God's servant Moses, who was faithful in all his house; but as a son over his own house, which is composed of living stones resting upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, He himself being the chief corner stone. He is described as a living stone, and through their union with Him all the stones of the building are quickened. We know the power of a loadstone, which communicates magnetism to iron. God might have given it the power of communicating magnetism to stone, so that the foundation might communicate its property to the whole building. Such is the case with Christ; all the stones of the living temple rest on Him, and to them all, does He communicate a life which never ends, according to that which is written: " As the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself, [This refers to Christ in his mediatorial character, as the Father’ s servant, but as being Himself God, “ in him was life.” Hence he is called, “ The eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested to us,” 1 John 1:2; but as Immanuel, God manifest in the flesh, He was the Father’ s servant, and that eternal life, which is the gift of God, is communicated to us through Christ “ He asked life of God and he gave it to him, even length of days for ever and ever; and of his fulness we all receive, and grace for grace.” ] and hath given him authority to execute judgment also because he is the Son of man.” John 5:26; John 5:7. Here we see that He is the source of the life of His people, and that He quickeneth whom He will. “ For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." John 5:21-22. All His sheep are known to the Good Shepherd, and that individually and by name.