V. 1.— For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. The Apostle had said that under the Gospel believers have a great High Priest who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, chap. 4:14; and, referring to the institution of the Jewish law, he says, “Every high priest taken from among men.” That reference is here made to the Jewish law, appears by the Apostle speaking of a high priest. This was peculiar to Israel. Previously to the giving of the law, the head of each family seems to have acted as its priest. Thus we read of Noah, Abraham, Job, and Jethro, chap. 13:, Exodus 18:2, offering sacrifices; but it does not appear to have been confined to them, for Cain and Abel both offered; and we read, “ And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace- offerings of oxen unto the Lord,” Exodus 24:5, Here the young men were the offerers; but, after the giving of the law, Aaron and his family were exclusively appointed to the priesthood. They alone were permitted to enter the tabernacle, or house of God, and to burn incense, and sprinkle the blood of the sacrifices. The tabernacle was divided by a vail into two compartments— the holy, and holiest of all. Into the former the priests had daily access. The chief or high priest alone was admitted within the vail, and that only upon one day of the year, when he made an atonement for all Israel, and sprinkled with blood the mercy-seat which covered the ark, and which was the throne of the God of Israel, intimating that mercy could only flow to sinners through an atoning sacrifice. The first time the priesthood is mentioned in Scripture is in the case of Melchisedec, who, as the Apostle afterwards teaches us, was a remarkable type of Christ, who is said to be a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec, for the priesthood of Aaron was but temporary. Even among the heathen the office of priest was known. Thus we read of the Egyptian priests, Genesis 47:22; and of the priest of Midian, Exodus 2:16. The Lord took Israel to be his peculiar people, and he chose Aaron and his sons to be His priests. The great object of the institution was that they might offer gifts and sacrifices, and for this purpose they were selected and set apart. The office of the priesthood was also an intimation that fallen man could have no immediate access to God, but that he required a daysman, an intercessor. He was to offer gifts and sacrifices; this is repeated, chap. 8:3. Gifts, as distinguished from sacrifices for sin, were expressions of gratitude to God for His goodness in general, or for any manifestation of it on a particular occasion.