V. 1.— Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. From the considerations which he had suggested, the Apostle urges the Hebrews to fix their attention upon Christ Jesus, under the character of the Apostle and High Priest of our profession. The considerations alluded to are His superiority not only to the prophets but also to the angels, inasmuch as He was “ over all, God blessed for ever.” Romans 9:5. By Him the Gospel was first promulgated. He ruled the new dispensation in the character of the Son of man, having been for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor. He was not the Savior of angels, but of sinners, of mankind, with whom He united Himself in the closest bonds, becoming a member of the human family, taking part with them in flesh and blood, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and thus free His brethren from the tyranny of the king of terrors. This unity with His brethren was necessary in order to His being a merciful and faithful High Priest, able to make atonement for their transgressions, and to make intercession for them, through His perfect atonement, which magnifies and makes honorable the law of God. Being Himself a man of sorrows and acquainted with griefs, He was also well qualified to sympathize with His afflicted people. He addresses them as holy brethren; he had represented them as sanctified, chap. 2:11; as separated from the rest of mankind by their union with Christ, who took part in flesh and blood with the children whom God had given Him. Believers are represented as sanctified by the blood of Christ, chap. 13:12, as Israel was sanctified or set apart as God’ s peculiar people by the blood of the Sinai covenant. There was, however, an essential difference: the latter was the blood of bulls and goats, and could never take away sin; the former was the blood of Immanuel, which cleanseth those for whom it was shed from all sin. Believers are also represented as sanctified by the Holy Spirit, of which they are all made partakers, 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; and as sanctified through the truth, John 17:17. In one sense they are at once all equally and completely sanctified, they are all washed in the blood of Christ, all partakers of His Spirit, and all are of the truth which dwelleth in them, which they have of God. Hence Christ is said not only to be made of God unto them righteousness, but sanctification. Every believer, from the first moment of his new life in Christ, has thus the germ of perfect holiness, although sanctification is also represented as a growth in holiness, and advancement in conformity to God, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Believers are called to follow after holiness, Hebrews 12:14; to mortify their members which are upon the earth, engrossed with earthly objects, Colossians 3:15; and we are assured that all shall be judged according to their works, Revelation 20:12; Galatians 6:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:10. So that, while all boasting is excluded, Christ’ s doctrine is manifestly according to godliness. They are also represented as partakers of the heavenly calling. The privileges of the Sinai covenant were peculiar to Israel, Amos 3:2; but the Gentiles were fellow-heirs, Ephesians 3:6; and therefore the Hebrew believers are described as partakers of the heavenly calling. It was not exclusively directed to them. In giving of the law God spoke on earth, but He now speaketh from heaven. Hebrews 12:25. Believers are frequently described as called, Romans 8:28; Romans 16:7; 1 Corinthians 1:24; and here described as partakers of the heavenly calling, for it is a call to His kingdom and glory, 1 Thessalonians 2:12.They are exhorted to consider Jesus Christ under the character of the Apostle and High Priest of our profession. Christ is eminently the sent of God. John 6:29; John 6:40; John 17:18. Hence He is termed the Apostle of our profession, and is thus contrasted with Moses, whom God sent to deliver Israel. Exodus 3:10. While Moses was in an eminent degree the Apostle of God to Israel, Aaron was the High Priest; but both these high offices were united in Christ, and the Hebrews are here exhorted to consider the Lord Jesus as uniting the offices both of an Apostle and a Priest.