A commentary on the whole Epistle to the Hebrews. By M. John Calvin. Translated…A commentarie on the vvhole Epistle to the Hebrevves. By M. Iohn Caluin. Translated…

6 As he also in another place speaketh, Thou art a Priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek.

6 As he also in another place speaketh, Thou art a Priest for euer, after the order of Melchisedec.

Now every high Priest, &c.] Verse. 1 He compares Christ with the Levitical Priests: and shows what he hath in common with them, and wherein they differ. Now the whole disputation tends to have Christ his office well understood; as also to show that whatsoever was ordained under the Law, had respect unto him. And from hence the Apostle makes way at the last to show how the old Priesthood is abolished. First he saith, §1the Priests are taken from among men. Secondly, §2that they offer not for themselves in particular only, but for all the people. §3Thirdly, that they must not come empty handed to appease God, but furnished with sacrifices. Fourthly, §4that they were not to be exempt from our infirmities, to the end they might the more freely and willingly help those which were burdened. […] ⟨p. 92⟩all men are of one nature and flesh. But now he toucheth another thing, to wit, that the Priest ought to support sinners with compassion, because he is partaker of their infirmities. The Greek word which the Apostle here useth, hath been diversly expounded as well by Latins as Greeks. For mine own part I think it is simply taken to apply himself to compassion. True it is that all which is said of the Levitical Priests, agrees not unto Christ. For we know that Christ was exempt from all contagion of sin: wherefore he differs from others in this regard that he had no need to offer sacrifices for himself: but it sufficeth that he also bare our infirmities, being notwithstanding pure and void of sin. Thus as touching the Priests under the law then, the Apostle saith that they were subject to humane infirmities: and therefore were fain to make reconciliation for their own sins by sacrifices, that they might not only meekly bear with the faults of others, but also might have compassion upon them. Now this part ought so to be applied to Christ, that in the mean while we must carefully add thereunto that exception whereof mention was made erewhile: to wit, that he bare and tasted of our infirmities; but without sin. For although he were always free from sin, yet notwithstanding the only feeling of those infirmities, whereof he hath spoken, were of sufficient force in him, to incline his heart to succour us, and to make him gentle and ready to pardon us; as also careful of our miseries.