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The Consecrated Way
by A.T. Jones
The Sum
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 Heb. 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.
"Now when these things were thus ordained, the priests went always
into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into
the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without
blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people;
the Holy Ghost this [sic. "thus"] signifying, that the way into the
holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle
was yet standing; which was a figure for the time then present, in which
were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did
the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; which stood only
in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed
on them until the time of reformation. But Christ being come an High
Priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle,
not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by
the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once
into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."
That sanctuary was but "a figure;" and it was but a figure "for the
time then present." In it priests and high priests ministered and
offered both gifts and sacrifices. But all this priesthood, ministry,
gift, and sacrifice was, equally with the sanctuary, only "a figure for
the time then present," for it all "could not make him that did the
service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience."
That sanctuary and tabernacle itself was but a figure of the
sanctuary and the true tabernacle which the Lord pitched, and not man.
The high priest of that sanctuary was but a figure of Christ, who is
High Priest of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle.
The ministry of that high priest of the sanctuary on earth was but a
figure of the ministry of Christ, our great 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."
The offerings of the priesthood in the ministry of the sanctuary on
earth were but a figure of the offering of Christ, the true High Priest,
in His ministry in the sanctuary and the true tabernacle.
Thus Christ was the true substance and meaning of all the priesthood
and service of the sanctuary on earth, and any part of it that ever
passed without this as its meaning was simply meaningless. And as
certainly as Christ is the true Priest of Christianity, of which the
Levitical priesthood was a figure, so certainly the sanctuary of which
Christ is minister is the true sanctuary of Christianity, of which the
earthly sanctuary of the Levitical dispensation was a figure. And so it
is written: "If He were on earth, He should not be a priest, seeing that
there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: who serve unto
the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of
God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith He, that
thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the
mount." Heb. 8:4, 5.
"It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the
heavens should be purified with these [earthly sacrifices]; but the
heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ
is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the
figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the
presence of God for us." And in "heaven itself," in the Christian
dispensation, there was seen the throne of God and a golden altar and an
angel with a golden censer offering incense with the prayers of all
saints, "And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of
the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." Rev. 4:5;
8:2-4. Also in this same time there was seen in His temple the ark of
His testament." Rev. 11:19; 15:5-8; 16:1. And further there was seen
there "seven lamps of fire burning before the throne." Rev. 4:5. There,
too, was seen one like the Son of man clothed in the high priestly
garment. Rev. 1:13.
There is therefore a Christian sanctuary, of which the former
sanctuary was a figure, as truly as there is a Christian high priesthood
of which the former high priesthood was a figure. And there is a
ministry of Christ, our High Priest, in this Christian sanctuary, as
truly as there was a ministry of the former priesthood in the former and
earthly sanctuary. And "of the things which we have spoken, this is the
sum: 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."
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