Hebrews 8:3

3 For each bishop is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices; wherefore it is need, that also this bishop have something that he shall offer [wherefore it is need, and this man, for to have something that he shall offer].

Hebrews 8:3 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 8:3

For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and
sacrifices (See Gill on Hebrews 5:1)

wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer;
or this person; for the word "man" is not in the text, and seems not so proper a word to be supplied, since it was his human nature that it was necessary he should have to offer; he was a person, and existed as a divine person antecedent to his assumption of human nature: as God, he had nothing to offer, or that was capable of being offered; something to offer as a sacrifice was necessary to him as a priest, but not any thing was proper to him; Levitical sacrifices would not do, these could not take away sin; besides, the great high priest was not of the tribe of Levi, nor of the order of Aaron, and therefore could not offer these. An angelic nature would have been improper, that is not capable of dying; and the offering up of such an one would have been of no service to men, for whom priests are ordained; but an human nature is meant, and which it was necessary Christ should have, and offer, for it is for men that he became an high priest; it was human nature that had offended God, and satisfaction must be made in that nature; and this was capable of suffering and dying; yet not human nature under any consideration was necessary for him to have and offer; not merely as in a state of innocence, without any infirmity, nor as sinful, yet as perfect as to parts and qualities; and a nature, and not a person, was necessary to be had, and to be taken into close and inseparable union to his divine person; and of this there was a necessity, not absolute, or a necessity of coaction and force: Christ was not forced unto it; but on the foot of his suretyship engagements, and because of making satisfaction for the sin of man, it was necessary; otherwise Christ voluntarily engaged to be a priest, and willingly became man, and freely offered himself, soul and body, in the room and stead of his people.

Hebrews 8:3 In-Context

1 But a recapitulation on those things that be said. We have such a bishop, that sat on the right half of the seat of greatness in heavens,
2 the minister of saints, and of the very tabernacle, that God made [that God set], and not man.
3 For each bishop is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices; wherefore it is need, that also this bishop have something that he shall offer [wherefore it is need, and this man, for to have something that he shall offer].
4 Therefore if he were on earth, he were no priest, when there were that should offer gifts by the law, [Therefore if he were on earth, he were not priest, when there were that should offer gifts after the law,]
5 which serve to the exemplar and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered to Moses, when he should end the tabernacle, See, he said, make thou all things by the exemplar, that is showed to thee in the mount. [+which serve to the sampler, or figure, and shadow of heavenly things. As it was answered to Moses, when he should make the tabernacle, See, the Lord saith, make all things after the sampler, that is showed to thee in the mount.]
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.