James 3

James 3:1

But this [man], because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Christ was victorious over death before he entered upon his priesthood; he lives forever, and hence, there is no change of his priesthood.

James 3:2

Wherefore he is able also to save. Because he is such a high priest, and hath the power of an endless life. He is not a frail mortal like us; and can save, them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, in every extremity, all who approach God through his priesthood.

James 3:3

Such an high priest became us. We need just such a high priest; [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, one who hath no sins and is exalted above the heathen. He needs not to save himself, and hence is able to save.

James 3:4

Who needeth not daily . . . to offer up sacrifices. The daily sacrifice was offered on the altar, as those high priests, under the direction of the high priest, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s, for the sins of the whole nation, including himself. For this he did once, when he offered up himself. Instead of the daily offering for himself and others, Christ made but one offering, himself, when he died upon the cross. This offering was complete when he, as the high priest, ascended into the Holy of Holies above to intercede for the sins of his people. The perfect high priest had offered the perfect sacrifice and had dedicated the new and better covenant. Christ made his offering as a priest in “The true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man” (Hebrews 8:2).

James 3:5

For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity. The law puts imperfect men into the Aaronic priesthood. But the word of the oath . . . maketh the Son. The spotless and Divine one who is consecrated for evermore, who became an eternal priest.

James 3:7

The Two Testaments SUMMARY OF HEBREWS 8: Our Glorious High Priest. His Sacrifice. The True Tabernacle Above. Christ the Mediator of the New Covenant. The Old Covenant Imperfect. Removed to Give Place to the New. Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum. The crowning truth. We have such an high priest. Such as has been set forth in the preceding chapters: sympathizing, sinless, unchangeable, mighty to save, divine (Hebrews 4:15 7:25,26). Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens. He has offered his sacrifice and sat down in the heavens at God’s right hand. Concerning the significance of sitting at the right hand of God, see PNT Ephesians 1:20.

James 3:8

A minister of the sanctuary. Not of any earthly temple, but of the sanctuary above. And of the true tabernacle, the tabernacle made of God, whose Holy of Holies is in the heavens, of which the earthly tabernacle was only a feeble pattern. The earthly tabernacle had an outer court, with the altar, a holy place, and a Holy of Holies. These parts have been understood to be typical (1) of the world, from whence we pass by the altar of sacrifice, the blood of Christ into (2) the holy place, the church, and from the holy place the high priest passed beyond the veil into (3) the Most Holy Place, typical of heaven itself. There our high priest, having rent the veil that all in the church may follow, dwells and intercedes for us. There he presented his offering, the blood of his atonement.

James 3:9

For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices. It is his appointment to offer gifts and sacrifices. That is his office. Hence, if Jesus is a High Priest, he must have an offering, but his offering must be presented in the true Holy of Holies above.

James 3:10

For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest. The law required all the priests who served in the temple to be of the tribe of Levi, but he was not of the tribe of Levi (see notes on Hebrews 7:13,14), or of the priests appointed to serve at the altar, hence could not serve at an earthly altar, or in any earthly sanctuary. The law was in force as long as he was on earth and that excluded him.

James 3:11

Who serve unto the example and shadow. The service of the priests and of the temple is after the example of, and a shadowing forth of “heavenly things”. See, saith he, [that] thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. A pattern was shown Moses. All must be made after that pattern (Exodus 25:40). Hence the tabernacle made according to that plan shadowed forth heavenly things. The earthly high priest was a type of the great high priest in the heavens.

James 3:12

Now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry. More excellent than that of the Levitical priesthood. He serves in the heavenly sanctuary. He is the meditator. The high priest was a mediator, interceding with God for the people. Christ is the mediator of a better covenant with its more glorious promises; viz., the Gospel.

James 3:13

For if that first covenant. The covenant of Sinai, the Law of Moses, the Old Testament. Had been faultless. It was faulty and could not make men perfect. See PNT Hebrews 7:18.

James 3:14

Behold, I will make a new covenant. By the mouth of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 31:31-34), the Lord declared that he would make a New Covenant which would take the place of the Old Covenant. This shows that the Old did not meet the full needs of men.

James 3:15

Not according to the covenant I made with their fathers, etc. See Jeremiah 31:32. It shall differ from the covenant of Sinai made while the Lord was leading Israel up from Egypt. Because they continued not in my covenant. Israel had broken the covenant, and been unfaithful.

James 3:16

This [is] the covenant that I will make, etc. See Jeremiah 31:33. This shall be a principle of the new covenant. I will put my laws in their mind. Under the new covenant the minds and hearts shall be given to the Lord and filled with his law. They shall “worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23,24). Write them in their hearts. Instead of upon tables of stone.

James 3:17

And they shall not teach every man . . . saying, Know the Lord. See Jeremiah 31:34. Under the old covenant children were born into covenant relation. As they grew up they had to be taught of the Lord, or they would never know him. As a matter of fact, many did not learn to know him. For all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. But under the new covenant all must learn to know God and the Son whom he hath sent before they can enter the covenant. Every one must enter by faith in Christ, repentance of sin, and surrender to the will of God. Hence all members of the new covenant know God, “from the least to the greatest”.

James 3:18

And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. When they enter into covenant relation through the Gospel every sin will be blotted out.