Hebrews 5:1-3 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God… Often, when we are trying to do good to others, we get more good ourselves. When I was here one day this week, seeing friends who came to join the church, there came among the rest a very diffident, tenderhearted woman, who said many sweet things to me about her Lord, though she did not think that they were any good, I know. She was afraid that I should not have patience with her and her poor talk; but she said one thing which I specially remember: "I have to-day put four things together, from which I have derived a great deal of comfort," she told me. "And what are they, my sister?" I asked. "Well," she said, "they are those four classes — 'the unthankful and the evil, the ignorant and those that are out of the way.' Jesus 'is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil,' and 'He can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way,' and I think that I can get in through those four descriptions. Though I am a great sinner, I believe that He will be kind to me, and have compassion upon me." I stored that up; for I thought that one of these days I might want it myself; I tell it to you, for if you do not want it now, you may need it one of these days; you may yet have to think that you have been unthankful and evil, ignorant and out of the way, and it will give you comfort to remember that our Lord Jesus is kind to the unthankful and to the evil, and that He "can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." I. THE SORT OF SINNERS FOR WHOM OUR HIGH PRIEST IS CONCERNED. 1. The people who claim Christ's aid are generally those who have a very low opinion of themselves. The proud and self-satisfied cannot know His love; but the poor and distressed may ever find in Him comfort and joy, because of His nature, and by means of His intercession. 2. As with the high priest of old, amongst those who come to our High Priest are many whose fear and distress arise from ignorance. (1) There is a universal ignorance. As compared with the light of God, we are in the dim twilight. He that seeth best only seeth men as trees walking. (2) But, in addition to the ignorance that is universal, there is also a comparative ignorance on the part of some; and because of this the compassion of Christ flows forth to them. There are, first, the recent converts — young people whose years are few, and who probably think that they know more than they do; but who, if they are wise, will recognise that their senses have not been fully exercised to discern between good and evil. Others there are who are ignorant because of their little opportunity of getting instruction. Upon these our great High Priest has compassion, and often with their slight knowledge they show more of the fruits of the Spirit than some of us produce even with our inure abundant light. There are many that are of a very feeble mind. They could never explain how they were saved; but they are saved. (3) There is also a sinful ignorance. Now comes another description of the sort of sinners for whom our High Priest is concerned. There are many whose fears arise from being out of the way. The Lord "can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way." I remember that, when I felt myself to be a very great sinner, these words were very, very much blessed to me. I read them, "and on them that are out of the way"; and I knew that I was an out-of-the-way sinner. I was then, and I am afraid that I am now, somewhat like a lot out of the catalogue, an odd person who must go by himself. Very well; our High Priest can have compassion on those that are odd, and on those that are out of the way, on those who do not seem to be in the common run of people, but who must be dealt with individually, and by themselves. He can have compassion upon such.But now let us look at the more exact meaning of the text. (1) To be out of the way is, in the case of all men, their natural state. (2) In addition to that, men have gone out of their way by their own personal folly. We had enough original sin; but we have added to that another kind of originality in evil. (3) Some are out of the way because of their seduction from the way by others. False teachers have taught them, and they have taken up with the error brought before them by a stronger mind than their own. In some cases persons of evil life have had a fascination over them. (4) Many are out of the way because of their backslidings after grace has come to them. (5) Others are out of the way because of their consciousness of special sin. Come to this compassionate High Priest, and trust your ease in His hands; they were pierced because of your sin. II. THE SORT OF HIGH PRIEST WITH WHOM SINNERS HAVE TO DEAL. 1. He is One who can bear with ignorance, forgetfulness, and provocation. 2. He is One who can feel for grief, because He has felt the same. 3. He is One who lays Himself out tenderly to help such as come to Him. 4. He is One who never repelled a single person. III. Now, I want to speak to those of you who are the people of God. I want to remind you that there may be a blessing even in your weakness; and that this may be the more clearly seen we will look, in the third place, at the SORT OF INFIRMITY WHICH MAY BE SANCTIFIED AND MADE USEFUL. The high priest of old was compassed with infirmities, and this was part of his qualification. "Yes," says one, "but he was compassed with sinful infirmities; but our Lord Jesus had no sin." That is quite true, but remember that this does not make Christ less tender, but more so. Anything that is sinful hardens; and inasmuch as He was without sin, He was without the hardening influence that sin would bring to bear upon a man. He was all the more tender when compassed with infirmities, because sin was excluded from the list. We will not, then, reckon sin in any form as an infirmity likely to be turned to a great use, even though the grace of God abounds over the sin; but let me speak to some of you who wish to do good, and set forth some of the things which were sore to bear at the time, and yet have been rich in blessing since. 1. First think of our struggles in finding mercy. If you have not had a certain experience, you cannot so well help others who have; but if you were compassed with infirmity at your first coming to Christ, you may use that in helping others to come to Him. 2. Again, our grievous temptations may be infirmities which shall be largely used in our service. You cannot be unto others a helper unless you have been compassed with infirmities. Therefore accept the temptations which trouble you so much, as a part of your education to make you useful to others. 3. Our sickness may turn out to be in the same category. 4. Our trials, too, may thus be sanctified. 5. Our depressions may also tend to our fruitfulness. A heart bowed down with despair is a dreadful thing. "A wounded spirit who can bear?" But if you have never had such an experience you will not be worth a pin as a preacher. You cannot help others who are depressed unless you have been down in the depths yourself. (C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: |
    |