Verse 27, 28
The words used in this context have been opened in several places before. And in one thing only is there any material difference among the translators of them. And this is in those words [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩]. For the Syriack reads them, [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩]; rendering the article in the masculine gender, who was after the Law; and so does the Vulgar Latine also, qui post legem est, referring to [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] as the antecedent, and not [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩]. And Erasmus renders [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] by supra legem, above the Law. But others think and that rightly, that [⟨in non-Latin alphabet⟩] with an accusative case, is never to be rendered by supra, or above.
Who needs not daily, as those High Priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for their own sins, and then for the peoples, for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the Law makes men High Priests which have infirmity, but the word of the oath, which was since the Law, the Son who is perfected for evermore.
As these verses contain other instances of the preeminence of our High Priest above those of the order of Aaron: so all those mentioned in the former of them, do depend directly on, and flow from the qualifications and endowments of his Person expressed in that foregoing. For whereas he is such an one as is there described, Holy, Harmless, Undefiled, Separate from sinners, and made higher than the Heavens, for such an one alone became us, he was above and freed from all those things and services which the Levitical Priests were obliged to, for want of these qualifications. For all the things ascribed ver. 27. to them and denied concerning him, were all effects of the weakness and imperfection of their persons and their services, which he as to his Person was absolutely exempt and free from, so that he had no need to do as they did. And this being declared, the whole matter, with the fundamental reason of all the differences insisted on, is summarily expressed, ver. 28. as we shall see in the exposition of the words.
