Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostom434Therefore he again brings down his discourse to this: since some were enquiring why He died. Hewas a Priest. But there is no Priest without a sacrifice. It is necessary then that He also should havea sacrifice.And in another way; Having said that He is on high, he affirms and proves that He is a Priestfrom every consideration, from Melchisedec, from the oath, from offering sacrifice. From this healso frames another and necessary syllogism. “For if” (he says) “He had been on earth, He wouldnot be a Priest, seeing that there are priests who offer the gifts according to the Law.” If then Heis a Priest (as He really is), we must seek some other place for Him. “For if He were” indeed “onearth, He should not be a priest.” For how [could He be]? He offered no sacrifice, He ministerednot in the Priest’s office. And with good reason, for there were the priests. Moreover he shows,that it was impossible that [He] should be a priest upon earth. For how [could He be]? There wasno rising up against [the appointed Priests], he means.[3.] Here we must apply our minds attentively, and consider the Apostolic wisdom; for againhe shows the difference of the Priesthood. “Who” (he says) “serve unto the example 2996 and shadowof heavenly things.”What are the heavenly things he speaks of here? The spiritual things. For although they aredone on earth, yet nevertheless they are worthy of the Heavens. For when our Lord Jesus Christlies slain 2997 [as a sacrifice], when the Spirit is with us, 2998 when He who sitteth on the right handof the Father is here, 2999 when sons are made by the Washing, when they are fellow-citizens ofthose in Heaven, when we have a country, and a city, and citizenship there, when we are strangersto things here, how can all these be other than “heavenly things”? But what! Are not our Hymnsheavenly? Do not we also who are below utter in concert with them the same things which thedivine choirs of bodiless powers sing above? Is not the altar also heavenly? How? It hath nothingcarnal, all spiritual things become the offerings. 3000 The sacrifice does not disperse into ashes, orinto smoke, or into steamy savor, it makes the things placed there bright and splendid. How againcan the rites which we celebrate be other than heavenly? For when He says, “Whose soever sinsye retain they are retained, whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted” ( John xx. 23 ) whenthey have the keys of heaven, how can all be other than heavenly?“Who” (he says) “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses wasadmonished of God, 3001 when he was about to make the tabernacle, for see, saith He, that thoumake all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount.” Inasmuch as our hearing isless ready of apprehension than our sight (for the things which we hear we do not in such wise layup in our soul, as those which we see with our very eyes), He showed him all. Either then he meansthis by “the example and shadow,” or else he [speaks] of the Temple. For, he went on to say, “See”2996ὑ ποδείγματι … λατρεύουσι . i.e. “ do service to and minister in that system which is a sample and shadow. ”2997ἐ σφαγμένος , see Rev. v. 6, 9, 12; xiii. 82998παραγίνηται2999ἐ νταῦθα ᾖ3000τὰ προκείμενα . The Sacred Elements there set before God. [The English edition has here missed the sense of πάνταπνευματικὰ γίνεται τὰ προκείμενα . προκείμενα is predicate rather than subject, and πάντα is to be taken with πνευματικά, not with προκείμενα . The idea is (as shown by the context) that our spiritual things (hymns, praises, &c.) answer to the partsof the victim laid upon the carnal altar of old.—F.G.]3001[ κεχρημάτισται —a word always used of Divine communications.—F.G.]626