This title of "holy brethren" is bestowed on all believers, and its force is seen by a reference to the 11Th and 12Th verses of the 2nd chapter, where it is said of Christ that "He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, / will declare Thy name unto My brethren." This declaration of God's name by Christ to His brethren is presented in its wondrous bearing by the Lord when, after He was risen from the dead, He said to Mary Magdalene, "Go to My brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." This is the blessed title of the relationship which God bears toward every poor sinner saved through the grace of Christ. It is no place of assumption for believers, nor is it a title to which attainments may give a claim. It is the place and title which
Christ's grace establishes for those who know Him in the reality of His sufferings, His humiliation, and death.
The position of Him whose calling they obey gives its character to theirs, whether viewed in relation to their inheritance above, or to their sojourn here below. It is not an earthly, but a heavenly calling that believers a r e brought into by Christ. Called from earth to heaven, they are to know the place of Him who is the Captain of their salvation and the first-born among many brethren.
The exhortation is to consider Christ in the two offices which are here expressed, the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, offices which are shadowed forth by the position toward Israel of Moses and Aaron. The profession of Christianity, in distinction from the law, is based upon the fact that God has spoken to us from heaven, through Christ, who is the Apostle of our profession, and that we have a High Priest in heaven who accomplished eternal redemption by His own blood-shedding while here on earth.
The point of the exhortation is to consider who it is that sustains these offices, and how competent He is to the discharge of all which they imply. He was faithful to Him that appointed Him, as Moses was faithful; but He was as much above Moses as the owner of the house is higher than he who is but a servant, though faithful, in the house. Christ was the builder of the house, and thus has more honor than the house. He was the builder of all things and "He that built all things is God." Thus, by the simplest human footsteps (if I may so speak) are we led forward to see this blessed lowly One who was not ashamed to call us brethren, sustaining the office of apostle, or communicator of God's mind, and the High Priest of our profession, as bringing us into God's presence by virtue of His accomplished sacrifice, not merely as "a son over His own house," the Head and Lord of that house, but as the sovereign Creator of all things, the eternal God!
These offices were familiar to the Hebrews; they had their typical presentation in Moses, the prophet of the Lord, and in Aaron who was the consecrated high priest; but they are now sustained by Him who is at once in grace the first-born among many brethren, and in intrinsic glory the Son of God, and Creator and upholder of all things.