Reference: Mediator
American
One who stands between two parties or persons as the organ of communication or the agent of reconciliation. So far as man is sensible of his own guilt and of the holiness and justice of God, he shrinks from any direct communication with a being he has so much reason to fear. Hence the disposition more or less prevalent in all ages and in all parts of the world, to interpose between the soul and its judge some person or thing most adapted to propitiate his favor - as a priestly order, an upright and devout man, or the smoke of sacrifices and the sweet savor of incense, Job 9:33. The Israelites evinced this feeling at the Mount Sinai, De 5:23-31; and God was pleased to constitute Moses a mediator between himself and them, to receive and transmit the law on the one had, and their vows of obedience on the other. In this capacity he acted on various other occasions, Ex 32:30-32; Nu 14; Ps 106:23; and was thus an agent and a type of Christ, Ga 3:19. The Messiah has been in all ages the only true Mediator between God and man; and without Him, God is inaccessible and a consuming fire, Joh 14:6; Ac 4:12. As the Angel of the covenant, Christ was the channel of all communications between heaven and earth in Old Testament days; and as the Mediator of the new covenant, he does all that is needful to provide for a perfect reconciliation between God and man. He consults the honor of God by appearing as our Advocate with the blood of atonement; and through his sympathizing love and the agency of the Holy Spirit, he disposes and enables us to return to God. The believing penitent is "accepted in the Beloved" - his person, his praises, and his prayers; and through the same Mediator alone he receives pardon, grace, and eternal life. In this high office Christ stands alone, because he alone is both God and man, 1Ti 2:5. To join Mary and the saints to him in his mediatorship, as the antichristian church of Rome does, implies that he is unable to accomplish his own peculiar work, Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24.
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And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said to the people, Ye have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to LORD, perhaps I shall make atonement for your sin. And Moses returned to LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made gods of gold for them. read more. Yet now, if thou will forgive their sin--, and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou have written.
And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that ye came near to me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders. And ye said, Behold, LORD our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man, and he lives. read more. Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of LORD our God any more, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, who has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? Go thou near, and hear all that LORD our God shall say. And speak thou to us all that LORD our God shall speak to thee, and we will hear it, and do it. And LORD heard the voice of your words, when ye spoke to me. And LORD said to me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken to thee. They have well said all that they have spoken. Oh that there were such a heart in them that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their sons forever! Go say to them, Return ye to your tents. But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak to thee all the commandment, and the statutes, and the ordinances, which thou shall teach them, that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it.
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy.
Jesus says to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, except by me.
And salvation is not in any other man, for there is no other name under the heaven, that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.
Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the seed would come to whom it was promised, which was arranged through heavenly agents in the hand of a mediator.
For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Jesus Christ,
But now he has obtained a superior ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a superior covenant, which has been enacted upon superior promises.
And because of this he is mediator of a new covenant, so that a death having occurred for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, those who are called might take the promise of the eternal inheritance.
and to Jesus a mediator of a new covenant, and to blood of sprinkling that speaks better than Abel.
Easton
one who intervenes between two persons who are at variance, with a view to reconcile them. This word is not found in the Old Testament; but the idea it expresses is found in Job 9:33, in the word "daysman" (q.v.), marg., "umpire."
This word is used in the New Testament to denote simply an internuncius, an ambassador, one who acts as a medium of communication between two contracting parties. In this sense Moses is called a mediator in Ga 3:19.
Christ is the one and only mediator between God and man (1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24). He makes reconciliation between God and man by his all-perfect atoning sacrifice. Such a mediator must be at once divine and human, divine, that his obedience and his sufferings might possess infinite worth, and that he might possess infinite wisdom and knowlege and power to direct all things in the kingdoms of providence and grace which are committed to his hands (Mt 28:18; Joh 5:22,25-26,27); and human, that in his work he might represent man, and be capable of rendering obedience to the law and satisfying the claims of justice (Heb 2:17-18; 4:15-16), and that in his glorified humanity he might be the head of a glorified Church (Ro 8:29).
This office involves the three functions of prophet, priest, and king, all of which are discharged by Christ both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation. These functions are so inherent in the one office that the quality appertaining to each gives character to every mediatorial act. They are never separated in the exercise of the office of mediator.
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And Jesus having come, he spoke to them, saying, All authority in heaven and on earth was given to me.
For neither does the Father judge any man, but he has given all judgment to the Son,
Truly, truly, I say to you, that an hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to the Son to have life in himself. read more. And he also gave him authority to execute judgment because he is a son of man.
Because whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be of similar nature of the form of his Son, in order for him to be the firstborn son among many brothers.
Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the seed would come to whom it was promised, which was arranged through heavenly agents in the hand of a mediator.
For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Jesus Christ,
Therefore he was obligated to be made like his brothers in accordance with all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things toward God, in order to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered, having been tempted, he is able to help those being tempted.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who was tempted in all things in the same way, without sin. Let us therefore come near with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may take mercy, and may find grace for timely help.
But now he has obtained a superior ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a superior covenant, which has been enacted upon superior promises.
And because of this he is mediator of a new covenant, so that a death having occurred for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, those who are called might take the promise of the eternal inheritance.
and to Jesus a mediator of a new covenant, and to blood of sprinkling that speaks better than Abel.
Fausets
Six times in New Testament (Ga 3:19-20; Heb 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; also the verb, Heb 6:17, Greek "mediated," emesiteusen, "by an oath," "interposed as mediator between Himself and us with an oath"; Jesus is the embodiment of God's mediating oath: Ps 110:4). One coming between two parties to remove their differences. The "daysman" (Job 9:33) who "lays his hand upon both" the litigants, in token of his power to adjudicate between them; mokiach, from yakach, "to manifest or reprove"; there is no umpire to whose authoritative decision both God and I are equally amenable. We Christians know of such a Mediator on a level with both, the God-man Christ Jesus (1Ti 2:5). In Ga 3:20 the argument is, the law had angels and Moses (De 5:5) as its mediators; now "a mediator" in its essential idea (ho mesitees, the article is generic) must be of two parties, and cannot be "of one" only; "but God is one," not two.
As His own representative He gives the blessing directly, without mediator such as the law had, first by promise to Abraham, then to Christ by actual fulfillment. The conclusion understood is, therefore a mediator cannot pertain to God; the law, with its mediator, therefore cannot be God's normal way of dealing. He acts singly and directly; He would bring man into immediate communion, and not have man separated from Him by a mediator as Israel was by Moses and the legal priesthood (Ex 19:12-24; Heb 12:19-24).
It is no objection to this explanation that the gospel too has a Mediator, for Jesus is not a mediator separating the two parties as Moses did, but at once God having "in Him dwelling all the fullness of the Godhead," and man representing the universal manhood (1Co 8:6; 15:22,28,45,47,24; 2Co 5:19; Col 2:14); even this mediatorial office shall cease, when its purpose of reconciling all things to God shall have been accomplished, and God's ONENESS as "all in all" shall be manifested (Zec 14:9). In 1Ti 2:4-5, Paul proves that "God will have all men to be saved and (for that purpose) to come to the knowledge of the truth," because "there is one God" common to all (Isa 45:22; Ac 17:26).
Ro 3:29, "there is one Mediator also between God and man (all mankind whom He mediates for potentially), the man (rather 'man' generically) Christ Jesus," at once appointed by God and sympathizing with the sinner, while untainted by and hating sin. Such a combination could only come from infinite wisdom and love (Hebrews 1; 2; Heb 4:15; Eph 1:8); a Mediator whose mediation could only be effected by His propitiatory sacrifice, as 1Ti 2:5-6 adds, "who gave Himself a vicarious ransom (antilutron) for all." Not only the Father gave Him (Joh 3:16), but He voluntarily gave Himself for us (Php 2:5-8; Joh 10:15,17-18). This is what imparts in the Father's eyes such a value to it (Ps 40:6-8; Heb 10:5). (See PROPITIATION; RANSOM; ATONEMENT; RECONCILIATION.)
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And thou shall set bounds to the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye not go up onto the mount, or touch the border of it. Whoever touches the mount shall be surely put to death; no hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through, whether it be beast or man, he shall not live. When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come up to the mount. read more. And Moses went down from the mount to the people, and sanctified the people, and they washed their garments. And he said to the people, Be ready for the third day. Come not near a woman. And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of an exceedingly loud trumpet. And all the people who were in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the lower part of the mount. And mount Sinai, the whole of it, smoked, because LORD descended upon it in fire, and the smoke of it ascended as the smoke of a furnace. And the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice. And LORD came down upon mount Sinai, to the top of the mount. And LORD called Moses to the top of the mount, and Moses went up. And LORD said to Moses, Go down, command the people, lest they break through to LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. And let the priests also, who come near to LORD, sanctify themselves, lest LORD break forth upon them. And Moses said to LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai, for thou commanded us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. And LORD said to him, Go, get thee down. And thou shall come up, thou, and Aaron with thee, but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to LORD, lest he break forth upon them.
(I stood between LORD and you at that time, to show you the word of LORD, for ye were afraid because of the fire, and did not go up onto the mount), saying,
Sacrifice and offering thou did not desire, {but a body thou have prepared for me (LXX/NT)}. Whole burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin thou did not require. Then I said, Lo, I have come. In the volume of a book it is written of me. read more. I delight to do thy will, O my God. Yea, thy law is within my heart.
LORD has sworn, and will not repent. Thou are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Look to me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else.
And LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day LORD shall be one, and his name one.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, so that every man who believes in him would not perish, but have eternal life.
just as the Father knows me, I also know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.
Because of this the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, so that I may take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father.
And he made from one blood every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having determined prescribed times, and the limits of their occupancy,
Or is God of Jews only and not also of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles also,
yet to us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we for him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.
For as by Adam all die, so also by Christ all will be made alive.
Afterwards the end, when he delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when he will abolishes all rule, and all authority and power.
And when all things are made subordinate to him, then the Son himself will also be made subordinate to him who subordinated all things to him, so that God may be all in all.
And so it is written, The first man Adam developed into a living soul. The last Adam a life giving spirit.
The first man was of the earth, earthly. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the seed would come to whom it was promised, which was arranged through heavenly agents in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not of one, but God is one.
Now a mediator is not of one, but God is one.
Indeed have this way to think in you, that also was in Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider being equal to God something to seize and hold. read more. But he emptied himself, having taken a form of a bondman, having become in a likeness of men. And having been found in a form like a man, he lowered himself, having become obedient until death, even of death from a cross.
having erased the handwriting against us in the regulations that were hostile to us, and he has taken it up from the midst, having nailed it to the cross.
who wants all men to be saved and to come to knowledge of truth. For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Jesus Christ,
For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Jesus Christ,
For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself a ransom for all, the testimony for their own times.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but who was tempted in all things in the same way, without sin.
By which God, wanting to demonstrate more abundantly to the heirs of the promise the immutableness of his resolve, confirmed it by an oath.
But now he has obtained a superior ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a superior covenant, which has been enacted upon superior promises.
And because of this he is mediator of a new covenant, so that a death having occurred for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, those who are called might take the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering thou did not desire, but thou prepared for me a body.
and a sound of a trumpet, and a voice of words, of which those who heard begged that a word not be added to them. For they did not bear that which was commanded, if even a beast should touch the mountain, it shall be stoned. read more. And so fearful was that which was made visible, that Moses said, I am terrified and trembling. But ye have come to mount Zion, and to the city of a living God, a heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of heavenly agents, to a festal gathering and assembly of firstborn sons who were enrolled in the heavens, and to God, a Judge of all, and to spirits of righteous men who were made fully perfect, and to Jesus a mediator of a new covenant, and to blood of sprinkling that speaks better than Abel.
and to Jesus a mediator of a new covenant, and to blood of sprinkling that speaks better than Abel.
Morish
Middle man, one who can stand between two and have intercourse with both. Such was Moses: he conveyed to the people the words of Jehovah, and carried to Jehovah the replies of the people. Again and again he pleaded their cause. The very fact of a mediator acting between two, is used by the apostle to show that God's acting with Abraham was on a different principle. "A mediator is not of one, but God is one," and He made to Abraham personally an unconditional promise. Ga 3:19-20. The Lord Jesus is the Mediator
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Why then the law? It was added on account of transgressions, until the seed would come to whom it was promised, which was arranged through heavenly agents in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not of one, but God is one.
For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Jesus Christ,
But now he has obtained a superior ministry, by so much as he is also the mediator of a superior covenant, which has been enacted upon superior promises.
And because of this he is mediator of a new covenant, so that a death having occurred for the redemption of the transgressions against the first covenant, those who are called might take the promise of the eternal inheritance.
and to Jesus a mediator of a new covenant, and to blood of sprinkling that speaks better than Abel.
Watsons
MEDIATOR, one who stands in a middle office or capacity between two differing parties, and has a power of transacting every thing between them, and of reconciling them to each other. Hence a mediator between God and man is one whose office properly is to mediate and transact affairs between them relating to the favour of almighty God, and the duty and happiness of man. No sooner had Adam transgressed the law of God in paradise, and become a sinful creature, than the Almighty was pleased in mercy to appoint a Mediator or Redeemer, who, in due time, should be born into the world, to make an atonement both for his transgression, and for all the sins of men. This is what is justly thought to be implied in the promise, that "the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head;" that is, that there should some time or other be born, of the posterity of Eve, a Redeemer, who, by making satisfaction for the sins of men, and reconciling them to the mercy of almighty God, should by that means bruise the head of that old serpent, the devil, who had beguiled our first parents into sin, and destroy his empire and dominion among men. Thus it became a necessary part of Adam's religion after the fall, as well as that of his posterity after him, to worship God through hope in this Mediator. To keep up the remembrance of it God was pleased, at this time, to appoint sacrifices of expiation or atonement for sin, to be observed through all succeeding generations, till the Redeemer himself should come, who was to make the true and only proper satisfaction and atonement.
The particular manner in which Christ interposed in the redemption of the world, or his office as Mediator between God and man, is thus represented to us in the Scripture. He is the light of the world, Joh 1; 8:12; the revealer of the will of God in the most eminent sense. He is a propitiatory sacrifice, Ro 3:25; 5:11; 1Co 5:7; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 2:2; Mt 26:28; Joh 1:29,36; and, as because of his peculiar offering, of a merit transcending all others, he is styled our High Priest. He was also described beforehand in the Old Testament, under the same character of a priest, and an expiatory victim, Isa 53; Da 9:24; Ps 110:4. And whereas it is objected, that all this is merely by way of allusion to the sacrifices of the Mosaic law, the Apostle on the contrary affirms, that "the law was a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things," Heb 10:1; and that the "priests that offer gifts according to the law, serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount," Heb 8:4-5; that is, the Levitical priesthood was a shadow of the priesthood of Christ; in like manner as the tabernacle made by Moses was according to that showed him in the mount. The priesthood of Christ, and the tabernacle in the mount, were the originals; of the former of which, the Levitical priesthood was a type; and of the latter, the tabernacle made by Moses was a copy. The doctrine of this epistle, then, plainly is, that the legal sacrifices were allusions to the great atonement to be made by the blood of Christ; and not that it was an allusion to those. Nor can any thing be more express or determinate than the following passage: "It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sin. Wherefore when he [Christ] cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering," that is, of bulls and of goats, "thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. Lo, I come to do thy will, O God! By which will we are sanctified, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all," Heb 10:4-5,7,9-10. And to add one passage more of the like kind: "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time, without sin;" that is, without bearing sin, as he did at his first coming, by being an offering for it; without having our iniquities again laid upon him; without being any more a sin-offering:
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And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men as spies secretly, saying, Go, view the land, and Jericho. And they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lay there. And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, men came in here tonight of the sons of Israel to search out the land.
And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, men came in here tonight of the sons of Israel to search out the land.
LORD has sworn, and will not repent. Thou are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and pr
Just as the Son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.
for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed on behalf of many for remission of sins.
On the morrow John sees Jesus coming to him, and he says, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
And having looked upon Jesus walking, he says, Behold, the Lamb of God!
The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
For neither does the Father judge any man, but he has given all judgment to the Son, so that all would honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. The man not honoring the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him.
whom God set forth an expiatory sacrifice through faith in his blood, for proof of his justice, because of the passing over of the sins that have formerly occurred
For if, while being enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more having been reconciled we will be saved by his life. And not only so, but also taking pride in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
How that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, Cursed is every man who hangs on a tree.
and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity by it.
And walk in love, as also the Christ loved us, and delivered himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma.
And having been found in a form like a man, he lowered himself, having become obedient until death, even of death from a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name above every name, read more. so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of the heavenly, and the earthly, and the sub-earthly,
Likewise exhort the younger men to be sober-minded.
For it was fitting for him, through whom are all things, and because of whom are all things, having brought many sons to glory, to make the pathfinder of their salvation fully perfect through sufferings.
Since therefore the children have partaken of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might make him who has the power of death impotent, that is, the devil.
And having been fully perfected, he became the source of eternal salvation to all those who obey him,
By so much, Jesus has become the surety of a better covenant.
Whereupon he is able also to save to the uttermost those who come to God through him, being always alive in order to intercede on their behalf.
For certainly if he were on earth, he would not even be a priest, there being the priests who offer the gifts according to the law, who serve for an example and shadow of the heavenly things. Just as Moses who was divinely warned while going to complete the tabernacle, for he says, See thou make all things according to the pattern that was shown thee on the mou
so also the Christ, having been offered once in order to take up the sins of many, will appear a second time, independent of sin, to those waiting for him for salvation.
For the law having a shadow of the good things that are coming, not the same substance of the events, with the same sacrifices that are offered continually each year, they are never able to fully perfect those who are approaching.
For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore when he comes into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering thou did not desire, but thou prepared for me a body.
Then I said, Lo, I come (in the volume of a book it is written about me) to do thy will, O God,
Then he said, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He takes away the first, so that he may establish the second. By which will we are sanctified through the one time offering of the body of Jesus Christ.
but by precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and unspotted--of Christ,
Because Christ also once suffered for sins, a righteous man for unrighteous men, so that he might bring you to God. Having indeed been killed in flesh, but made alive in spirit,
But FALSE prophets also developed among the people, as FALSE teachers will also be among you, who will sneak in pernicious denominations, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
And they sing a new song, saying, Thou are worthy to take the book and to open the seals of it, because thou were killed and purchased us from God by thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
These are men who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were out of men purchased by Jesus, a first fruit to God and to the Lamb.