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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Jesus saith to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.
And in no one else is there salvation; for neither is there any other name under Heaven, that has been given among men, in Which we must be saved."
What, then, is the law? It was added because of the transgressions, until the Seed should come to Whom it had been promised; having been arranged through angels in the hand of a mediator.
For there is one God, one Mediator also between God and men, a Man, Christ Jesus,
but now he hath obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much also as He is Mediator of a better covenant, which, indeed, has been enacted on better promises.
And, for this cause, He is the Mediator of a new covenant, that, death having taken place for redemption from the transgressions against the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, speaking better things 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, coming near, spake to them, saying, "All authority was given to Me in Heaven and on earth:
For neither doth the Father judge any one, but all judgment He hath given to the Son;
Verily, verily, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those having heard shall live. For, as the Father hath life in Himself, so also He gave to the Son to have life in Himself; read more. and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.
because whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren.
What, then, is the law? It was added because of the transgressions, until the Seed should come to Whom it had been promised; having been arranged through angels in the hand of a mediator.
For there is one God, one Mediator also between God and men, a Man, Christ Jesus,
Wherefore, it behooved Him in all things to be made like His brethren, that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people; for in that He Himself hath suffered, being tempted, He is able to succor those who are tempted.
for we have not a High Priest, unable to sympathize with our infirmities, but One Who hath been tempted in all points like as we, apart from sin. Let us, therefore, come with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and find grace for seasonable help.
but now he hath obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much also as He is Mediator of a better covenant, which, indeed, has been enacted on better promises.
And, for this cause, He is the Mediator of a new covenant, that, death having taken place for redemption from the transgressions against the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, speaking better things 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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For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that every one who believes on Him should not perish, but have eternal life;
even as the Father knoweth Me, and I know the Father; and I lay down My soul for the sheep.
On this account My Father loveth Me, because I lay down My soul, that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it again. This commandment I received from My Father.
and He made of one every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth, having marked out their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation;
Or is He the God of Jews only? Is He not of gentiles also! Yes, of gentiles also;
yet to us there is One God, the Father, of Whom are all things, and we for Him; and One Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things, and we through Him.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive;
Then comes the end, when He delivereth up the Kingdom to God, even His Father; when He shall abolish all rule and all authority and power;
And, when all things shall be subjected to Him, then will the Son also Himself be subjected to Him Who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all.
So also it has been written, "The first man Adam was a living soul"; the last Adam, a life-giving Spirit.
The first man is of the earth earthy; the second Man is from Heaven.
What, then, is the law? It was added because of the transgressions, until the Seed should come to Whom it had been promised; having been arranged through angels 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.
Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; Who, existing originally in the form of God, accounted it not a prize to he equal with God. read more. but emptied Himself, taking a slave's form, coming to be in the likeness of men; and, being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
having blotted out the hand-writing in decrees against us, which was contrary to us, and He has taken it out of the midst, nailing it to the cross;
Who wisheth all men to be saved, and to come into a full knowledge of truth. For there is one God, one Mediator also between God and men, a Man, Christ Jesus,
For there is one God, one Mediator also between God and men, a Man, Christ Jesus,
For there is one God, one Mediator also between God and men, a Man, Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom for all, the testimony for its own times,
for we have not a High Priest, unable to sympathize with our infirmities, but One Who hath been tempted in all points like as we, apart from sin.
wherein God, more abundantly willing to show to the heirs of the promise the immutability of His counsel, interposed with an oath;
but now he hath obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much also as He is Mediator of a better covenant, which, indeed, has been enacted on better promises.
And, for this cause, He is the Mediator of a new covenant, that, death having taken place for redemption from the transgressions against the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
Wherefore, coming into the world, He saith, "Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not wish, but a body didst Thou prepare for Me;
and the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice those who heard entreated that no word more should be added to them; for they could not bear that which was being commanded: "And, if a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned"; read more. and so terrible was the appearance, Moses said, "I am exceedingly frightened and in fear!" But ye have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general festal throng, and assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous ones made perfect; and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, speaking better things than Abel.
and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, speaking better things 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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What, then, is the law? It was added because of the transgressions, until the Seed should come to Whom it had been promised; having been arranged through angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not of one, but God is one.
For there is one God, one Mediator also between God and men, a Man, Christ Jesus,
but now he hath obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much also as He is Mediator of a better covenant, which, indeed, has been enacted on better promises.
And, for this cause, He is the Mediator of a new covenant, that, death having taken place for redemption from the transgressions against the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, speaking better things 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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even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His soul a ransom for many."
for this is My blood of the covenant, which is shed in behalf of many for remission of sins.
On the morrow he sees Jesus coming to him, and he says, "Behold, the Lamb of God Who taketh away the sin of the world!
and, looking upon Jesus as He was walking, says, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.
For neither doth the Father judge any one, but all judgment He hath given to the Son; that all may honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father Who sent Him.
Whom God set forth as a propitiation, through faith in His blood, for the manifestation of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the formerly-committed sins in the forbearance of God:
For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son; much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved by His life; and not only so, but we are rejoicing in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we now received the reconciliation.
how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having put in us the word of reconciliation.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; because it has been written, "Cursed is every one who is hung upon a tree";
and might reconcile both in one body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby;
and walk in love, as Christ also loved you, and delivered Himself up for you, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of sweet smell.
and, being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed upon Him the name which is above every name; read more. that, in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of beings in Heaven, and on earth, and under the earth,
The younger men, in like manner, exhort to be sober-minded;
For it was becoming Him, on Whose account are all things, and through Whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to perfect, through suffering, the Captain of their salvation.
Since, therefore, the children have partaken of blood and flesh, He Himself also in like manner took part of the same; that, through death, He might bring to nought him who had the power of death, that is, the Devil;
and, having been made perfect, He became the Author of eternal life to all who obey Him;
by so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant.
Whence also He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, since He is ever living to intercede in their behalf.
If, therefore, He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts according to the law, who, indeed, serve in the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses has been divinely warned, when about to make the tabernacle; for "See," saith He, "that you make all things according to the pattern which was showed you in the mount";
so also Christ, having once for all been offered to bear the sins of many, will, to those who are eagerly waiting for Him; appear a second time apart from sin, unto salvation.
For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very likeness of the things, can never, with the same sacrifices, which they offer year by year continually, perfect those who come to them;
for it is impossible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore, coming into the world, He saith, "Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not wish, but a body didst Thou prepare for Me;
Then said I, 'Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it has been written concerning Me), to do Thy will, O God.'"
then hath He said, "Lo, I have come to do Thy will." He taketh away the first, that He may establish the second: in which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;
because Christ also suffered for sins once, a Righteous One in behalf of the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,
But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers, who, indeed, will stealthily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master Who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction:
And they sing a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to open its seals; because Thou wast slain, and didst redeem to God, by Thy blood, some of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation;
These are those who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, a first fruit to God and to the Lamb.