Hebrews 6:20

Whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Of great interest is the word "forerunner," the implications of which are so extensive. It means that where Christ has gone his disciples shall at last follow, that where he is there they may be; and the priority of his entrance into the upper and better country suggests the services that Christ is there and performing for them that shall in due time arrive to be with him. He is their intercessor, their advocate, their hope and redeemer. There is also the thought that Christ's entry into that sphere makes possible the entry of all who shall follow him. It is because he has entered that they may enter. Macknight thought the term "forerunner" is an allusion "to one sent from a ship to fix its anchor in the place to which it is to be drawn."[10] Westcott believed that the word was used especially "of the men or troops which were sent to explore before the advance of an army."[11] One of the most interesting things said about the use of the word was written by Morgan, saying,

It marks a difference between Christ passing in within the veil, and everything that had preceded it in the ritual of the Hebrew people. Aaron had entered within the veil once a year, but never as a forerunner. He entered as the representative of those who were left outside; but they were always left outside. No one followed Aaron when he entered within the veil to stand in the presence of the ark and the mercy seat. When Jesus passed within the veil, he entered as a forerunner, which at once suggested that the way was open for others to follow him.[12]

Thus is laid the foundation for that more complete comparison of the high priesthood of Jesus with that of Melchizedek which next follows, and to which so much attention is given in the next chapter. The premise has already been established that the Messiah's being the antitype of Melchizedek is of supreme importance, a thing witnessed and confirmed by the oath of Almighty God himself, and therefore something to which the strictest attention should be paid.

[10] James Macknight, op. cit., p. 534.

[11] Brooke Foss Westcott, op. cit., p. 164.

[12] G. Campbell Morgan, God's Last Word to Man (Westwood, New Jersey, Fleming H. Revell Company, 1936), p. 76.