HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:1 This chapter discusses Melchizedek (vv. Hebrews 7:1), highlighting points later applied to Jesus (vv. Hebrews 7:11). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:3 Some have suggested that Melchizedek was a preincarnate appearance of the Son of God. As this passage indicates, however, Melchizedek was not in fact the Son of God but someone RESEMBLING THE SON OF GOD (literally, “having been made like the Son of God”). HE IS WITHOUT FA... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:4 TENTH OF THE SPOILS. Abraham tithed to Melchizedek, and therefore Abraham was inferior to Melchizedek (see note on vv. 9–10). PATRIARCH. Israel traces its lineage through Abraham (see vv. Hebrews 7:9). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:5 God commanded the Israelites to tithe to the Levitical priesthood (e.g., Numbers 18:21), who were themselves fellow descendants of Jacob/Israel and of Abraham. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:7 The SUPERIOR person, Melchizedek, BLESSED the INFERIOR person, Abraham (compare v. Hebrews 7:1). Thus Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to Abraham and all his descendants, including the Levitical priesthood. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:8 HE LIVES. Melchizedek is a “priest forever” (Psalms 110:4; see note on Heb. 7:3). Because the Melchizedek priesthood is eternal, it is superior to the Levitical priesthood (vv. Hebrews 7:23). The author is probably not claiming that Melchizedek never died, but that he is... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:9 LEVI HIMSELF... PAID TITHES (to Melchizedek) THROUGH ABRAHAM. The author’s reasoning is that Abraham’s descendants, who share in Abraham’s promises, also share in Abraham’s tithe to Melchizedek. Therefore the Levitical priesthood is inferior to Melchizedek’s priesthood.... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:11 Hebrews 1:1 offers several reasons for why the Mosaic law could not bring people to PERFECTION (vv. Hebrews 7:18; Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 10:1). Here, the fact that there existed a priestly order of Melchizedek (Psalms 110:4) shows that the LEVITICAL PRIESTHOOD was ins [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:13 Jesus was from the tribe of JUDAH rather than the priestly tribe of Levi. Yet he qualifies as the eternal high priest because he is the Davidic Messiah, called both Lord and a priest after the messianic priestly order of Melchizedek (Psalms 110:1, Psalms 110:4). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:15 THE POWER OF AN INDESTRUCTIBLE LIFE. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead verifies his eternal priesthood (Psalms 110:4; see Hebrews 5:6). Death could not conquer him, therefore his priesthood lasts FOREVER (see Hebrews 7:23). ⇐ ⇔... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:18 FORMER COMMANDMENT. The institution of the Levitical priesthood is SET ASIDE and thus so is the Mosaic law (see v. Hebrews 7:12), since it was not able to accomplish God’s saving purpose (hence its WEAKNESS AND USELESSNESS). Only Jesus’ work on the cross brought people t... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:20 God did not promise that the Levitical priesthood would last forever, but the priesthood of Jesus rests securely on God’s promise/oath in Psalms 110:4 (see Hebrews 6:13). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:23 The MANY Levitical PRIESTS all died. But Jesus is eternal, so he is a greater high priest (see v. Hebrews 7:8). TO THE UTTERMOST. Either completeness in time (“forever”) or completeness in extent (“completely”). Perhaps the author wants readers to understand it in both s... [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:26 FITTING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE. Jesus’ high priesthood is appropriate and is for the believers’ benefit. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
HEBREWS—NOTE ON HEBREWS 7:28 MADE PERFECT. See Hebrews 5:9 and note on 5:9–10. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]