The apostle having shown that Jesus, as a High-Priest, is superior to all the Levitical high-priests, inasmuch as, like Melchisedec, he is a _King_, as well as a _Priest;_ nay, a more righteous King than even Melchisedec, being absolutely free from sin, he in this and the following chapter, for the... [ Continue Reading ]
_A minister_ Λειτουργος, _a public minister_, who, having entered within the veil, now ministers, or executes, the remaining part of his office in his human nature, representing the merit of his own sacrifice, as the high-priest represented the blood of those sacrifices once a year; _of the sanctuar... [ Continue Reading ]
_For every high-priest_, &c. As if the apostle had said, And it appears that Christ is a minister, or priest, of the true tabernacle, because he offers sacrifice, which none but the priests might do. _Wherefore_ Greek, οθεν, _whence;_ the whole force of this inference depends on this supposition tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who serve_ Which priests, according to the Jewish institutions, serve in the temple, which was not yet destroyed; _unto_, or, _after, the example_, or, _pattern, and shadow of heavenly things_ Of gospel mysteries, even of Christ himself, with all that he did and suffered, and still continues to do,... [ Continue Reading ]
_But now_, &c. In this verse begins the second part of the chapter concerning the difference between the two covenants, the old and the new, with the pre-eminence of the latter to the former, and of the ministry of Christ to that of the Jewish high-priests. _He hath obtained a more excellent ministr... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_ In this verse the apostle enters upon the proof of his argument proposed in that foregoing, namely, that the first covenant was not faultless, or every way sufficient for the end God had in view, because there was cause for the introduction of another. _For finding fault with them_ Namely, the... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this is the covenant that I will make after those days_ In the times of the Messiah; _I will put my laws into their mind_ I will open the eyes of their understanding, and give them light to discern the true, full, spiritual meaning thereof; _and write them in their hearts_ So that they shall lo... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they_ Who are under this covenant; _shall not teach_ That is, shall not any more have need to teach; _every man his neighbour, &c., saying, Know the Lord_ Though in other respects they will have need to teach each other to their lives' end; yet they shall not need to teach each other the knowle... [ Continue Reading ]
_In that he saith, A new covenant_ In that he expresses himself in this manner; _he hath made the first old_ He hath manifested it to be old, or he hath shown that it is disannulled and out of date. _Now that which decayeth_, &c. That which is antiquated, and of no further use; _is ready to vanish a... [ Continue Reading ]