_CHRIST JESUS IS A PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDECH; AND SO, FAR MORE EXCELLENT THAN THE PRIESTS OF AARON'S ORDER._ _Anno Domini 63._ IN the preceding chapter, the apostle proposed to go on with the Hebrews to the perfectionofChristian knowledge and experience, demonstrated by arguments draw... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS MELCHISEDEC,— The apostle had spoken of an high-priest after the order of Melchisedec thrice before, ch. Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 5:10 Hebrews 6:20 and he had hinted, that _he had many things to say of him, and hard to be understood;_ all therefore which has been said in the preceding chapter i... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM ALSO ABRAHAM GAVE, &C.— Great as Abraham was, yet he gave tithes to, and was blessed by Melchisedec; and in consequence this priest was greater than Abraham; for, without dispute, he who receiveth the blessing, is inferior to him who giveth it. See Hebrews 7:7. _Melchi_ signifies _king,_ and... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHOUT FATHER, WITHOUT MOTHER,— No more is intended by this, in the opinion of most of the great expositors than to observe, that the father and mother of Melchisedec are no where mentioned, nor are they pretended to be known; nor is any hint of his family taken notice of in the scriptures which sp... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW CONSIDER HOW GREAT THIS MAN WAS,— _How great he,—this person, was._ Heylin. "He was superior to Abraham, for he _blessed him;_ and he was superior to Levi, or any son of his, since (if I may be allowed so to say) _they paid tithes in Abraham;"_ Hebrews 7:9. This is a severe stroke upon the Jews,... [ Continue Reading ]
TO TAKE TITHES, &C.— _According to the law, to take tithes of the people,_ that is, _of their brethren._ Our author's design is to magnify the priesthood of Melchisedec: in order whereto he magnifies the dignity of the Levitical priesthood, and then shews that the other, of Melchisedec, was to be pr... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE WHOSE DESCENT IS NOT COUNTED FROM THEM— This sufficiently explains what is meant in the preceding verses by Melchisedec's being said to be _without father or mother:_ his _descent_ or _genealogy_ was not derived either from Abraham's line, or from any other; but, such as he was, he exercised... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LESS IS BLESSED OF THE BETTER.— That is, _The inferior is blessed of the superior._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HERE MEN THAT DIE, &C.— _Here_ [according to the law] _men that die take tithes; but there,_ [in the case of Melchisedec,] _he, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth._ As to the single point of taking tithes, the case was the same both with the Levitical priests and with Melchisedec: but the di... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS I MAY SO SAY,— Elsner is of opinion, that this should be translated, _to say the truth;_ and he produces some passages out of the classics to vindicate this version.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEREFORE PERFECTION, &C.— _But if,_ or _now if perfection had been._ The Levitical priesthood was appointed, when the law was given to the Jews. But could perfection have been had by the priesthood appointed under the law, or had that been the design of it, the scriptures would have had no occas... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE PRIESTHOOD BEING CHANGED,— Another priest arising, there must be a change of the priesthood; but how does it follow that there must be a _change of the law?_ For though the priesthood admitted an alteration, might not the law, as to other points, have continued the same? The truth is, so muc... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE OF WHOM THESE THINGS ARE SPOKEN— Namely, the Christ, who was to be of the order of Melchisedec. This is another reason why the law was to be changed; for the priesthood being designed,not to be in the tribe of Levi, to which the law of Moses had absolutely and entirely fixed it, the change of... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT OUR LORD SPRANG OUT OF JUDAH;— It may be worth remembering here, that Justin Martyr, Tertullian, and Chrysostom, refer to the table made at the taxation in proof of this; and it may be considered whether the apostle does not insinuate the same reference. Undoubtedly he would not have spoken in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT IS YET FAR MORE EVIDENT;— "And, independent on all genealogical controversywhich the most ingenious malice couldurge concerning Mary's family, it is yet more abundantly manifest that the law must be changed, from the least attention to that scripture alone, so frequently mentioned, _That,_ or... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THERE IS VERILY A DISANNULLING— _"For there is an abrogation of the former commandment,_ concerning the Levitical priesthood, _upon account of the weakness and unprofitableness of it: For the law made nothing perfect,_ and consequently could not make the priesthood so, or confer those advantages... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN AS MUCH, &C.— The apostle produces here another argument to prove the superior excellence of the new covenant above the law of Moses; or rather, the superior dignity of the priesthood of Christ, above that of the Levitical priesthood. The reasoning is this: "The more solemn and aweful the man... [ Continue Reading ]
_HEBREWS 7:23 AND THEY TRULY WERE MANY PRIESTS,_— _And as to those priests, there were many of them established successively, because death prevented their continuance;_ Hebrews 7:24. _But he, eternal as he is, hath a priesthood, which cannot be transferred to others._ By means of his continuance fo... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE, &C.— _Whence,_ or _on which account, he is able to save_ εις το παντελες, _completely, perfectly._ The apostle is speaking of a complete and perfect salvation, which is to last for ever, in opposition to what the Levitical priests could give by any annual expiation, which extended no furt... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SUCH AN HIGH PRIEST BECAME US,— _"For such an high-priest suited us,_—was proper for us,—_as was_ perfectly _holy;_ that is, in a life quite pure; free from all sin, unpolluted."—The high-priest who was polluted in a legal sense under the Mosaic law, could not officiate._—Separate from sinners:_... [ Continue Reading ]