Hebrews 7:17

For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. FOR - Proving His life "endless" (Hebrews 7:16). 'Aleph (') A B Delta read [ martureitai (G3140)], 'He is testified of, that Thou art,' etc....

17._Thou art a priest forever, etc. _It is on the single word _forever, _that the Apostle lays stress in this passage; for he confirms what he said of an _indissoluble life_. He then shows that Christ differs from the whole race of Levi, because he is made a priest for ever. (122) But here it may be objected, as the Jews also do, that the word, לעולם _laoulam, _does not always mean eternity, but the extent of one age, or, at farthest, a long time; and it is added, that when Moses speaks of the ancient sacrifices, he often uses this expression, “This ordinance shall be forever.” (Exodus 12:17.) To this I answer that whenever the sacrifices of the Law are mentioned, “forever” is to be confined to the time of the Law; nor ought this to be deemed strange; for by the coming of Christ a certain renov

11-25 The priesthood and law by which perfection could not come, are done away; a Priest is risen, and a dispensation now set up, by which true believers may be made perfect. That there is such a change is plain. The law which made the Levitical priesthood, showed that the priests were frail, dying creatures, not able to save their own lives, much less could they save the souls of those who came to them. But the High Priest of our profession holds his office by the power of endless life in himself; not only to keep himself alive, but to give spiritual and eternal life to all who rely upon his sacrifice and intercession. The better covenant, of which Jesus was the Surety, is not here contrasted with the covenant of works, by which every transgressor is shut up under the curse. It is distinguished from the Sinai covenant with Israel, and the legal dispensation under which the church so lo...

Verse 17. _FOR HE TESTIFIETH_] That is, either the _Scripture_, in the place so often quoted, or God by that Scripture. _THOU_ ART _A PRIEST FOR EVER_] This is the proof that he was not appointed according to the carnal commandment, but according to the power of an endless life, because he is a priest _for ever_; i.e. one that never dies, and is never disabled from performing the important functions of his office; for if he be a priest for ever, he _ever lives_....

FOR HE TESTIFIETH - “That this is the true account of it is proved by the testimony of God himself, that he was to be a priest for ever;” see the note on Hebrews 5:6....

EXPOSITION THE PRIEST AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK. The exposition of Christ's heavenly priesthood is now at length taken up and carried out. It extends to Hebrews 10:19, forming the central part of the whole Epistle; and in the course of it is set forth also how the whole Jewish economy did in fact only prefigure and prepare for this one availing priesthood of the true High Priest of mankind. The peculiar thesis of Hebrews 7:1. is "after the order of Melchizedek," the question being—What is signified by this designation of the Messiah in the hundred and tenth psalm? The remarkable import of that psalm, in that it assigns priesthood as well as royalty to the Son, wa

FOR HE TESTIFIETH,.... That is, either David, the penman of the psalm, or rather the Holy Ghost, the enditer of it, or God in the Scripture, in Psalms 110:4 of this form of citing Scripture, Hebrews 2:6. THOU ART A PRIEST FOR EVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC; see Hebrews 5:6....

Hebrews 7:15. _And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof._ The old Levitical law is disannulled; it became weak and unprofitable; and now a higher and better dispensation is ushered in with a greater and undying priesthood. Hebrews 7:19. _For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God._ That is all it did: it was a stepping-stone towards something better. «

CHAPTER 7 _ 1. The priesthood of Melchisedec in contrast with the Levitical priesthood (Hebrews 7:1)_ 2. The holy and heavenly priesthood of Christ (Hebrews 7:20) Hebrews 7:1 The interrupted argument concerning the priesthood of Christ is now resumed. It connects with Hebrews 5:10. There we find Melchisedec mentioned for the first time, and here the historical Melchisedec is first of all described. The record is given in Genesis 14:18. He met Abraham, who returned from the smiting of the Kings, and blessed him. Abraham gav

THE MELCHIZEDEK PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST. It is shown that Scripture itself makes reference to a type of priesthood which is quite distinct from the Levitical. The nature of this priesthood is set forth (Hebrews 7:1) in terms of the description given in Genesis 14 of the priest Melchizedek. That some peculiar significance attached to him may be inferred from his name, and the name of his city. Still more suggestive is the fact that nothing is said as to his parentage, or his descent, or his birth and death. He was not one of a family of priests, but stands solitary, a priest in his own right, who never assumed and never lost his office. In all his attributes he comes before us as an earthly type of the Son of God (Hebrews 7:1)....