For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; THIS MELCHISEDEC (Hebrews 6:20; Psalms 110:4). The verb does not come until Hebrews 7:3 "abideth." KING ... PRIEST. Christ (Zechariah 6:13) unites these... [ Continue Reading ]
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; GAVE, [ emerisen (G3307)] - 'apportioned.' TENTH PART OF ALL - namely, the booty. The tithes are closely associated with the priesthood... [ Continue Reading ]
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. WITHOUT FATHER ... - explained by 'without genealogy' or 'descent' (cf. ); i:e., his genealogy is not known: whereas a Levitical pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. CONSIDER - earnestly, not merely see [ theooreite (G2334): weigh with attentive contemplation]. ALSO, ['Aleph (') A C, Vulgate. But B Delta omit kai (G2532)] - 'to whom (as his superior) Abra... [ Continue Reading ]
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: SONS OF LEVI - of the family of Aaron, to whom the priesthood wa... [ Continue Reading ]
But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. HE WHOSE DESCENT IS NOT COUNTED FROM THEM - from "the sons of Levi," as those "who receive the ... priesthood" (Hebrews 7:5). This verse explains "without descent" (genealogy: cf. Heb... [ Continue Reading ]
And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. The principle that the blesser is superior to him whom he blesses, holds good only in a blessing given with divine authority; not merely a prayerful wish, but one divinely efficient, as that of the patriarchs on their children. So C... [ Continue Reading ]
And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. Second point of superiority: Melchisedek's is an enduring, the Levitical a transitory, priesthood. As the law was a parenthesis between Abraham's dispensation of promise of grace, and its en... [ Continue Reading ]
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. AS I MAY SO SAY - to preclude his words being taken in the mere literal sense; I may say virtually, Levi, in the person of his father Abraham, acknowledged Melchisedek's superiority, and paid tithes to him. WHO RECE... [ Continue Reading ]
For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. IN THE LOINS OF HIS FATHER - i:e., forefather, Abraham. Christ did not pay tithes in Abraham, for He never was in the loins of an earthly father (Alford). Though, in respect to His mother, He was 'of the fruit of (David's, and s... [ Continue Reading ]
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? PERFECTION - `the bringing of man to his highest state, na... [ Continue Reading ]
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. FOR - The reason for pressing the words "after the order of Melchisedek;" because these presuppose a transference of the priesthood; this carries with it a change also of the law (which is inseparably bound up... [ Continue Reading ]
For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. Confirming his assertion that a change is made of the law (Hebrews 7:12), by another fact showing the distinctness of the new priesthood from the Aaronic. THESE THINGS (Psalms 110:4)... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. EVIDENT, [ prodeelon (G4271)] - 'manifest before the eyes' as indisputable: a proof that whatever difficulties now appear, then Christ's genealogy laboured under none. OUR LORD - the o... [ Continue Reading ]
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Another proof that the law (economy) is changed; as Christ is appointed Priest, 'not according to the law of a carnal commandment;' one in which a carnal succession was required, as in the L... [ Continue Reading ]
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.... [ Continue Reading ]
For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. THERE IS, [ ginetai (G1096)] - 'there takes place,' according to Psalms 110:4. DISANNULLING - a repealing. OF THE COMMANDMENT - ordaining the Levitical priesthood. And, as the Levi... [ Continue Reading ]
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. FOR ... - Justifying his calling the law weak and unprofitable (Hebrews 7:18). The law would not bring men to justification or sanctification before God, which is the 'perfection' that... [ Continue Reading ]
And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest: Another superiority of Christ's Melchisedek-like priesthood: the oath of God gave a solemn weight to it which was not in the law-priesthood, not so confirmed. HE WAS MADE PRIEST - rather supply from , which completes the sentence begun in th... [ Continue Reading ]
(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) Greek order, 'For they indeed (the existing legal priests) without the (solemn) promise on oath [horkomosi... [ Continue Reading ]
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. SURETY, [ enguos (G1450)] - ensuring in His own person the certainty of the covenant to us, by becoming responsible for our guilt, by sealing the covenant with His blood, and by being openly acknowledged as our triumphant Saviour by the F... [ Continue Reading ]
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: Another superiority: the Levitical priests were many, as death caused the need of continually new ones being appointed in succession. Christ dies not; so hath a priesthood which passes not from one to... [ Continue Reading ]
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. HE, [ ho (G3588) de (G1161)] - emphatic. So in Psalms 110:4, "THOU art a priest;" singular, not priests, 'many.' CONTINUETH, [ menei (G3306)] - not the compound, as in Hebrews 7:23. 'Remaineth'-namely, in life. UNCHANG... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. WHEREFORE, [ Hothen (G3606)] - 'Whence:' inasmuch as 'He remaineth forever.' ALSO - as a natural consequence from the last, at the same time a new and higher... [ Continue Reading ]
For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; SUCH - as is above described. A B Delta read 'also.' 'For to US (as sinners: emphatic) there was also becoming (besides His other excellencies) such as High Priest.' 'Ale... [ Continue Reading ]
Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. DAILY - `day by day.' The priests daily offered sacrifices (Hebrews 9:6; Hebrews 10:11; Exodus 29:38-2). The high priests took... [ Continue Reading ]
For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. FOR - Reason for the difference () between His one sacrifice and their oft-repeated sacrifices; namely, because of his freedom from the si... [ Continue Reading ]