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; Ver. 1. _For this Melchisedec_] Some make him the same with Shem; others say it was the Holy Ghost; others say it was Christ himself under the guise of a kin... [ 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; Ver. 2. _Gave a tenth part of all_] So to set forth his thankfulness to God for the victory. The Lord is the man of war, Exodus 15:3; the L... [ 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. Ver. 3. _Without father_] viz. That we find mentioned in the Holy Scripture. Hence the Melchisedechian heretics held that he was the H... [ Continue Reading ]
Now consider how great this man _was_, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils. Ver. 4. _How great this man was_] It is goodness that renders a man great, and the grace of God that ennobleth, Isaiah 43:4; Hebrews 11:2. Keep close to God, and then ye shall be some of God's... [ 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: Ver. 5. _To take tithes of the people_] If tithes be Jewish, saith... [ Continue Reading ]
But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. Ver. 6. _Received tithes of Abraham_] Gr. δεδεκατωκε, tithed or tenthed Abraham, by the same divine right whereby he blessed him. Melchisedec did not take only that which Abraham was ple... [ Continue Reading ]
And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. Ver. 7. _The less is blessed, &c._] The pastor therefore blessing his people according to his office, is greater than his people in that respect.... [ Continue Reading ]
And here men that die receive tithes; but there he _receiveth them_, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. Ver. 8. _That he liveth_] Tithes then are due to the ministers of Christ that liveth, because due to Melchisedec, to whom Abraham paid them as a priest and tithe-taker, and type of Christ. W... [ Continue Reading ]
And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. Ver. 9. _Levi also paid tithes_] If any shall object, so did Christ also, sith he was in the loins of Abraham too; it may be answered, that though Christ was of Abraham, yet he was not by Abraham. But Levi was both.... [ Continue Reading ]
For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. Ver. 10. _In the loins of his father_] So we were all in the loins of Adam when he fell (as all the country is in a parliament man), and fell with him.... [ 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? Ver. 11. _If therefore perfection_] i.e. Justification, san... [ Continue Reading ]
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. Ver. 12. _A change also of the law_] "For we are not under the taw, but under grace." The gospel is _post naufragium tabula, _ a plank after shipwreck, and hath its remuneration,Hebrews 11:6, viz. of grace and me... [ Continue Reading ]
For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. Ver. 13. _Pertaineth to another tribe_] That of Judah,Hebrews 7:14, which therefore is first reckoned, Revelation 7:5, among those that were sealed; as of those that came by Rachel, Nep... [ Continue Reading ]
For _it is_ evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. Ver. 14. _Nothing concerning priesthood_] For when Reuben, by defiling Bilhah, lost his birthright, the birthright was given to Joseph, the kingdom to Judah, and the priesthood to Levi. B... [ Continue Reading ]
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Ver. 15. _After the similitude of Melchisedec_] i.e. After an order distinct and different from that of Aaron.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. Ver. 16. _Of a carnal command_] i.e. External and ceremonial. _ But after the power_] Both of God the Father, who made him a priest, and of God the Son, who is the Father of eternity, Isaiah 9:6, and a... [ Continue Reading ]
For he testifieth, Thou _art_ a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Ver. 17. _For he testfieth_] Thus the author still argueth out of Scripture, as knowing that _quicquid non habet authoritatem ex Scripturis, eadem facilitate contemnitur qua approbatur, _ whatsoever is not grounded upon... [ Continue Reading ]
For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. Ver. 18. _For there is verily a disannulling_] Gr. υθετησις, an outing, cassating, expunging. _ Of the commandment_] _See Trapp on "_ Heb 7:12 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Heb 7:16 _"_ For th... [ 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. Ver. 19. _But the bringing in_] The law is a superintroduction to Christ our hope, who is the end of the law to every believer,Romans 10:4 . _ We draw nigh to God_] Having boldness and... [ Continue Reading ]
And inasmuch as not without an oath _he was made priest_ : Ver. 20. _Not without an oath_] A singular confirmation: what a monstrous sin then is unbelief!... [ 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) Ver. 21. _And will not repent_] Will not change his mind upon pretence that second thoughts are better. Tho... [ Continue Reading ]
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. Ver. 22. _Jesus was made a surety_] As he was our surety to God for the discharge of our debt (the surety and debtor in law are reputed as one person), so he is God's surety to us, for the performance of his promises. Christ was the surety o... [ Continue Reading ]
And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: Ver. 23. _By reason of death_] Neither their holiness nor learning could privilege them from death's impartial stroke. _Non te tua plurima Pantheu, labentem texit pietas._ All our learning also is soon... [ Continue Reading ]
But this _man_, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Ver. 24. _He continueth ever_] What need then is there of a vicar, as the pope will needs be styled? _ An unchangeable_] Gr. απαραβατον, impassable. He needeth no successor.... [ 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. Ver. 25. _To the uttermost_] Perpetually and perfectly, so as none shall need to come after him to finish what he hath begun. He is a thorough Saviour, a Saviour i... [ Continue Reading ]
For such an high priest became us, _who is_ holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Ver. 26. _Who is holy_] As the high priest of old, Leviticus 21:18; Exodus 28:36,43 . _ Harmless_] Without any birth mark. _ Undefiled_] Free from actual pollution, with... [ 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. Ver. 27. _Who needeth not daily_] καθ ημεραν. Or, on a certain day of the year, so. at the feast of the expiations, Leviticus 16:... [ 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. Ver. 28. _For the law maketh_] As if the apostle should say, Shall I sum up and shut up all in a word? the law maketh men high priests whic... [ Continue Reading ]