Christ, as an eternal High Priest after the order of Melchisedek, is superior to the Levitic High Priest Historic reference to Melchisedek (1 4). His Priesthood typically superior to that of Aaron in seven particulars, i. Because even Abraham gave him tithes (4 7). ii. Because he blessed Abraham (7... [ Continue Reading ]
_For this Melchisedec_ All that is historically known of Melchisedek is found in three verses of the book of Genesis (Genesis 14:18-20). In all the twenty centuries of sacred history he is only mentioned once, in Psalms 110:4. This chapter is a mystical explanation of the significance of these two b... [ Continue Reading ]
_first being_ This seems to imply that of his two names or titles "Melchisedec," and "King of Salem," the _first_means "King of Righteousness" and the second "King of Peace." In a passage of mystic interpretation like this, however, the writer may intend to suggest that there is a direct connexion b... [ Continue Reading ]
_without father, without mother, without descent_ Rather, "without lineage" or "pedigree" as in Hebrews 7:6. The mistake is an ancient one, for in consequence of it Irenæus claims Melchisedek as one who had lived a celibate life (which in any case would not follow). The simple and undoubted meaning... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now consider_ The verb means "to contemplate spiritually." _how great this man was_ Here begin the seven particulars of the typical superiority of Melchisedek's Priesthood over that of Aaron. First. Even Abraham gave him tithes. _the patriarch Abraham_ There is great rhetoric force in the order o... [ Continue Reading ]
_who receive the office of the priesthood_ The word used for "priesthood" is defined by Aristotle to mean "care concerning the gods." _to take tithes of the people according to the law_ Indirectly, through the agency of the Levites. Delitzsch argues that after the Exile the Priests collected the tit... [ Continue Reading ]
_and blessed_ Lit., _and hath blessed_. Second point of superiority. The act is regarded as permanent and still continuous in its effects, in accordance with the writer's manner of regarding Scripture as a living and present entity.... [ Continue Reading ]
_of the better_ i.e. the inferior is blessed by one who is (_pro hoc vice_or _quoad hoc_) the Superior. Hence blessing was one of the recognised priestly functions (Numbers 6:23-26).... [ Continue Reading ]
_And here_ As things now are; while the Levitic priesthood still continues. _men that die_ "Dying men" men who are under liability to die (comp. Hebrews 7:23), as in the lines "He preached as one who ne'er should preach again And _as a dying man to dying men_." _it is witnessed that he liveth_ i... [ Continue Reading ]
_as I may so say_ Rather, "so to speak;" shewing the writer's consciousness that the expression is somewhat strained, especially as even Isaac was not born till 14 years later. The phrase is classic, and is common in Philo, but occurs here only in the N.T. _Levi … payed tithes_ This is the fourth p... [ Continue Reading ]
_If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood_ At this point begins the argument which occupies the next nine verses. "Perfection" (compare the verb in Hebrews 9:9; Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 10:14; Hebrews 11:40) means power of perfectionment, capacity to achieve the end in view; but this wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_being changed_ He here uses the comparatively mild and delicate term "being _transferred_" When he has prepared the mind of his readers by a little further argument, he substitutes for "transference" the much stronger word "_annulment_" (Hebrews 7:18). It is a characteristic of the writer to be thu... [ Continue Reading ]
_pertaineth_ Lit., "hath had part in." _of which no man gave attendance at the altar_ Sacerdotal privileges were exclusively assigned to the tribe of Levi (Deuteronomy 10:8; Numbers 3:5-8). The attempt of King Uzziah, who was of the tribe of Judah, to assume priestly functions, had been terribly pu... [ Continue Reading ]
_evident_ "Known to all." The word (_prodçlon_) occurs in 1 Timothy 5:24-25. _our Lord_ This is the first time that we find this expression in the N.T. standing alone as a name for Christ. It is from this passage that the designation now so familiar to Christian lips is derived. _sprang_ Lit., "hat... [ Continue Reading ]
_yet far more evident_ The word used (_katadçlon_) is stronger than that used in Hebrews 7:14 (_prodçlon_) and does not occur elsewhere in the N.T. The change of the Law can be _yet more decisively inferred_from the fact that Melchisedek is not only a Priest of a different tribe from Levi, but a pri... [ Continue Reading ]
_is made_ Lit., "is become." _after the law of a carnal commandment_ Rather, "in accordance with _the law of a fleshen_(i.e. earthly) _commandment_." Neither this writer, nor even St Paul, ever called or would have called the Law "carnal" (_sarkikos_), a term which St Paul implicitly disclaims when... [ Continue Reading ]
_he testifieih_ Rather, "he is testified of.... [ Continue Reading ]
_there is_) Rather, "there occurs" or "results," in accordance with Psalms 110:4. _a disannulling_ See note on Hebrews 7:12. Comp. Galatians 3:15. _of the commandment_ Most ancient and modern commentators understand this of the Mosaic Law in general. _for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof_... [ Continue Reading ]
_the law made nothing perfect_ This is illustrated in Hebrews 9:6-9. _but the bringing in of a better hope did_ The better punctuation is "There takes place a disannulment of the preceding commandment on account of its weakness and unprofitableness for the Law perfected nothing but the superinductio... [ Continue Reading ]
_inasmuch as not without an oath_ This is the sixth point of superiority. He has lingered at much greater length over the fifth than over the others, from the extreme importance of the argument which it incidentally involved. The oath on which the Melchisedek Priesthood was founded is that of Psalms... [ Continue Reading ]
_those priests were made without an oath_ Lit., "these men have been made priests without an oath.... [ Continue Reading ]
_of a better testament_ A clearer rendering would be "By so much better was the covenant of which Jesus has been made surety." The words which might be taken as the keynote of the whole Epistle should undoubtedly be rendered "of a better _covenant_" The Greek word _diathçkç_is the rendering of the H... [ Continue Reading ]
_many priests_ Lit., "And they truly have been constituted priests many in number." _they were not suffered to continue by reason of death_ The vacancies caused in their number by the ravages of death required to be constantly replenished (Numbers 20:28; Ezekiel 22:20; Ezekiel 22:30).... [ Continue Reading ]
_but this man_ Rather, "_but He_" _hath an unchangeable priesthood_ Rather, "hath his priesthood unchangeable" (_sempiternum_, Vulg.) or perhaps "untransmissible;" "a priesthood that doth not pass to another," as it is rendered in the margin of our Revised Version. The rendering "not to be transgres... [ Continue Reading ]
_to save them to the uttermost_ i.e. "to the consummate end." All the Apostles teach that Christ is "able to keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory" (Jude 1:24; Romans 8:34; John 6:37-39. _to save_ He saves them in accordance with His name of Jesus, "the S... [ Continue Reading ]
_For such a high priest became us_ The "for" clinches the whole argument with a moral consideration. There was _a spiritual fitness_in this annulment of the imperfect Law and Priesthood, and the introduction of a better hope and covenant. So great and so sympathetic and so innocent an High Priest wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_daily_ A difficulty is suggested by this word, because the High Priest did not offer sacrifices daily, but only once a year on the Day of Atonement. In any case the phrase would be a mere verbal inaccuracy, since the High Priest could be regarded as _potentially_ministering in the daily sacrifices... [ Continue Reading ]
_men_ i.e. ordinary "human beings." _the oath, which was since the law_ Namely, in Psalms 110:4. _consecrated_ Rather, "_who has been perfected_." The word "consecrated" in our A.V. is a reminiscence of Leviticus 21:10; Exodus 29:9. The "perfected" has the same meaning as in Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]