THIS MELCHIZEDEK. This picks up the explanation where it stopped in Hebrews 5:11. Melchizedek is a _mystery-man,_ but part of the problem is failing to understand the _Hebrew idiom_ and reading too much into the words. Remember that the Jews were extremely accurate and meticulous in examining the qu... [ Continue Reading ]
ABRAHAM GAVE HIM. This fact shows that Abraham accepted Melchizedek as being genuine, the true Priest of the Most High God. KING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. In ancient time, names had special meaning. _Abram's_ name was changed to _Abraham_ to show that he would be the FATHER of many nations. Melchizedek mean... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO RECORD. The TEV accurately translates the _Hebrew idiom. A first century_ reader understood it as it is worded in the TEV. The meaning is that Melchizedek's priesthood does not derive from these things which were so important to the Aaronic priesthood. To be a Jewish high priest, there h... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW GREAT HE WAS. "I show you how great Melchizedek was, because the patriarch Abraham gave him one tenth (a tithe) of all he got in the battle. By doing this, Abraham showed that he believed Melchizedek greater than himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOSE DESCENDANTS OF LEVI. All the Jewish priests were descendants of Levi. The high priests were descendants of Aaron (who belonged to the Tribe of Levi). The Law commands them to collect one tenth (a tithe) from their fellow countrymen (the other Tribes). EVEN THOUGH. Since they are all descen... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS NOT DESCENDED FROM. Melchizedek was not a relative of either Levi or Abraham. In other words, the Law did not apply to what he did in receiving the tenth. BUT HE COLLECTED. The fact that he could do this, separate and apart from the Law, proved him greater than Abraham. AND BLESSED HIM. Abraham... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO DOUBT. "This proves that Melchizedek is higher in rank and closer to God, than Abraham." [Man blesses God in the sense of praising Him, or wishing that all praise may be His.]... [ Continue Reading ]
BY MEN WHO DIE. "The priesthood of all Jewish priests terminates at a point in time, and the death of the high priest is a matter of record, because accurate accounts are kept of it." By ONE WHO LIVES. The fact that the scripture says nothing of Melchizedek's death is made to be a proof. We see him... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, SO TO SPEAK. "In fact, even Levi himself paid the tenth to Melchizedek, so to speak. This is further proof that Melchizedek is a greater priest than any priest of the Levitical priesthood." [The Jewish priesthood = the Aaronic priesthood = the Levitical priesthood.]... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD NOT YET BEEN BORN. "All the Nation of Israel, including kings and priests, were represented in Abraham even though they were not yet born. So the FACT that Abraham paid the tenth to Melchizedek is _imputed_ to Levi and all his descendants as well.... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WAS ON THE BASIS. The Law was given so that the people could worship God under the Levitical priesthood. The priesthood made it possible for the Law to function. No wonder, then, that many Jews would look no farther than the Law and think that _it_ was God's _perfect_ salvation. NOW. "If the Levi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHEN. "Since the Law was given on the basis of the Levitical priesthood, when that changes, the Law must also change. This is proof, then, that the Law of Moses has been superseded.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OUR LORD. "Now, it is clear that God intended to transfer the priesthood away from the Tribe of Levi, because He said of our Lord Jesus: You will be a priest forever, in the priestly order of Melchizedek' (see Hebrews 5:6). Our Lord belonged to a different tribe, and no member of that tribe (Jud... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS WELL KNOWN. "Every Jew knows that the Messiah was to come from the Tribe of Judah, and that our Lord came from that tribe. But Moses did not authorize priests to come from this tribe!... [ Continue Reading ]
A DIFFERENT PRIEST HAS APPEARED. "God's vow makes this matter even plainer! Our Lord Jesus was made High Priest by God's vow (Hebrews 7:21)!" Like Melchizedek, Jesus is BOTH High Priest and King! This is proof of Hebrews 7:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS NOT. "Jesus our Lord did not become a high priest through human rules and regulations. He became a high priest through the power of his endless life, which makes it possible for him to serve forever!!! This is in contrast with the Levitical priesthood, who die and terminate their service.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAYS. Psalms 110:4. "Like Melchizedek, he will continue to be both priest and king. His service will not terminate, as long as his people have any need of either priest or king!... [ Continue Reading ]
IS SET ASIDE. "The old rule of the Law of Moses is totally superseded! It was weak and useless, because it could neither reform nor forgive sinners." [The forgiveness of sins under the Law was based upon what Jesus would do (Hebrews 9:15). The Law did what God wanted it to do, but it was not _final.... [ Continue Reading ]
COULD NOT MAKE ANYTHING PERFECT. The Law was only temporary! By itself, it could not prepare men and women for eternal life! _"For the blood of bulls and goats can never take sins away"_ (Hebrews 10:4). AND NOW A BETTER HOPE. "The _better priesthood_ of Christ is the basis of a _better hope,_ throug... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS ALSO GOD'S VOW. "In addition to the _better hope,_ God's vow that made Jesus our High Priest is also proof that the Good News is superior to the Law of Moses." God's vow affirms that he will not change his promise!!! Compare Genesis 22:16-18; Deuteronomy 1:34-35; Deuteronomy 4:21; Psalms 89... [ Continue Reading ]
BY MEANS OF A VOW. "This means that an unchangeable priesthood has been conferred on Jesus our Lord!" The quotation is Psalms 110:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS DIFFERENCE, THEN. "God's vow, mentioned in Hebrews 7:21, is the difference by which Jesus becomes the _guarantee_ of this better covenant!... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS ANOTHER DIFFERENCE. "Still another reason why Jesus is superior to the Levitical priesthood: there had to be many of them, because death would not allow them to continue to serve." There were at least 83 Jewish high priests during the time from Aaron to Phineas (about 1727 years).... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JESUS. "Christ conquered death before he became High Priest! He came out of the tomb in his body (Matthew 28:9) and lives on forever in his body (Luke 24:50-53 and notes)." DOES NOT PASS ON. "No one will need to take his place, because death cannot terminate his service!... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO HE IS ABLE. I have followed _MacKnight_ in viewing this through _Jewish eyes._ "Christ offered his crucified body as a sacrifice in heaven (Hebrews 8:2-3), and as he is continually there in his crucified body, this one and the same sacrifice is always present before God! This continually decl... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS, THEN. He meets our needs, but the Jewish priests could not meet our needs! NO FAULT OR SIN. The Jewish priests did have faults and sins. HE HAS BEEN SET APART. The Jewish high priest had to be set apart and ritually purified during the seven days before the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16:... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS NOT LIKE. He had no need to first offer a sacrifice for himself, because he had no sins (Hebrews 4:15). ONCE AND FOR ALL. (1) He did not need to offer a sacrifice for himself. (2) He did not need to offer a sacrifice each year, but only once! (3) The sacrifice which he offered, was not bulls a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LAW OF MOSES. "The descendants of Aaron, whom the Law appointed high priests, were imperfect and had to offer sacrifices for their own sins." BUT GOD'S PROMISE WITH THE VOW. "This is how much better the Son is, who is our High Priest! He is sinless! He lives forever! He is perfect!... [ Continue Reading ]